Duke Athletics And Covid-19 Update

 DURHAM, NC - NOVEMBER 30: Josh Blackwell #31 of the Duke Blue Devils in action on defense during a game against the Miami Hurricanes at Wallace Wade Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke defeated Miami 27-17. | Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Things are going reasonably well

Here’s an update on Covid-19 and Duke athletics: 25 athletes have tested positive for the virus since returning to campus but 16 are fine now while nine are still in isolation.

Naturally, testing is ongoing and constant and overall, things don’t seem to be going that badly.

This doesn’t include basketball players, who came to campus on Saturday. We’d be interested to know the protocol for travel. Guys like Wendell Moore, Patrick Tapé, Joey Baker, Mark Williams and Henry Coleman have relatively easy trips and could drive. Jordan Goldwire and Jaemyn Brakefield could make longer trips without too much trouble. The Midwesterners probably don’t want to drive.

We hadn’t thought about it but counting walk-ons, Duke has five players from North Carolina and three from Virginia which might be the most regional roster base we can remember. Duke typically recruits nationally but it also goes in waves with, for whatever reason. When Mike Brey was an assistant, Duke hit Northern Virginia and DC heavily. A few years ago, Texans were prominent. Lately Duke has done well in Minnesota.

It’s just different to see so many players who live close to campus, and with a pandemic, it might have some advantages.