This Is Floor Time That Duhon Would Like to Avoid
MINNEAPOLIS — Duke freshman guard Chris Duhon was glassy-eyed and groggy after the game, which isn’t surprising considering he was out cold for several moments in the second half. He lost consciousness when the back of his head hit the floor after a collision with Maryland’s Steve Blake with 3:35 remaining.
It was Duhon’s second concussion of the tournament. The first came in the Missouri game, when he caught a stray elbow, then played the entire second half despite a splitting headache.
“I remember the collision, but as soon as my head hit the floor I was out,†he said. “I really don’t remember much after that, except when they were carrying me out I heard my teammates say, ‘We got this one for you, Du.’
“I’m still not all the way here now. I’m still a little dizzy, a little woozy. I just had to get myself to a point where I was able to walk and stand up straight.â€
His mother, Vivian Harper, was at the game and rushed to the edge of the bleachers behind the Duke bench to pray with her son, who felt good enough to re-enter the game for the final 43 seconds with his team up by nine.
“It was just a game situation†he said. “My job was to just go pressure the ball.â€
He said he’s not concerned about suffering two concussions during an eight-day stretch.
†I’m still going to go out and play the ball the same way I’ve been playing it all season,†he said. “I’m not afraid of getting hit in the head or anything.â€
More to Read
Go beyond the scoreboard
Get the latest on L.A.'s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.