It wasn’t just the crushing loss to North Carolina that left a bitter taste in the mouths of many Duke fans on Saturday.
After Tar Heel head coach Hubert Davis quit after refusing to shake hands with him after the game, Blue Devils assistant Chris Carrowell explains his rationale for the controversial move.
The former Duke player from 1996 to 2000 claimed that he was only avenging a previous snub. According to Carrowell, Davis “didn’t shake hands with us before the game”, according to a Raleigh News & Observer text.
Davis extended his hand to Carrawell after the match, but refused to shake his hand. Davis told reporters after the game that he did not understand why Carrowell reacted the way he did.
“I don’t know what it’s about,” he said. “I didn’t play against him. I don’t know him personally.”
Although Davis was not on the court for the traditional pregame handshake, according to News & Observer reports, he shook hands with Duke head coach Mike Krzyszewski before the game.
Davis, who played for the Blue Devils from 1988 to 1992, joined the coaching staff in 2012, six years before Carrowell returned to his alma mater.
Saturday’s competition was Krzyzewski’s last home game at Cameron Indoor before he retired after 42 seasons at the helm. It was only fitting that the Research Triangle rivalry would clash with Krzyzewski’s last dance, during which UNC toppled Duke 94-81.
Both the Tar Hells and Blue Devils will face their first opponents at the ACC tournament on Thursday.
After the postseason, Duke assistant John Scheier will take over as Coach K despite the recent drama surrounding his promotion.