Mike Krzyzewski denies telling Oregon’s Dillon Brooks to stop showing off

Dillon Brooks ANAHEIM, CA – MARCH 24: Dillon Brooks #24 of the Oregon Ducks reacts in the second half while taking on the Duke Blue Devils in the 2016 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament West Regional at the Honda Center on March 24, 2016 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Oregon Ducks forward Dillon Brooks said after their 82-68 win that Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski told him he’s “too good of a player to be showing off at the end,” according to ESPN. Brooks knocked down a 3-pointer near halfcourt when his team had an 11-point lead with 10 seconds remaining in the game, which preceded Krzyzewski’s alleged comment.

Coach K denied the accusation from Brooks.

“I didn’t say that,” Krzyzewski said after the game. “You can say whatever you want. Dillon Brooks is a hell of a player. I said, ‘You’re a terrific player.’ And you can take whatever he said and then go with it, all right?”

According to ESPN, Brooks said that trash talk was going on throughout the game from both sides.

“They were all trash-talking,” Brooks said. “I wasn’t really trying to say too much. But it’s part of the game. Everybody trash-talks and tries to get you out of your game. But that just makes me go harder and fires me up.”

Brooks also said, via USA Today, that he and his teammates were happy and

“I was happy, my teammates were happy,” he said. “It’s not ignorant, it’s not cocky, it’s just me being happy to get past Duke and on to the Elite Eight.”

[…]

“I’ve got to respect Duke,” he said later. “I’ve got to respect them. And you’ve got to learn from those things. He’s one of the greatest coaches. He coaches one of the greatest players.

“I’ve always got to keep that in mind. But at the same time that’s my fire, that’s my passion, and you know that’s what got me here today. So I’m gonna take in what he said, but I’m gonna keep doing me.”

Coach K appeared to say something to Brooks in the first half after he made a three in front of the Duke bench. After making his shot, Brooks turned to the bench while celebrating.

Oregon coach Dana Altman was asked about the incident, and admitted he didn’t want Brooks or any of the Oregon players to trash talk Duke.

“Well, we don’t want our players talking, ever, so I’m not sure what he said or whatever. But we definitely don’t want Dillon talking, just playing.”

The Ducks will face second-seeded Oklahoma in the West Region Final on Saturday evening.

[ESPN, USA Today]

About Harry Lyles Jr.

Harry Lyles Jr. is an Atlanta-based writer, and a Georgia State University graduate.

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