Getty Image
- Mike Krzyzewski will coach his final game on the road at North Carolina on Saturday.
- The Tar Heels do not plan to give him any love.
- Click HERE for more college hoops coverage!
When Duke basketball travels to Chapel Hill this weekend, it will mark head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final game at the University of North Carolina. However, the Tar Heels are choosing not to acknowledge the monumental event.
Coach K has been the head coach of the Blue Devils since 1980. Saturday’s game will mark the 95th time that he has coached against UNC. It is truly the end of an era.
Throughout his final season at the helm in Durham, many of Duke’s opponents have honored Coach K’s final game at their stadium. Over the weekend, Louisville gave him the coolest gift yet and brought back one of his longtime coaching rivals to shake his hand and give him a warm, final welcome.
North Carolina is doing nothing of the sort. There is no way that they would honor their biggest rival!
Instead of any pomp and circumstance, it will be business as usual. No gifts, no tribute video, nothing.
#UNC does not plan to do anything special (outside of a mention at the intro) for Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski next Saturday, Feb. 5.
Krzyzewski will be coaching his final game in the Smith Center.
No gifts, special ceremony, or anything of that nature.
— Ross Martin (@RossMartinNC) January 28, 2022
In his illustrious, 42-year coaching career, Coach K has a 49-46 record all-time against the Tar Heels. A road win in his final game at the Dean E. Smith Center on Saturday would be win No. 50 for him in the historic, storied rivalry.
While there is no expectation for a ceremony or any sort of gift, this decision comes as a bit of a surprise. Coach K has been coaching against UNC for more than four decades, to completely snub him is certainly a statement. It will be all about the basketball, which will surely give Krzyzewski even more motivation to leave the building for the final time as the victor.