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Duke basketball: Coach K apologizes for belittling student reporter (Video)

By Bre'ana Singleton

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - JANUARY 23: Mike Krzyzewski the head coach of the Duke Blue Devils gives instructions to his team against the Louisville Cardinals at KFC YUM! Center on January 23, 2021 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - JANUARY 23: Mike Krzyzewski the head coach of the Duke Blue Devils gives instructions to his team against the Louisville Cardinals at KFC YUM! Center on January 23, 2021 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Coach K was feeling the heat after Duke’s third straight loss and took his frustrations out on a student reporter.

This college basketball season hasn’t been one to remember for Duke basketball fans. Mixing a slow start with COVID-19, postponements, and cancellations was surely a recipe for disaster from the start. Duke lost its third straight game over the weekend and with the Blue Devils sitting at 5-5, it’s no surprise that Coach K is starting to feel the pressure.

Louisville took a 70-65 win over Duke on Saturday, knocking them out of the Top 25 rankings for the first time since 2016. The program’s unexpected struggles even have some questioning whether or not they’ll make The Big Dance at all this year.

The Louisville loss was particularly frustrating though, as Carlik Jones had himself a second half, scoring 19 of his 24 points after the break. Duke failed to hit a three to tie the game in the closing moments and had to settle for their 5th loss. A student reporter named Jake Piazza had an opportunity to question Coach K about the next steps for this Duke team but had to have been a little surprised by the shrewd answer he received.

Coach K apologized for belittling a Duke student reporter

Sheesh. There wasn’t anything strange or unusual about the students’ question, so what’s with the attitude from Coach K?

We can understand the irritably after such a tough loss but the answer was definitely unnecessarily sharp. It’s been a weird year for Coach K, missing games and possibly the tournament if they can’t right the ship.

Coach K did recognize he was wrong to belittle Piazza and spoke with him after his viral disparaging act to apologize for his behavior. It’s the least Coach K should have done, but he never should have treated Piazza with such disdain in the first place.

It remains to be seen if Coach K and Duke can put a spin on what’s started out as a somber season. But one thing’s for sure, he’s definitely got to learn how to lose a little better.

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