The meeting with Clemson was fiercely contested, the sort of defensive struggle that lends itself to bellicose words like “battle” and “war”.
To their credit, neither coach went that rhetorical route.
“Both teams played their hearts out,” said Mike Krzyzewski. “I’ll tell you what, basketball has gotten so physical—that was a really physical basketball game, both ways.”
Unspoken was the price each team will pay in bruises, strains and general wear and tear as we approach the end of the season.
Early in Krzyzewski’s Duke tenure opposing coaches groused about the physical nature of defense practiced by his Blue Devils.