Troubling news came out of the Duke basketball program on Tuesday morning that two Blue Devils players were involved in an DWI incident over the weekend.
According to The (Raleigh) News & Observer, Michael Savarino, who happens to be the grandson of head coach Mike Krzyzewski, and star freshman Paolo Banchero face DWI-related charges after getting pulled over early on Sunday morning.
According to court records obtained by The News & Observer, Savarino, 20, was pulled over on Sunday after a stop sign violation. After a subsequent breathalyzer test showed a blood alcohol content of 0.08, he was arrested on DWI charges.
Banchero, a possible No. 1 overall pick in next year’s NBA Draft, was charged with with aiding and abetting DWI.
“We are reviewing a legal matter involving two members of the men’s basketball team,” Krzyzewski said in a statement to the News & Observer. “Any further actions as a result of this situation will ultimately be determined by the Vice President/Director of Athletics and University officials.”
The news of the weekend’s incident was a shock to world of college basketball on Tuesday morning. The fact that Savarino is Krzyzewski’s grandson and Banchero is one of Duke’s best players had many fans and media members wondering how the program’s coach reacted to the report.
One is a potential Top 5 pick. The other is Coach K’s grandson. https://t.co/j8dAAhMFzw
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) November 16, 2021
The Coach K Farewell Tour is off and runnin!!! https://t.co/RRhaGwqw3h
— UNC Barstool (@UNCBarstool) November 16, 2021
Coach K’s grandson, who came on the team as a walk-on and has since “earned” a scholarship, was behind the wheel. The entitlement is absolutely repugnant. https://t.co/0DRSab6oaC
— Meredith Cash (@mercash22) November 16, 2021
Can’t imagine Coach K was thrilled getting the call in the middle of the night that his grandson and Paolo Banchero were both arrested https://t.co/180BNbNl9N
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) November 16, 2021
Can’t even imagine what Coach K is thinking right now…
— Kaitlin Tomassoni (@ktomassoni1) November 16, 2021
When Coach K told his grandson “I want you have records at Duke” I don’t think he meant like this. https://t.co/RcgfZcQrSi
— /r/CollegeBasketball (@redditCBB) November 16, 2021
Savarino’s court date is scheduled for Dec. 9, according to The News & Observer. Banchero’s will reportedly take place on Dec. 8.
In the meantime, Duke will need to figure out what the status of the two players will be moving forward. The Blue Devils are scheduled to play on Tuesday night against Gardner-Webb. As of this morning, there was no update on whether or not Savarino and Banchero would be with the team.
Losing the latter for any extended period of time would be quite the blow for Coach K. Banchero is already averaging 19.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, establishing himself as one of the best young players in college basketball.
Time will tell what punishment, if any, Duke decides to dole out for the star freshman and Savarino.
The post College Basketball World Reacts To Tuesday’s Duke News appeared first on The Spun.