Apparently, no one was prepared for Duke to lose.
From the athletic administration at Duke to ESPN, all plans were proceeding for a big Blue Devils win in Mike Krzyzewski’s last game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Except nobody told the Tar Heels they were supposed to lose.
When they rallied from a 7-point deficit midway in the second half and ran away from their fourth-ranked hosts, it became awkward from the post-game handshake line to the celebration that followed.
The capacity crowd was asked not to leave, so it sat there stunned when the buzzer ended UNC’s unexpected 94-81 victory. Considering how well Hubert Davis’ team was playing with 10 wins in its last 12 games and four in a row on the road, it was bad planning.
Krzyzewski shook hands with Davis and spent an extra minute congratulating Armando Bacot, one of the UNC stars who later treated Coach K with great respect in his post-game remarks. But assistant coaches Chris Carrawell and Nolan Smith were not nearly as friendly.
Carrawell was seen on video not accepting Davis’ hand, causing Davis to look at him as he kept moving. Smith did shake but turned his head to the left and did not make eye contact with Hubert.
So what was this all about? He definitely blew off Hubert Davis’ handshake. #UNCvsDuke #Sportsmanship pic.twitter.com/XoYQ0xlK8C
— Jason Staples (@DocStaples) March 6, 2022
It was likely the aftershock of losing a game they were expected and supposed to win after routing the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill on February 5. When asked about it, Davis said he never played against Carrawell, didn’t know him and wasn’t sure what it was about.
Later that evening, Carrawell texted local media and said Davis “did not shake our hands before the game.”
As the court cleared, the Cameron staff began arranging a few chairs for Coach K, his family and three Duke officials who would participate in the ceremony that was covered live by ESPN. The cable network had not made plans to interview any Duke players but was left with a need to talk to some member of the victorious Tar Heels.
UNC sports media director Steve Kirschner had arranged for a couple of players to come out and speak with reporter Holly Rowe as Bacot and Davis were on the way to the Duke press room.
Eventually, after more interviews in the locker room, the Carolina contingent was on the bus back to Chapel Hill, where it cruised Franklin Street, which was still packed with delirious fans.
Photo via AP Photo/Gerry Broome.
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