Duke's Kyle Filipowski embracing villain role: 'You're spending your money to watch me beat your a--'

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Kyle Filipowski is joining the likes of Christian Laettner, J.J. Redick and Grayson Allen.

The rising Duke sophomore is now on the list of Blue Devil villains, but he sure is embracing the role.

All the hate he received as a freshman is just motivation to put Duke back to the pinnacle of men’s college basketball, Filipowski says.

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Duke's Kyle Filipowski defends the ball against Virginia's Ben Vander Plas in Charlottesville, Feb. 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Mike Kropf)

"I did experience some (hate) last year, just hearing a lot of bad talk about me," the seven-footer said on Duke basketball’s "The Brotherhood" podcast. "That's what happens when you're a really good player playing for a really good team…

"I use it as fuel to the fire. It makes me laugh because I'm like, 'You guys are talking s--- to me while you're watching me play. You're spending your money to watch me beat your a--.' It's very entertaining for me."

Filipowski averaged 15.1 points and 9 rebounds per game, both team-highs, in his 36 contests last year, all of which he started, en route to being named the ACC Rookie of the Year.

Center Kyle Filipowski of the Duke Blue Devils shoots a free throw against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Cassell Coliseum on January 23, 2023 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Ryan Hunt/Getty Images)

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He and the Dukies won the ACC Tournament in March but lost in the Round of 32 as a five-seed in this past March Madness tournament to No. 4 Tennessee. Filipowski says if he played anywhere else, he probably would have entered the