Count Roy Williams among those who think Duke's Grayson Allen is getting a raw deal
Williams calls the criticism of Allen 'way blown out of proportion'
Every move Duke guard Grayson Allen has made this season has been analyzed with a magnifying glass. Since tripping an Elon player on Dec. 21, his every move has been questioned, along with his intent.
Amid the scrutiny, Allen has apparently found a voice of support from an unlikely backer.
Ahead of Thursday night's Tobacco Road rivalry game between North Carolina and Duke, Tar Heels coach Roy Williams shared his thoughts on Allen's situation, calling the scrutiny "way, way, way blown out of proportion," via the News & Observer.
"I see him trying to get over a screen and everybody here try it," Williams said. "You put all your weight on one foot, what does your other leg do? It goes back. So I see all those things. I think he's a wonderful kid who he himself, and Mike Krzyzewski himself, has said has made some mistakes."
After serving the one-game suspension for the first incident this season, Allen has not been able to stay out of the spotlight. Time and again he has been at the center of controversy for flailing arms and/or legs and colliding with opponents in, shall we say, somewhat unnatural movements. Guilty or not, Allen has been the most talked about player in college basketball.
UNC guard Joel Berry II, a former AAU teammate of Allen's, said the limelight comes with a microscope. But he's surprised Allen has been watched so closely.
"They try to find the littlest things, but that's what happens, that's what the media does, and it's all part of it," Berry said. "I think now with him being (on) the radar like he is, he just has to be twice as good. You can't just get into situations where like I think NC State, he tried to walk through their huddle.
"You might as well just walk around the huddle. ... You might as well just try to stay out of the media."
Simple advice from a former teammate, and words that would benefit Allen greatly if he took heed to them.
North Carolina and Duke play at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday.
















