Even with Jeff Allen, this would have been one of the toughest weeks of the season for the Virginia Tech men's basketball team. Without him, it will be especially daunting.

On Thursday, the Hokies (11-7, 2-2 ACC) will host No. 4 Duke (15-1, 3-0). Less than 48 hours later, they will visit Boston College (12-5, 3-1), where they are winless in six tries.

Allen, a freshman power forward averaging 12.8 points and 8.1 rebounds, is the Hokies' best post player, but he won't be able to help them in either game. Allen, the fourth-leading rebounder in the league, was suspended Sunday for both games by the ACC for bumping official Zelton Steed in Saturday's loss at Georgia Tech.

"That's a blow to their team," Duke assistant coach Chris Collins said Monday. "He's one of the best young big guys in the league. He's a load down in the paint -- outstanding rebounder, can score in the block. ... It'll affect what they do offensively, I think, a little bit down low -- and especially for us. People really try to attack us inside because of us being a little bit undersized and more perimeter-oriented."

Virginia Tech issued statements of apology Monday from Allen and coach Seth Greenberg, although Greenberg refused to discuss the incident on Monday's ACC conference call.

"I made a terrible mistake and take full responsibility," Allen said in the statement. "In the heat of the moment, I let my emotions get the best of me. ... I can assure you it will never happen again."

With the Hokies down 67-60, Allen left the game after picking up his fifth foul. He elbowed Steed while walking past him near the scorers' table. Steed whistled Allen for a technical foul and ejected him.

Allen's statement Monday about his emotions was an about-face from what Greenberg said Allen had told him Saturday.

"He told me that he was pulling his shirt out of his jersey [and] he didn't see the guy right away," Greenberg said after the game.

Greenberg, who had said after the game that he had not seen the incident, said Monday that Allen used "poor judgment."

"He made a terrible mistake and will learn from this experience," Greenberg said in the statement. "I have the utmost confidence that Jeff will never put himself in this situation again."

The ACC didn't buy that it was an accidental bump. Commissioner John Swofford punished Allen for "deliberately making contact" with Steed, the conference said in a statement Sunday.

Virginia Tech has not made Allen available for an interview since the incident. In his statement Monday, Allen apologized to Steed, the ACC, his teammates and coaches, and to "Hokie Nation."

Greenberg said in his statement that he respects Swofford's decision. He apologized to Steed as well.

"There are certain acts in sports that are unacceptable and cannot be tolerated. Approaching an official is one of them," Greenberg said.

Thursday's game on ESPN will no longer feature a clash of perhaps the ACC's top two freshmen, Allen and 6-foot-8 forward Kyle Singler (13.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg) of Duke.

Greenberg could go with a smaller lineup against the Blue Devils and move Deron Washington from small forward to power forward.

"Duke plays four guards at times," Greenberg said. "At any time, they can have four guys that can break you down off the dribble. ... They're such a well-balanced team in terms of their skill. ... We'll defend accordingly."

Greenberg also could opt to go with a big lineup and start Lewis Witcher in Allen's place at power forward, playing Witcher and center Cheick Diakite together. He hasn't usually done that this season because of the addition of Allen.

"We can play Cheick and Lewis together in certain situations," Greenberg said. "They play together every single day in practice."