Last month when North Carolina beat Duke in the season finale, there was a lot of drama surrounding the post-game handshake line and perceived slights that led a Blue Devils’ assistant coach to spurn Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis.
Saturday, after UNC ended Duke’s season and Coach K’s career in the Final Four, it appears that there was even more drama from the Blue Devils during the post-game handshake. At least, those who actually stuck around to do it.
North Carolina beats Duke to advance to the National Championship!
"And Coach K's legendary career has come to a close."- Jim Nantz pic.twitter.com/yfW5YpnNVs
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) April 3, 2022
Following North Carolina’s hard-fought 81-77 win over Duke, it appeared that many of the Blue Devils’ players left without shaking hands with their opponents.
Most Duke players left the court without shaking hands. 😬 pic.twitter.com/2auN0aevlZ
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) April 3, 2022
While Coach K and Wendell Moore did make the rounds, it did seem that a sizable number of Duke players went straight to the locker room rather than engage in a time-honored tradition of sportsmanship.
Sadly, for many, it was a perfect summation of Coach K and his Duke program. A dominant era that was full of Final Fours and national titles but also one full of petty moments such as this. While the program will be remembered for its many wins, it will also be remembered for Grayson Allen’s cheap shots, Coach K publically calling out opposing players, and petty handshake dramas.
Suffice it to say, the reaction around the college basketball world to Saturday’s post-game handshake was pretty spicy, with many saying it was a perfect encapsulation of the Mike Krzyzewski era.
Tonight was a win for humanity. Good beat evil. Duke ditched the handshake line, and Coach K is dead. I’m not happy for me. I’m happy for us.
— Jeffrey Wright (@JWright929espn) April 3, 2022
don't be the handshake guy
don't be the handshake guy
don't be the handshake guy
did Duke skip the UNC handshake line and go straight to the locker rooms or did the cameras just not catch it?
— Simon Gibbs (@SimonGibbs26) April 3, 2022
I’m not going to lie…now that it’s over…I think I wanted Duke to win. Handshake line was kind of weak for Coach K. Rivalry wins I guess.
— Brent Martineau (@BrentASJax) April 3, 2022
https://twitter.com/jaycaspiankang/status/1510651488707645440
Majority of Duke’s players and coaching staff walked off the floor while UNC’s players celebrated after the final buzzer. Coach K waited until it subsided, then he went through the handshake line and acknowledged each Tar Heel.
If that’s his last image, it’s a good one.
— Cody Hills (@ByCodyHills) April 3, 2022
Mad respect to Duke’s Wendell Moore Jr. for remaining on the court to shake hands with UNC.
(It’s not about “owing” North Carolina anything, but he honorably stayed on the floor WITH HIS COACH to show sportsmanship in the face of a loss while others fled to the locker room.) https://t.co/gGjYKzr9i4— Andrea Green (@andi_green) April 3, 2022
Others noticed how the handshake between Coach K and Hubert Davis broke time and speed barriers.
The Coach K/Hubert Davis 0.03 second handshake was amazing.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) April 3, 2022
It’s never a dull moment when North Carolina and Duke play one another, including when the game is over. And even now that Coach K is gone, something tells us that the pettiness and drama will remain. Meanwhile, all the hand-wringing over handshake lines appears as it will continue into next season.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.