TheCatsDomain.Com Message Boards: Coach K classy in defeat

This is topic Coach K classy in defeat in forum UK / NCAA Basketball at TheCatsDomain.Com Message Boards.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://www.thecatsdomain.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=28;t=030093

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 03-21-2014, 05:35 PM:

I would never had thunk it but coach made a classy move and congratulate him for it.

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski did not expect to be heading back to North Carolina before the first weekend of the tournament. The Blue Devils ran into an experienced and hungry Mercer team, and the end result was what could very well go down as the most shocking upset of the 2014 NCAA Tournament. Say what you will about Coach K, but he loses with class.

Immediately after his team’s 78-71 loss, Coach K visited the Mercer locker room to congratulate the Bears on a hard-fought victory.

“If we got beaten, at least we got beaten by a hell of a basketball team,” Coach K told the Bears, per USA Today’s Nicole Auerbach.

Krzyzewski had more high praise for Mercer during his postgame press conference.

“I want to wish Mercer the very best,” he said. “I love the game, and when the game’s played really well — I hope it’s us that’s playing it — but when it’s the other team, you applaud it. I applaud Mercer. They were absolutely terrific today.”

Link

Posted by SCWC (Member # 2464) on 03-21-2014, 05:59 PM:

He probably had a 30 minute drive to get home, this was practically a home game for Duke. Mercer start five seniors and are not a bad team. Duke had no real consistent inside game this season, relied on the three point shot and that kept them in the game today. I guess the writer did not realize that Duke never play their first round NCAA games outside the state of North Carolina, no going back home to North Carolina, he was playing in Raleigh NC.

[ 03-21-2014, 06:02 PM: Message edited by: SCWC ]

Posted by boomdaddy (Member # 2644) on 03-21-2014, 09:55 PM:

If I am his AD or one of his fan base or a student, I would be mad as hell at my coach for "applauding" the other team.

Winning matters. That is why they keep score.

[ 03-21-2014, 09:56 PM: Message edited by: boomdaddy ]

Posted by 2milesfromRupp (Member # 12640) on 03-22-2014, 12:50 AM:

IMO, this was all show. Damage control for an embarrassing loss. When I heard about the game, I was afraid for dukie v. A broken heart is hard to heal this time of year.

Posted by PaulCat (Member # 513) on 03-22-2014, 01:08 AM:

He addressed our team, or at least a few of the players, after Laettner hit the shot in '92.

Posted by boomdaddy (Member # 2644) on 03-22-2014, 01:22 AM:

I wasn't mad about Laetner stomping the UK player. I was mad that the UK player didn't punch Laetner....I think his name was timber something.....Both players would have been ejected and Kentucky would have advanced...lesson is don't lay down in the middle of a battle

Posted by Old Norm (Member # 1482) on 03-22-2014, 08:16 AM:

Aminu Timberlake. Probably spelled first name wrong.

Posted by Green-Bean (Member # 13551) on 03-22-2014, 01:44 PM:

Kunesky spelling, is good for that stuff when he gets Humiliated, and outcoached.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 03-22-2014, 05:10 PM:

I had a friend who used to work Coach K's ball camp every year and he said K was a lying no good son of a b----! When ever the cameras were on K was the nicest friendliest person you ever saw, but just as soon as the door was closed to the press he was the filthiest talking meanest acting person you ever saw to his own players especially!

He learned from the best at that RMK!

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 03-22-2014, 08:01 PM:

That is something as I have not heard any of his former players ever talk about him that way.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 03-22-2014, 08:15 PM:

You never heard any of Bob Knights players say anything bad about him either, and he didn't pull any punches when it came to his vulgarity!

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 03-22-2014, 09:25 PM:

MH, I don't like him any more than you do but he has done well by his players and you have to give him his due no matter how much you hate him. He has sent 49 players to the NBA. I found a list of them in the attached link. and that doesn't even have his latest 6 years of players that went to the NBA.

He also has had only "2" seasons where Duke has had double digit losses in 34 years. Hate him or not his record is awfully impressive.

Link

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 03-22-2014, 09:44 PM:

I don't necessarily despise him. I was just repeating what I had heard from a reliable source!

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 03-22-2014, 10:01 PM:

I would think the Mercer loss would bring him down a peg or two. [Wink]

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 03-22-2014, 11:00 PM:

A loss like that would humble any hall of fame coach!