Duke basketball: Dick Vitale puts Tar Heels on blast

Duke basketball fans aren’t alone in condemning UNC.

Dick Vitale likely would have been on the call for Saturday’s UNC-Duke basketball game in Chapel Hill if the ESPN legend wasn’t taking the rest of the season off while preparing for “surgery to treat dysplasia and ulcerated lesions of the vocal cords.” Still, the 82-year-old was watching from home and, like many others, didn’t like what he heard from the Dean E. Smith Center crowd.

ALSO READ: Classless UNC decides to honor Mike Krzyzewski after all

Here’s what Vitale tweeted on Monday morning in light of the F-bombs that so many UNC fans in attendance used to “honor” Hall of Famer Mike Krzyzewski during the 42nd-year Blue Devil head coach’s final visit to his chief rival’s home:

“The profanity at the [UNC-Duke game] was a disgrace. The F— Coach K chants were classless. No place for that; I know UNC is better than that…it was pathetic…DEAN SMITH would have never tolerated it.”

Duke basketball seemingly grateful for the chants nonetheless

In case you missed it, the Duke Blue Devils responded to the classless nonsense at UNC with their stellar play on the court right out of the gates.

ALSO READ: Duke beats the brakes off UNC in Coach K’s Chapel Hill finale

The Blue Devils jumped out to a 33-13 lead with eight minutes remaining in the first half and never looked back, ultimately bringing an 87-67 win back to the welcoming Duke faithful in Durham.

UNC will be in Cameron Indoor Stadium for Mike Krzyzewski’s final home game on March 5.

Now, though, the No. 7 Blue Devils (19-3, 9-2 ACC) face a quick turnaround. They host the Virginia Cavaliers (14-9, 8-5 ACC) at 7 p.m. ET Monday.

Stay tuned to Ball Durham for more Duke basketball news and views.