In the handshake line after Oregon beat Duke, Mike Krzyzewski scolded Dillon Brooks: “You’re too good of a player to showboat,” he said. When asked about it later, Krzyzewski got pissy with reporters and lied about what he said. Then the audio came out. Krzyzewski apologized, not because he thought what he did was wrong, but because he got caught.
How do we know? He’s done it before.
Via R.L. Bynum, here’s a story on a 2007 Virginia Tech upset win over Duke, in which Hokie guard Zabian Dowdell reportedly bumped chests with a teammate and popped his jersey in front of the Duke fans. Krzyzewski, as we’re learning is a pattern for him, brought it up with Dowdell after the game.
“He just told me I’m too classy of a guy to be carrying on like that,” said Dowdell.
On Monday’s ACC teleconference, Roanoke Times reporter Mark Berman attempted to bring it up, but was interrupted by Krzyzewski - repeatedly.
“I understand you did speak to Zabian Dowdell about how he was celebrating,” Berman started.
“No, no, I just congratulated him,” Krzyzewski said. “I respect the heck out of him. He’s a great kid and that’s enough said. He was fabulous. That’s the main message that was made.”
“He said ...”
“That’s all I’m going to say about it because I admire the kid and I admire the program and it was a [great] win for them and I’ll say that forever.”
“You ...”
“That’s all I’m going to say about it,” Krzyzewski said.
Incredible! The exact same sentiment as the one he expressed to Brooks, and the exact same snippy deflection afterward. I wonder if Krzyzewski would say he “reacted incorrectly” to those questions as well. I guess you can never claim Coach K isn’t at least consistent in his hypocrisy.