DURHAM, NC – Mike Krzyowski knew he couldn’t write the end of his career, but it still hurts.
In what was supposed to be a celebration of Krzyzewski’s 42 years as coach of Duke, his final home game ended with a 94-81 loss on Saturday against rival North Carolina.
So, before the postgame celebration officially began, Krzyzewski took to a microphone in center field and delivered an impromptu message to the crowd, some of whom paid more than $10,000 for Vivid seats for the wrap party at the Cameron Indoor Stadium.
“Sorry this afternoon,” Krzyzewski said.
The crowd rose and called for calm.
“Today was unacceptable, but the season was very acceptable. And the season is not over, okay? », she said.
Indeed, this was not the final chapter of Krzyzewski’s tenure at Duke. The Blue Devils won the ACC regular season title for the first time since 2006, a fact Krzyzewski noted as he pointed to the myriad banners hanging from the roof of Cameron Stadium, with fans echoing his hopes for a sixth title. national.
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DukeMBB Men’s Basketball March 5, 2022
But for all the magic Krzyzewski has conjured on this building over the years, the latest trick was the demise of the Blue Devils defense. Duke drove in as many as nine, but during the brilliant second half, the unit eroded, looking lukewarm during the extended streak in which North Carolina scored 11 of its last 13 possessions.
Finish the Four Tar Heels with 20 or more points.
The ending hardly coincides with the tumultuous opening of the festivities.
Nearly 100 former players, including Duke Grant Hill legends Jason Williams, Shane Battier and Christian Latner, lined the field to welcome Krzyzewski to the ground one last time.
Cameron may have rolled out an official red carpet for the issue.
Fans cheered as comedian Jerry Seinfeld and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver sat next to each other, waving at the video board. Comedy stars Ken Jeong and Rita sat courtside along the baseline. Toronto Raptors coach Nick Norris, former Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki and NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens were also in attendance.
But it wasn’t the celebrities who stole the moment from the crowd (a house full of people more than an hour before the announcement, bursting with energy) and the extended Duke family who stole the show for Krzyzewski.
The former players formed a tunnel from one corner of the byline to the center box, and when Krzyzewski was announced, the crowd erupted. The 75-year-old, who officiated in his first game here in November 1980, has made his way through the battalion of former players, pounding his chest, bumping his fist or giving hugs. Many of them held cell phones aloft, recording the moment for posterity.
After Krzyzewski reached the end of class, the group gathered in the center area for a family reunion photo.
Once the match was over, it was business as usual for Krzyzewski. He sat in his usual seat near the back of the seat, constantly watching his arms crossed as UNC took an early lead, routinely yelling at officials, then seemed to accept the inevitable when Tar Heels free throws in the final minutes sold out the winner. stamp.
When it was over, the entire Duke team returned to the court, taking seats in the chairs where the UNC players had sat moments before, and Krzyzewski once again walked out of the locker room, along with his wife, Mickie. He met with his grandchildren and then walked up to the microphone to apologize.
The crowd didn’t accept any of that. There was no room for apologies on Saturday. Despite the result, the ceremony continued, with Duke VIPs receiving a host of honors before Krzyzewski took the microphone again.
“It’s hard for me to believe this is over,” he said. “So I’ll just say the regular season is over.”
Whether because of the score or simply his unwillingness to say goodbye, Krzyzewski was more interested in talking about the future than the past.
Above the duke’s seats, the 96 former players, most of them wearing white jerseys with a blue “K” on the front, watched the 96 former players, and Krzyzewski addressed them directly when he finished.
“We didn’t play well. [today]Krzyzewski said. And there were times when you didn’t either. «
That was Krzyzewski’s big line of applause, the arena laughed, and the tension that followed defeat melted away. But Krzyzewski did not perform.
“We need to fight for you, fight for the brotherhood and fight with all our might for the rest of this season,” he said. “Then I’ll be ready to get the hell out of here.”
