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.
The schadenfreude is real
Watching the ending of the Coach K Farewell Tour™ pic.twitter.com/NFkIWvyZX6
— Tate Frazier (@tatefrazier) March 6, 2022
While Michael Jordan is the perfect avatar for a banner (okay, not really) moment for Tar Heel basketball, I’m sure many college basketball fans chuckled in the same way.
"Crying Jordan" makes a comeback
Coach K game last home game at Duke vs UNC pic.twitter.com/WQVvnsiKbR
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) March 6, 2022
Oh man, I haven’t seen Crying Jordan used in earnest in a long while. It feels apt to come out for this result.
That's okay, let it all out.
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) March 6, 2022
That Ernie costume is incredible. Please don’t cry. No one can cry in a costume that amazing.
This was not a night for Lakers/Yankees/Duke fans
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Knowing that some rich Duke fans spent a million to get to watch an unranked Carolina team give Coach K a stunning loss … delicious
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) March 6, 2022
Don’t worry, Duke fans. I’m sure the Cowboys will bounce back next year.
Was it worth it?
Students slept in tents for weeks to watch Duke give up 94 in a loss to an average UNC team. Sports are amazing.
— Bennett Conlin (@BennettConlin) March 6, 2022
More power to you if going to Coach K’s last home game was that important to the fiber of your being. But losing like this, to the Tar Heels, that’s got to sting.
College basketball fans: Assemble!
All of #TheBrotherhood coming together to watch Coach K lose his last game at Cameron Indoor: pic.twitter.com/VMPuB4uNzV
— Tar Heel Nation (@UNC_TarHeelFan) March 6, 2022
I can’t even imagine what the reaction would be if Duke gets blown out along the way in Coach K’s final NCAA Tournament. The sports internet might break with no hope of repair.
