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    Mike Krzyzewski Explains 'Blip' Comment Regarding NCAA Corruption Scandal

    Joseph Zucker@@JosephZuckerFeatured ColumnistOctober 24, 2018

    Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski speaks to members of the media during an NCAA college basketball media day press conference in Durham, N.C., Monday, Oct. 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
    Gerry Broome/Associated Press

    Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski clarified Tuesday a comment he made appearing to minimize the ongoing corruption scandal in college basketball. 

    Earlier this month, Krzyzewski described the FBI's ongoing trial as "a blip" and "not what's happening" in college basketball writ large. 

    Following the Blue Devils' exhibition game on Tuesday, The Athletic's C.J. Brown shared Krzyzewski's clarification in which he said he wasn't trying to say the scandal is a small issue but that it's difficult to know the full scope:

    C.L. Brown @clbrownhoops

    In Mike Krzyzewski’s post game, he elaborated a bit on his ‘blip’ remark regarding the recruiting underworld exposed in the college basketball corruption trial (and i didnt want to just take one quote) https://t.co/Ehct0UPjJa

    ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach first reported in September 2017 the FBI had arrested 10 people as part of its investigation into college basketball corruption. Among those included as part of the investigation were assistant coaches from the Arizona Wildcats, Auburn Tigers, Louisville Cardinals, Miami Hurricanes, Oklahoma State Cowboys and USC Trojans.

    Louisville fired athletic director Tom Jurich and head coach Rick Pitino in part as a result of the fallout from the scandal. According to Schlabach, former Adidas executive Jim Gatto and former sports agent Christian Dawkins had worked with an assistant coach at Louisville to pay Brian Bowen's family $100,000.

    During the trial, Gatto's attorney implicated more schools and recruits who have since joined the college ranks.

    Dan Wetzel @DanWetzel

    During opening statement this morning, Jim Gattto's atty promised evidence would show Oregon offered "an atronomical amount of money" to recruit Brian Bowen to play for the Ducks. The $100,000 deal to attend Louisville was to "level the playing field."

    Mike Krzyzewski Explains 'Blip' Comment Regarding NCAA Corruption Scandal
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    Adam Zagoria @AdamZagoria

    Gatto’s defense attorney says Gatto ‘was told Arizona was going to pay or had offered to pay (Nassir Little) $150K if he went to Arizona. ‘Jim was asked to level the playing field so Nassar could go to Miami, an Adidas school.’ Little is now at UNC, a Nike/Jordan school.

    Dan Wetzel @DanWetzel

    Gatto's atty also said Under Armor paid $20,000 to recruit Silvio De Sousa to sign with Maryland and Arizona offered $150,000 for Nassir Little. De Sousa is at Kansas, Little at UNC now. Goal is to make all of college hoops look corrupt.

    While Krzyzewski hasn't faced the same level of scrutiny as other coaches as the situation drags on, SB Nation's Ricky O'Donnell noted Duke has been linked to potential NCAA infractions in the past. 

    Yahoo Sports' Dan Wetzel also reported Kansas Jayhawks assistant coach Kurtis Townsend had been recorded discussing with Adidas consultant Merl Code the requests from a member of Zion Williamson's family during Williamson's recruitment.

    "I know what he's asking for," Code said to Townsend. "He's asking for opportunities from an occupational perspective, he's asking for cash in the pocket and he's asking for housing for him and his family."

    Williamson was the No. 5 overall player in the 2018 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings, and signed with Duke ahead of the 2018-19 season.