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Oats regrets Coach K comments: 'I've got the utmost respect for him'

Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Alabama head coach Nate Oats apologized to Mike Krzyzewski after recently questioning the Duke bench boss' motives for calling on the NCAA to reassess the college basketball season.

"I kind of want to publicly apologize to Coach K for what I said," Oats said following his team's loss to Clemson on Saturday, according to Sports Illustrated's Joey Blackwell. "I actually felt terrible about it. Right after I got out of the press conference I reached out to him. He was gracious enough to return my call. We had a good talk on the phone, and I've got the utmost respect for him as a coach."

On Thursday, Oats suggested Duke's early-season home losses in nonconference play to Michigan State and Illinois may have prompted Krzyzewski's stance toward playing out the remainder of the season during the COVID-19 pandemic. Oats' comments received widespread criticism, including from Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim.

"It was unnecessary, it was wrong, and I apologized to (Coach K)," Oats added. "We had a good talk, I understand a lot more now where he's coming from. What's best for one program is not necessarily what's best for another program."

After opening their ACC schedule against Notre Dame on Dec. 16, the Blue Devils have nearly two weeks off before their next contest against Pittsburgh.

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