After Jake left the basketball court he regretted saying that to coach Guthridge, he always liked the coach very much and was liking the Tar Heels team and the university, so when he knew he wouldn't play he decided to say it because it was the reality he knew in his past life.
So he said it without thinking why maybe coach Guthridge could warn coach Smith and the team would have a chance not to lose this game, but he understood after saying that and seeing coach Guthridge furious that he shouldn't have said it because it seemed too much arrogant.
It was a shame, but as he had already said it was no use going back, the team could lose that game if he didn't play and what Jake said would be on coach Guthridge's mind, he hoped coach Guthridge and coach Smith wouldn't be resentful of it and their teammates didn't know.