In almost 42 years as Duke’s head men’s basketball coach, Mike Krzyzewski has made a lot of friends and built a lot of meaningful lifelong relationships. Of course, win as much as Coach K’s teams over the decades, and you’re bound to make some bitter enemies, too.
Saturday night was Krzyzewski’s last game at Duke in front of a home crowd. Customary celebrations for a man who did so much, for this one program, were in order. But when a historic rival like North Carolina — who arguably has the greatest stake to hating everything Duke and Coach K — upends such celebrations in a 94-81 win, avid followers of the sport will respond in kind.
When the third-biggest blowout loss of your career to an unranked opponent happens on your home court, against a team who loves to loathe you — the jokes will be nonstop.
North Carolina played spoiler in Mike Krzyzewski's last home game as Duke head coach, winning 94-81.
The 13-point margin of defeat is Duke's 3rd-largest loss to an unranked opponent under Coach K. pic.twitter.com/Ztd1muWTnZ
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 6, 2022
And college hoops fans were anything but kind to Duke, but especially Krzyzewski.