Why did Coach K skip the handshake line? Jim Boeheim explains
Duke was handed its third straight loss, as Tyler Roberson's 14 points and 20 rebounds led unranked Syracuse to a 64-62 win on Wednesday night inside Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski received criticism after the game for skipping several Syracuse players in the postgame handshake line.
Many concluded that Coach K was looking for the referees, upset that no foul was called on the final possession of the game. On Tuesday afternoon, Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim, Coach K's good friend and counterpart in yesterday's contest, set the record straight during his on-air interview with ESPN Radio Syracuse (transcribed byBrent Axe of Syracuse.com).
"He came down the handshake line, somebody told me from who was sitting there, that he was upset with some Duke students who were yelling at our players," Boeheim said. "He was looking at them. The referees were long gone at that time. I heard people on radio today talking about how he was looking at them, but that's not the case, from what I understand. He wouldn't do that. He doesn't like Duke students yelling at players. He's very tough about that. He's as classy as any coach. "
Syracuse freshman swingman Malachi Richardson split a pair of free throws with 2.1 seconds remaining. Duke guard Matt Jones corralled Richardson's missed free throws and attempted to draw contact with Trevor Cooney on his three-quarters court heave. Despite going to the ground as time expired, Jones did not get the call from the officials.
"The last play is amazing,'' Krzyzewski said after the game. "Have you seen it? Go see it. It is literally amazing."
Monday was the only regular season meeting between the Orange and Blue Devils.
(h/t Syracuse.com)
