The clapbacks, jokes and criticisms were so obvious that even Mike Krzyzewski saw them coming.
The Duke coach understood that raising the question of whether college basketball should consider pausing the season and pushing back the NCAA tournament now that COVID-19 vaccines are being administered was going to sound bad in the wake of the Blue Devils’ 83-68 loss to Illinois that dropped them to 2-2 on the season.
“Anything I say, someone can say, ‘Well, he’s saying that because he got his butt beat,’” Coach K said Tuesday. He later added, “I know somebody will take what I’m saying tonight and make it like I’m making excuses.