Z-eye-on: Williamson starting for No. 1 Duke after eye poke
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Freshman sensation Zion Williamson is back in the starting lineup for top-ranked Duke, two days after he was poked in the eye during a game.
Williamson was the last Duke player out for pregame warmups before Monday night's game against Syracuse. He loosened up with no apparent issues roughly an hour before tipoff and was announced as a starter about 30 minutes later.
Williamson missed the second half of the Blue Devils' 80-78 victory at then-No. 13 Florida State on Saturday. After that game, coach Mike Krzyzewski said Williamson was suffering from double vision.
The star freshman was poked in the left eye by the Seminoles' Trent Forrest with 1:26 left in the half and immediately fell to the court in obvious pain.
He warmed up before the start of the second half, but was held out when his double vision failed to clear.
Williamson, who had 11 points and seven rebounds in 17 minutes before he was hurt, is tied for second in the Atlantic Coast Conference in scoring at 20.3 points per game and is third in rebounding with an average of 9.4.
He also ranks fifth in both steals (2.1 per game) and blocked shots (1.7 per game).
