‘Pride’ Mike Krzyzewski focuses on Duke players’ feats, not himself after epic career ended with defeat to North Carolina
NEW ORLEANS – After the final game of his 47-year career, Mike Krzyzewski stepped onto the podium in a makeshift media room at the Superdome and spoke later. Duke An 81-77 defeat to North Carolina in the Final Four – exactly four weeks after Tar Heels ruined his final home game at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
But he’s not interested in talking about his legacy or career, which ended in New Orleans in a loss to his biggest rival.
“First of all, congratulations North Carolina,” Krzyzewski said. “Hubert and his staff and those kids have done a great job and tonight is a battle. It’s a game where the winners will have fun and the losers will be in pain. And That’s the kind of game we’re expecting. We’ve wanted to get on the other side of it, but I’m proud of what our boys have done.”
He added: “It’s not about me, especially right now. I’m just interested in these people. I mean, [they were] cried on the pitch, and I mean, that’s the only thing I can think of. “
In June, Krzyzewski announced that the 2021-22 season would be his last and assistant Jon Scheyer would replace him. With 1,202 wins, 13 ACC championships, and 5 national titles, he is often considered the greatest coach in college basketball history alongside John Wooden, the legendary UCLA frontman who won. 10 national titles in 12 years.
For Krzyzewski, Saturday marked the end of a 47-year career that included 42 seasons at Duke.
In 1975, Krzyzewski secured his first head coach job at the Army, where he remained for five seasons before being hired at Duke prior to the 1980-81 campaign. After finishing the under 500 league. But he directed the show to become the national championship game in its sixth season, beginning a dynasty that spanned generations.
Krzyzewski took his Division I job over 10 years before the NCAA passed the three-point line in 1986, and he’s thrived throughout the one-and-do era. Team Duke reached the Finals this season as the youngest team in Krzyzewski’s tenure.
Duke and North Carolina had never met in the NCAA tournament before Saturday’s meeting in the Final Four.
“It’s something I never thought of and never will,” said Hubert Davis when asked about letting Krzyzewski lose his last game of his career. “All I’m thinking about are these players. Coach K is unbelievable and that team is the best team, by far, we’ve played. We just happened to play more than last night. now on.”
While disappointed by the loss, Krzyzewski said the game – the teams had traded the lead in the final minutes – had hit the hype.
“Those kids from both teams played hard and the crowd stood for most of the game,” he said. “It’s a great game so it lives up to that [hype]. … I’m proud of my boys. We had chances a few minutes ago, but they were good. “
Krzyzewski has repeatedly told reporters that there will be another time and place for him to reflect on his career and legacy, but he wants to focus on players who are struggling with their emotions after. loss on Saturday.
“We gave it our best and it sucks that we got it short, but I’m proud of the effort we put in and the way we came out,” Paolo Banchero said after the game.
Now, college basketball will continue to move forward without Krzyzewski, who has been a beacon for the sport for more than four decades.
On November 28, 1975, he led the Army to a 56-29 victory over Lehigh in his first game as a college coach.
On Saturday, his Duke team suffered an 81-77 defeat to North Carolina in the final game of his career.
“I will be fine,” Krzyzewski said. “I’m so lucky to be in the arena. And when you’re in the arena, you’ll feel great or you’ll feel pain, but you’ll always feel great when you’re in the arena. And I I’m sure it’s something that I’ll remember when I look back. School was a great time.”
Krzyzewski then walked down a set of stairs into the waiting area as his wife, Mickie, stepped through the black curtain with family and friends in tow.
And Coach K is gone.
