Some people were upset with the fact Coach K was trying to coach an opposing player, but many others were upset about the fact he tried to lie about the incident when asked about it after the game, saying he only congratulated Brooks in the postgame handshake line.
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Well, it turns out the Duke coach has a history of doing this. An article from 2007 has resurfaced in which then-Virginia Tech player Zabian Dowdell said Krzyzewski crticized him for celebrating after an upset win over Duke. Dowdell said he “popped his jersey in front of the Cameron Crazies,” and that caught the ire of Krzyzewski
“He just told me I’m too classy of a guy to be carrying on like that,” Dowdell said at the time.
When Krzyzewski was asked about it, he handled it about exactly like he did this year.
Chris Spatola, a son-in-law of Krzyzewski and former member of his Duke coaching staff, spoke about the Brooks incident Monday on Cleveland’s 92.3 The Fan and confirmed that the head coach has done this before.
Reporter: “He said … "
Krzyzewski: “That’s all I’m going to say about it because I admire the kid and I admire the program and it was a [great] win for them and I’ll say that forever.”
Reporter: “You … "
Krzyzewski: “That’s all I’m going to say about it.”
“It doesn’t make it right, but it’s not the first time that has happened, that’s for sure,” Spatola said.
Krzyzewski eventually apologized for the Brooks incident.
