(Photo by: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

That sound of despair you hear emanating from Durham, North Carolina, is a collective "Crap" coming from the Duke Basketball faithful.

Duke announced this morning that Elliott Williams is leaving the team due to an illness in his family.

Unfortunately, that fact will be outweighed by many fans who'll see Williams' departure in more narrow terms as it relates to more bad news for Duke.

They would be right in a way, because that leaves Duke with only two guards on next year's squad.

But the focus of our attention should be on wishing the young man and his family the best. As fans, we become enthralled in the happenings of our favorite teams and forget these players are just kids with real lives beyond the court.

Williams is going through a serious personal issue, which would be private for most, but because of who he is and the school he attends it has become very public.

Many never have to deal with both of those things.

It is easy to lament over the difficulties it will bring for Duke next year, but that should be the least of our concerns.

As fans, all we really need to do is wish this young man well and let next year take care of itself.

It is easy for myself or anyone else to speculate what will happen with next year's team, but obviously the ones who are left to do anything about it are doing what we all should be, focusing on Williams and hoping things work out for him and his family. 

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?