The losing coach in the NCAA Tournament always gives a sullen interview in a quiet corridor to a TV reporter, and Wisconsin Badgers coach Bo Ryan was that coach Monday after the Duke Blue Devils won the national championship in a 68-63 victory over Wisconsin.
Ryan, speaking to CBS' Tracy Wolfson, made the most of his compulsory interview and took a snide shot at the officials without, of course, ever directly pointing a finger at the officials.
It was just a situation where you just have to be able to handle all the hands and the checking. All the body contact -- there was more body contact in this game than in any game we've played all year, and I just feel sorry for my guys that all of a sudden, a game was like that. I think they're struggling with that a little bit. We missed some opportunities. They hit some tough shots. You know, it's just a shame it had to be played that way.
Duke's Jahlil Okafor and Justise Winslow racked up foul trouble in the first half, and Okafor picked up his fourth foul with about nine minutes to play, but Duke spent much more time at the free throw line than the Badgers did in the second half.
Ryan reiterated his point during the postgame press conference:
Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan didn’t take long to address the officiating in the post game press conference. pic.twitter.com/aKDf7eDRdZ
— Joe Ovies (@joeovies) April 7, 2015
Would you care to elaborate, Bo? pic.twitter.com/5ouW3hscxU
— Joe Ovies (@joeovies) April 7, 2015
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SB Nation presents: There were some questionable calls, but Duke is still the champ