VIDEO: Mike Krzyzewski Catching Heat for Handshake With Kevin Keatts After NC State Shocked Duke
By Jerry Trotta
NC State bolstered their NCAA Tournament resume by pulling off a convincing upset over No. 6 Duke on Wednesday night in Raleigh. The Blue Devils were thoroughly overpowered as they fell to the tune of an 88-66 defeat. As expected, head coach Mike Krzyzewski was heated after the final buzzer sounded, and he showed a complete lack of class in his handshake with Wolfpack HC Kevin Keatts. He's now rightfully catching criticism.
Coach K, gracious as ever in defeat, with the heartfelt congratulations to Coach Kevin Keatts after NCSU hammers Duke. pic.twitter.com/2Yg6pujCTA
— Not Jerry Tipton (@NotJerryTipton) February 20, 2020
That's pretty much indefensible from Coach K.
Krzyzewski obviously wasn't thrilled that his Blue Devils lost after ascending to the top of the ACC standings, but he couldn't even be bothered to congratulate Keatts on a pivotal win? That's standard protocol from coaches on the losing end of upsets in college basketball.
It's an unwritten rule, and for a guy Krzyzewski to show disrespect like this is unbecoming.
No. 6 Duke lacked any hunger and suffered the worst loss to an unranked opponent in Mike Krzyzewski's 40-year tenure. https://t.co/0H3TrDJpST
— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) February 20, 2020
Duke's loss was historically bad, as it marked the first time in over four decades the Blue Devils lost by 20 or more as a top-10 team.
But you win plenty. Credit the underdog when it's called for.