​33 seconds into the marquee game of the collegiate...century, ​Zion Williamson blew a tire and left the game.


He walked to the locker room under his own power, but was clearly grabbing at the back of his leg while on the ground recovering from the ​sneaker blowout. While I believe most of us expected the team to allow him to rise to the moment and return, it seems that won't be the case.


It's a knee issue, and Zion is out.

Mercy.


Duke has more than enough firepower without him, and can rely on Cam Reddish and RJ Barrett (along with their weird duo of Goldwire and O'Connell, who always bring the intensity), but this one hurts viewers across the country, right where it hurts most.

​​With all due respect to the other incredibly important parts in this one, the money was on Williamson to shine throughout a monster showcase.


Just 33 seconds in, the narrative changed completely.