Kyrie Irving will come off the bench and see “significant minutes” Thursday night when Duke meets Arizona in a West Regional semifinal, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said Tuesday.
After missing 3 1/2 months with a right big toe injury suffered Dec. 4 against Butler, Irving came off the bench to score a team-best 14 points when Duke routed Hampton, 87-45, last Friday. The former Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick star then hit a critical late basket and scored 11 points in 21 minutes in Sunday’s win over MIchigan.
“We’re good with who we’re starting,” Krzyzewski said, according to the Charlotte Observer. “We should have at least eight people feel like they’re starters on this team, with Andre [Dawkins] and Ryan [Kelly]. We’ve had nine people start on this team, so that’s an advantage.
“We can’t get caught up in who’s starting. Kyrie will play, and he’ll play significant minutes against Arizona.”
Since the beginning of the ACC Tournament, Duke has started Nolan Smith and Seth Curry in the backcourt, with Kyle Singler, Mason Plumlee and Miles Plumlee up front.
Duke has won eight straight NCAA Tournament games dating back to last year’s title run.
