UNC fans, NCAA basketball media rejoice over Tar Heels ending Coach K’s career
The UNC Tar Heels have made a habit of getting in the way of Coach K’s retirement celebrations. They were the ultimate spoilers in the Final Four.
Mike Krzyzewski’s Duke career is over and UNC fans are never going to let the Blue Devils forget how it ended.
North Carolina spoiled Coach K’s final home game, then they added insult to injury by spoiling his last ever Final Four appearance, ending Duke’s season and his career.
On Saturday night, in the first-ever NCAA Tournament meeting between the two bitter rivals, the Tar Heels bested the Blue Devils, 81-77. UNC fans couldn’t get enough of it and even the media piled on.
UNC fans, NCAA basketball media react to the end of Coach K’s career
One of the greatest games in NCAA Tournament history. Already. INSANITY. BUILDING ON FIRE.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) April 3, 2022
Coach K
— /r/CollegeBasketball (@redditCBB) April 3, 2022
Loses last home game in Cameron Indoor to UNC
Loses last game as head coach, in the final four, to UNC.
North Carolina has one upped Duke for eternity.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 3, 2022
And there is absolutely NOTHING that the Blue Devils will EVER be able to do about it.
The Tar Heels are heading to MONDAY NIGHT.
https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1510453549418881025
Coach K’s first season at Duke was the same school year Georgia won a football national championship. Coach K’s final season was the next school year Georgia won a national championship.
— Seth Emerson (@SethWEmerson) April 3, 2022
"THE FAIRYTALE RIDE FOR THE TAR HEELS CONTINUES!" 🗣@UNC_Basketball is heading to the #NationalChampionship! pic.twitter.com/PGaKB0Wjoo
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 3, 2022
UNC HAS DONE IT
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) April 3, 2022
DOWN GOES DUKE pic.twitter.com/IdPWOnYx6x
https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1510453737030139914
A HISTORIC run for the Tar Heels... but they're not done yet!!! 🗣 #MFinalFour pic.twitter.com/OKwPKPWpTD
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 3, 2022
8-SEED UNC TAKES DOWN DUKE TO HEAD TO THE TITLE GAME 😱 pic.twitter.com/xSKoEwSuNm
— ESPN (@espn) April 3, 2022
UNC OWNS DUKE. Crushed coach K in final game at Cameron and then just buried him in the final four. If you’re a Duke fan you can never say one word about the Tar Heels ever again. They completely own you.
— Ryan Whitney (@ryanwhitney6) April 3, 2022
Coach K had plenty of opportunities to get one over on the Tar Heels during his career, but the way it all ended for him will go down in UNC lore regardless of what happens on Monday night.
Of course, North Carolina has their eye on the ultimate prize. If they don’t manage to beat Kansas, though, this season will still feel like a huge win for the program.
As a No. 8 seed, they tied the NCAA record for the lowest seed to ever make the title game. They won the season series against Duke by beating Coach K on his home floor for the last time and then knocking him out of the NCAA Tournament.
You can bet Tar Heel fans will bring up this night for years to come, especially when interacting with Blue Devils fans. The rivalry is definitely not going to cool down any time soon.
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