Duke’s Grayson Allen reinstated after just one game, excels in his return

Grayson Allen made his return Wednesday night against Georgia Tech (Getty Images).
Grayson Allen made his return Wednesday night against Georgia Tech (Getty Images).

Grayson Allen’s indefinite suspension didn’t last long

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski reinstated his preseason All-American on Wednesday night after just a one-game absence.

Allen started Wednesday’s 110-57 rout of Georgia Tech and helped spearhead the onslaught. The junior guard scored 15 points and dished out seven assists, providing the creativity and distribution off the dribble that Duke lacked with Allen unavailable for last Saturday’s loss at Virginia Tech.

The incident that led to Allen’s suspension took place late in the first half of Duke’s 72-61 victory over Elon on Dec. 21. As Elon’s Steven Santa Ana spun past him on the baseline, Allen stuck out his right leg and swept his opponent’s left leg out from under him, a play very reminiscent of two previous tripping incidents that landed the combo guard in the national media’s crosshairs.

In a Feb. 8 matchup with Louisville, Allen stuck both his legs out and appeared to intentionally trip Cardinals forward Ray Spalding as he ran up floor, resulting in a flagrant foul. Seventeen days later against Florida State, Allen lifted his left leg and tripped Xavier Rathan-Mayes as the Seminoles guard began to run up…