“Caleb Love Is The Duke Killer”: Stinging Coach K’s Home, Ex-UNC Guard Channels Revenge in a Different Uniform

As Caleb Love took to the floor for pregame warmups on Friday night, he paid little attention to the notoriously loud Duke students who hurled obscenities at him. However, by the end of the game, Love had plenty to say. Upon returning to Durham as an Arizona Wildcat, Love made it clear that the UNC basketball program would always hold a special place in his heart.

The matchup between the Wildcats and Blue Devils, both top-25 teams, marked Love’s return to Durham. In his second game with Arizona after transferring from North Carolina, Love played a pivotal role, giving his team a significant 41-33 lead in the first half amidst six lead changes and seven ties.

Caleb Love humbled Coach K’s team

After another win in Cameron Indoor Stadium, the 6-foot-4 guard, who had previously played for the despised rival of the Blue Devils, North Carolina, and was largely responsible for ending the coaching career of Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski while playing for the Tar Heels, began waving his left hand emphatically to the furious fans.

However, he left UNC as part of the roster changes made by the Tar Heels after their disastrous season and joined Arizona, which had a home-and-home series scheduled with Duke. This brought him right back here, only two games into his career in Arizona, to play in an arena filled with animosity aimed at him even before the opening tip. “Hello, Caleb!” one spectator shouted. “You’re a disgrace!” as Love took warm-up shots, wearing yellow Beats by Dre headphones to block out the noise.

Read More: “You’re Going to Spend Your Money in Stupid Ways”: Ex-NBA Player Blames NIL Era for Caleb Love and UNC’s Fallout Last Season

Love was ready for anything. He didn’t run away from his past. Despite shooting poorly (3 for 10) and committing four of his six turnovers after halftime, he finished with 11 points. However, he left a lasting impression. At times, he seemed to be tuning out the occasionally deafening intensity, while at other times, he embraced the vindictive vibe.

Fans gave it a mixed reception

Caleb Love’s relocation has been difficult for his supporters to accept. Either he couldn’t move quickly enough, as he wrote “Tar Heel 4L” (for life) on the soles of his shoes. Fans have been storming the comment section as the Bleacher Report posted Caleb snippets on their Twitter handle.

“Caleb Love is just the Duke killer,” commented a fan under the video.

Watch This Story: Why Has Adam Silvers NBA Chosen Las Vegas for Its 1st in Season Tournament?

And yet another fan misses him so much in Duke as he wrote, “We love and miss you, Caleb, forever dogging Duke, and forever a Tarheel, #UNC.”