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Clemson Pundit: Duke Basketball Lifer Jon Scheyer 'Privilege Showing'
Duke basketball sophomore guard Tyrese Proctor got the call and delivered. By doing so, the No. 12 Blue Devils (15-4, 6-2 ACC) flipped Saturday's one-point deficit with one tick to play into a 72-71 victory over Clemson (13-6, 3-5 ACC) in Cameron Indoor Stadium, extending their home winning streak against the Tigers to 21 games.
Freshman guard Jared McCain deserves a fair share of credit for his game-high 21 points and clutch performance on both ends of the floor.
And if not for sophomore forward Kyle Filipowski's difficult 3-point play with seven seconds remaining on the clock, Proctor might not have gotten the chance to play hero at the foul line after getting the call from the refs.
Speaking of Proctor's drawn foul on the Blue Devils' do-or-die possession, 14th-year Clemson head coach Brad Brownell noted his frustration with what the anti-Duke folks view as a gift from official Lamar Simpson. That's not to mention other supposed pro-Duke whistles that Brownell alluded to when talking to the media afterward.
"We've had some history with that official," Brownell said. "And so, that's why there was a lot of emotion from our bench, because we're a passionate group that fought their tails off and feel like the game was maybe take from us a little bit. And it shouldn't be decided like that...
"I do think there were times our guys were being hit. And it didn't seem the same [for Duke]."
During Jon Scheyer's press conference a few minutes later, the second-year Duke basketball head coach offered a rather long, candid response when he learned of Brownell statements about the officiating.
"I can go through the whole game and talk about the different plays of them pushing us in the back when we're blocking out," Scheyer explained. "I can go down the whole game. All I know is Tyrese Proctor made a heck of a play to drive it to the basket, and he gets fouled and shoots two free throws. He should be celebrated for that...
"All I know is I'm proud of my team, man. I'm proud of my team for finding a way to win and playing through contact. Look, I think there's a lot of contact both ways...A lot of contact both ways, and that's part of playing in the ACC. You've got to find a way to get a win, and the play that Flip made and the play that Tyrese made were big time."
Shortly after Scheyer's comments hit social media, Clemson sports radio personality William Qualkinbush helped lead what is a typical attack on all things Blue Devils whenever they avoid upset in the final seconds.
Qualkinbush took issue with the "privilege" of Scheyer, a national champion under legend Mike Krzyzewski as both a player (2010) and assistant (2015), pointing out Scheyer has "never played or coached anywhere else in CBB" and that "his privilege is showing."
He went as far as to liken Scheyer's speech to Bill Gates "lecturing poor people about poverty," adding that the 36-year-old Scheyer has "no idea what it's like out here for the unprivileged masses."
Maybe he does. Maybe he doesn't. Either way, at the end of the day, Duke won. Clemson didn't.
As is common this time of year, the Blue Devils, likely to return to the top 10 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll, are steadily improving. Meanwhile, the Tigers, who are 4-6 since their mid-December peak at No. 13, are once again heading in the wrong direction and whining about whistles.
Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke basketball news.
