Dillon Brooks led Oregon to a convincing win over Duke in the Sweet 16 Thursday night, and he got to learn from one of the best coaches in college basketball history while he was at it.
Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski was seen saying something to Brooks in the handshake line after the game. While Coach K told reporters he was simply congratulating Brooks, the Oregon forward said he actually was getting a mini-lecture.
“He just told me that I’m too good of a player to be showing out at the end,” Brooks said, per Pete Thamel of Sports Illustrated. “And he’s right. I’ve got to respect Duke.”
Coach K appeared to have words for Brooks in the first half after Brooks turned to the Blue Devils’ bench in celebration when he drained a 3-pointer. Then, with time winding down in the game, he sunk another 3-pointer with seven seconds left to give Oregon a 14-point lead rather than letting the shot clock expire.
“I’ve got to respect Duke,” Brooks later admitted, according to Josh Peter of USA Today Sports. “I’ve got to respect them. And you’ve got to learn from those things. He’s one of the greatest coaches. He coaches one of the greatest players.
“I’ve always got to keep that in mind. But at the same time that’s my fire, that’s my passion, and you know that’s what got me here today. So I’m gonna take in what he said, but I’m gonna keep doing me.”
That helps explain why Grayson Allen wanted no part of a hug from Brooks after the game.
Oregon coach Dana Altman said he instructed Brooks to take the final shot, though he noted he doesn’t want his players talking smack.
“Well, we don’t want our players talking, ever, so I’m not sure what he said or whatever,” Altman explained. “But we definitely don’t want Dillon talking, just playing.”
We know Coach K can get irritated after his team loses, and we saw an example of that earlier this season when he went on this rant. But in this case, it doesn’t seem like Brooks was offended.
