Grayson Allen watch will be in full effect when North Carolina and Duke renew college basketball’s premier rivalry on Thursday night under the bright lights of ESPN. The Duke star has been the most talked about player in the country for his unfortunate habit of tripping opponents, which resulted in an indefinite suspension that lasted only one game earlier this season.
Even North Carolina thinks Grayson Allen gets too much criticism for tripping incidents
The Duke guard has support from his biggest rivals.
Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
Ricky O'Donnell has covered basketball at all levels for more than a decade at SB Nation. He’s currently the Associate Director of Programming.
Is North Carolina worried about a cheap shot from Allen? Hardly. Instead, the Tar Heels defended Allen when asked about the junior guard’s reputation as a dirty player and the ensuing media attention his actions have caused.
UNC point guard Joel Berry II once shared a backcourt with Allen (and also current Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell) on the Florida-based grassroots team Each 1 Teach 1 in high school. Berry told ESPN about his relationship with Allen and said the two are still friendly:
“I think he’s a great dude, even with the things that happened to him,” Berry said. “I’ve been around him a great bit, whether it was us playing in the [AAU] tournaments or going to the camps with each other, so I know him personally, and he’s a great guy.”
Roy Williams also rushed to Allen’s defense, telling the News & Observer that the Duke star’s tripping incidents have been blown way out of proportion:
“I see him trying to get over a screen and everybody here try it,” Williams said. “You put all your weight on one foot, what does your other leg do? It goes back. So I see all those things. I think he’s a wonderful kid who he himself, and Mike (Krzyzewski) himself, has said has made some mistakes.”
Allen was suspended after tripping Elon’s Steven Santa Ana on Dec. 21. It was the third time he was busted tripping an opponent after similar incidents against Louisville and Florida State last season.
Allen has continued to attract attention for any borderline dirty plays all season. It looked like he tried to trip a Boston College player, but the opponent stayed on his feet. Allen also ran into Florida State assistant coach Dennis Gates, but even he thought it was ridiculous the play was scrutinized.
Duke and North Carolina play at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday. Everyone stay upright.
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