Duke’s home opener against Gardner-Webb gets postponed

The Blue Devils are now scheduled to open their season Saturday

Duke brings in another talented freshman class while also returning veterans Jordan Goldwire (14) and Wendell Moore Jr. (0). (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

The COVID-19 pandemic ended Duke’s season early in March, and it is delaying the start of this season for the Blue Devils.

Duke has announced that Wednesday night’s men’s basketball game versus Gardner-Webb has been postponed. The determination was made Monday morning after consultation with Duke Athletics’ medical personnel.

This postponement comes following a positive COVID-19 test within the Gardner-Webb program. The teams may look to make up the game at a later date should schedules permit.

That could be difficult. Both teams have a two-week gap in the second half of December but, presumably, that would be used to allow players to report home for the holidays and still have time to quarantine upon their return to campus before games resume. So it’s unlikely a game would be scheduled during that time.

The only other gap of more than three-to-four days that Duke has between games comes between ACC games on Jan. 12 and 19, but Gardner-Webb has a pair of games scheduled right in the middle of that one-week gap, on Jan. 14 and 15.

The Blue Devils’ next scheduled contest is Saturday, Nov. 28, versus Coppin State at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Tip time is set for 2 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.