UNC Basketball: Duke players blow off handshakes after loss

Another UNC basketball victory over Duke, another postgame story revolving around members of the Duke program blowing off handshakes. 

We all know that there is no love whatsoever between the UNC basketball program and the Duke Blue Devils.

In fact, the rivalry has been alive and well this year, as there’s been some controversy surrounding when the two programs meet on the basketball court.

Back on March 5, North Carolina defeated Duke in Coach K’s final home game as the program’s head coach. After the game, two Duke assistant coaches blew off a handshake with Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis, a story that drew major headlines.

Just a few weeks later, the UNC basketball program once again spoiled Coach K’s farewell tour, and the storyline afterward was once again the lack of sportsmanship coming from the Blue Devils.

In the above video, you will see the handshake lines that were supposed to be between both programs. Instead of seeing both lines full of players and coaches, you’ll see a group of Blue Devils making their way to the locker room.

Afterward, the camera shows Coach Krzyzewski shaking the hands of the Tar Heels players with just one of his own players behind him: junior forward Wendell Moore.

Of course, this was an emotional game and a heartbreaking loss for the Blue Devils. However, regardless of the outcome, it is a sign of poor sportsmanship that the players couldn’t wait around a few minutes to shake their opponent’s hands after a hard-fought game on both sides.

Credit to Wendell Moore: when his team bolted to the locker room, he easily could’ve followed. Instead, he was classy enough to stay and congratulate the Tar Heels for their win, something that his teammates failed to do.

Tonight showed that the Blue Devils’ players followed how their coaches acted a few weeks back. After one of the most historic games in this rivalry’s history, it’s sad to see that the players couldn’t stick around to credit their opponent for their victory.

As always, stay classy Duke.

Follow us @KeepingItHeel on Twitter and like our fan page on Facebook for continued coverage of UNC basketball news, views, and recruiting updates, as well as everything March Madness.