Pitino: Grayson Allen is 'the modern-day Christian Laettner'

Grayson Allen has become public enemy number one anytime Duke takes the road, and the treatment towards him reminds Louisville coach Rick Pitino of a former Duke player that riled up opposing fan bases.

"You hear the crowds everywhere he goes. They bury him. He's the modern-day Christian Laettner right now," Pitino told Ben Roberts of the Lexington Herald-Leader, before adding, "I happen to think he's a terrific young man."

Pitino was the coach of Kentucky during Laettner's run with Duke in the early 1990s, one that included the game-winning jumper against the Wildcats in the 1992 NCAA Tournament. His skill, along with his ability to antagonize opposing players and fans, drove the Blue Devils star to become one of the most-hated players on NCAA history.

Allen drew the ire of many after being served a one-game suspension by Mike Krzyzewski for his third tripping incident in two years earlier this season, and was booed heavily throughout the Cardinals' win over the Blue Devils on Saturday.

Louisville guard Donovan Mitchell also voiced his support for Allen, telling reporters after the game that his home crowd went too far.

"It was a little bit much, in my opinion," Mitchell admitted. "At the end of the day, he's a kid. And I kind of feel for that. I don't think any parents want to see their kid chanted against like that."

Allen did score a game-high 23 points, so the crowd didn't appear to affect him all too much. Mitchell, who fell to the ground with Allen at one point, said he's never seen a player heckled so much in one game.

"Everybody kind of blows his stuff out of proportion," Mitchell said. "He's a good kid. He just plays the game with such passion as acts of competiveness."