Fans of UNC and members of the NCAA basketball media are ecstatic that Coach K’s tenure with the Tar Heels has come to an end
Coach K’s retirement celebrations have always been hampered by the UNC Tar Heels. They were the ultimate Final Four spoilers.
Mike Krzyzewski’s Duke career has come to an end, and UNC supporters will never forget how it ended.
North Carolina ruined Coach K’s last home game, then added insult to injury by sabotaging his last Final Four appearance. This effectively ruined Duke’s season and career, so Coach K was fired.
The Tar Heels defeated the Blue Devils 81-77 on Saturday night in the first-ever NCAA Tournament meeting between the two bitter rivals. The media, as well as UNC supporters, couldn’t get enough of it.
Coach K’s career comes to an end, and UNC fans and the NCAA basketball media respond.
One of the greatest games in NCAA Tournament history. Already. INSANITY. BUILDING ON FIRE.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) April 3, 2022
Coach K
Loses last home game in Cameron Indoor to UNC
Loses last game as head coach, in the final four, to UNC.
— /r/CollegeBasketball (@redditCBB) April 3, 2022
North Carolina has one upped Duke for eternity.
And there is absolutely NOTHING that the Blue Devils will EVER be able to do about it.
The Tar Heels are heading to MONDAY NIGHT.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 3, 2022
https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1510453549418881025
Coach K’s first year at Duke coincided with Georgia’s national championship season in football. The following school year, Georgia won the national championship, which was Coach K’s final season.
— Seth Emerson (@SethWEmerson) April 3, 2022
Duke is owned by UNC. Coach K was crushed in the final game at Cameron, and then buried in the final four. If you’re a Duke fan, you’ll never say anything negative about the Tar Heels again. They have tremendous control over you.
— Ryan Whitney (@ryanwhitney6) April 3, 2022
Coach K had plenty of chances to get one over on the Tar Heels over his career, but regardless of what happens on Monday night, the way it all ended for him will go down in UNC lore.
North Carolina, of course, has its sights set on the grand prize. Even if they don’t beat Kansas, this season will be viewed as a major success for the program.
They tied the NCAA record for the lowest seed to ever make the championship game as a No. 8 seed. They won the season series against Duke by defeating Coach K for the final time on his home court before knocking him out of the NCAA Tournament.
You can bet that Tar Heel fans will bring this night up in conversation with Blue Devils fans for years to come. The rivalry isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
