Kyle Filipowski recalls throat-punch against Virginia Tech, says he threw up on bench

In the waning moments of a very tight contest against Virginia Tech in late January, Duke star Kyle Filipowski was throat-punched accidentally by a celebrating Hokies player. And the Blue Devils phenom has opened up on the incident this summer.

In an episode of the The Brotherhood Podcast, Filipowski shared what happened with teammate and podcast host Ryan Young.

“At first I just could not breathe,” Filipowski said. “So I just had to get my wind back. And then I felt good, I felt fine after that once I got back to the bench. Except my throat was feeling weird. But then all the sudden I was just like, ‘Oh s***, I feel something.’ And so I had to throw up.”

The incident occurred when Virginia Tech’s MJ Collins hit a jumper from the right side of the lane with 13.6 seconds left.

The shot put Virginia Tech up 77-75, and Collins celebrated the big make as he turned to run back up the floor by clenching his fist and raising it in the air, all in one motion. His fist landed squarely on the jugular of Filipowski.

As Duke called timeout and went to draw up a play, the Kyle Filipowski throat-punch began to result in the 7-foot freshman heaving on the bench.

Still, coach Jon Scheyer was trying to draw up a play with minimal time remaining and needing a bucket to tie things up. Filipowski was his obvious go-to guy.

Young shared more of the story, which continued to get even more colorful.

“I’m the one throwing it,” Young relayed to Filipowski. “And I remember we’re obviously going to go to you, you have 29 (points) at that point, that’s what we have to do. And coach Scheyer’s drawing up the play and he’s telling me that you’re the first option and I’m looking down, two seats over, and you’re like throwing up into your towel.

“I remember looking immediately at coach Scheyer and being like, ‘Do we have a second option? Our first option is not looking like he’s going to be able to hit this.'”

Duke wouldn’t end up pulling off the late comeback, instead falling 78-75.

But it wasn’t for lack of trying on the part of Kyle Filipowski, throat-punch or not. The big man wanted back in and was ready to roll, even with the referees offering him a little extra time in the huddle after seeing him throw up everywhere.

“I remember coach Scheyer asking if he needed to call another timeout for me, and I think I told him I was good and we didn’t call another timeout,” Filipowski said.

A real show of guts, to say the least.