Mike Krzyzewski’s final season has played out mostly as expected. The 42-year Duke men’s basketball head coach has collected his flowers at stops across the country as the Blue Devils once again churn toward an NCAA Tournament where they have legitimate Final Four hopes. The one visible wrinkle came when Coach K, in his final game at Cameron Indoor Stadium, lost his home finale to rival North Carolina in a surprising 13-point loss.
That, apparently, wasn’t the only thing UNC did to annoy Duke this year.
Per ESPN’s Wright Thompson, staffers and players may not have been happy the Tar Heels didn’t roll out the red carpet for the coach that’s been the biggest thorn in their side for more than four decades:
“Duke won that first game against Carolina—folks inside the program bristled that the Tar Heels didn’t honor Krzyzewski during the game—and then turned around and lost to Virginia, a well-coached team that gives Duke fits.”
It’s a strange windmill to tilt at, especially when that perceived slight may have been a motivating factor in a 87-67 Blue Devil win. But while other ACC foes like Virginia and Pitt gave the departing head coach special honors, UNC pretty much gave him a brief nod before the well-earned scorn the Tobacco Road rivalry demands.
It’s not as though North Carolina’s basketball program didn’t step up to praise Krzyzewski when he announced his final season on the sideline, either:
Nothing but respect to Coach K for his famed career in college hoops. Thanks for pushing us to always bring our "A" game and helping make our rivalry the best in sports.
We'll see you on the court. pic.twitter.com/DfrR94Mlpa
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) June 3, 2021
And here’s how Duke honored Roy Williams after he announced his retirement from the game after 18 seasons and three national championships with the Tar Heels.
Salute to UNC Head Coach Roy Williams on a legendary 48-year career. All respect. Thank you for all you have done for the game, our league and the greatest rivalry in sports. 🤝
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) April 1, 2021
“Roy has led two iconic programs and done so in exemplary fashion.”
𝑪𝒐𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝑲 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑹𝒐𝒚 𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒂𝒎𝒔 pic.twitter.com/BWOuxv0Fkd
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) April 1, 2021
Williams’ situation was different — he retired in the offseason rather than announcing his departure beforehand — but the two sides seemed to handle the situation gracefully and respectfully.
Coach K seemed to get a fitting goodbye from the UNC faithful, especially when an outpouring of anything more than begrudging respect would have felt manufactured. But still, it may have rubbed Duke basketball the wrong way. Of course, you wouldn’t know it from the way the Blue Devils played in Krzyzewski’s final game in Durham.
