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Elite Hate: Duke, Oregon trade sportsmanship blows

By Alex Butler

ANAHEIM, Calif., March 25 (UPI) -- With media members and countless camera lenses aimed at the hardwood this March, it's hard to get away with even the slightest shrug of poor sportsmanship.

Oregon and Duke learned that quickly, following the Ducks' 82-68 win Thursday against the Blue Devils in the Sweet 16.

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As the final seconds ticked off the clock in a 'no-doubter,' Oregon's Dillon Brooks launched and made a three-pointer against the surrendering Blue Devils. Earlier in the game, Brooks taunted the Duke bench while celebrating a shot.

Brooks finished the game with 22-points. As the final horn sounded, Brooks walked over to Duke's Grayson Allen and extended his arm for an embrace. Allen resisted by turning his head and walking away.

After the game, Brooks went through the handshake line and met Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski. Krzyzewski walked up to Brooks and appeared to share words with him.

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But the two had different accounts of what was said.

"He just told me that I'm too good of a player to be showing out at the end," Brooks said after the game. "And he's right. I've got to respect Duke."

Krzyzewski appeared short tempered when he rapidly fired back a response to a reporter, questioning him about the comment.

"I didn't say that," Krzyzewski said. "You can say whatever you want. Dillon Brooks is a hell of a player. I said, 'You're a terrific player.' You can take whatever he said and go with it."

Brooks, a sophomore, also had six assists and five rebounds in the victory.

"He said I'm a great player and I'm doing great things, but at the end of the game, the celebration stuff, I don't have to do that. I shouldn't be doing that," Brooks told Austin Meek after the game.

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Oregon faces Oklahoma at 6:09 p.m. Saturday in the Elite Eight at the Honda Center in Anaheim.

Allen has been caught for tripping opponents on multiple occasions this season, and was once reprimanded by the ACC.

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