Coach K's young Blue Devils growing up fast, 'becoming men' in NCAA Tournament as he changes approach
SAN FRANCISCO – Kids.
That’s the word Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski often uses while referring to his players, and it’s been especially apt during his farewell tour.
The Blue Devils’ starting lineup includes four underclassmen, and three of the top scorers are freshmen. In their young hands rests the expiration date of Krzyzewski’s legendary coaching career, which will end after this season, his 42nd at Duke.
“They are really a good group of kids,’’ Krzyzewski said, “and they're becoming men.’’
The transformation has been sudden and unexpected.
No. 2 seed Duke heads into its matchup against No. 4 seed Arkansas on Saturday in the Elite Eight exuding confidence and poise – traits that at times have eluded this team.
The Blue Devils entered the NCAA Tournament looking fragile after a 94-81 loss to North Carolina in Krzyzewski's final home game at Cameron Indoor Stadium, and, a week later, an 82-67 loss to Virginia Tech in the ACC Tournament championship game.
It was during that stretch, Krzyzewski recalled, that Duke’s legendary coach decided to make some changes. Not with the starting lineup. Not with the offense or defense. With himself.
“I just had a good meeting with myself,’’ Krzyzewski recalled. “I said that I got to do something. I got to help in some way, and part of it was my approach with them.’’
For example, Krzyzewski said, at halftime of the past two games, he has pulled out a chair and sat with his players for five minutes rather than rushing off to huddle with his assistants. Only then has he allowed himself to turn more fiery, he suggested.
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Call it a kinder, gentler Coach K.
“I think it's important for any leader to be that leader's biggest critic,’’ he said Friday. “… If you don't put truth on the table and take responsibility, then you won't make the best out of the situation that you are in.
“I don't know if that makes sense. It makes sense to me.’’
It’s hard to argue with the results.
After dispatching Cal State Fullerton in the first round of the tournament with a 78-61 victory, they found themselves in a precarious place: Facing Michigan State in the round of 32 and trailing 70-65 with five minutes left.
The Blue Devils responded with a 20-6 run that had Krzyzewski gushing after their 85-76 victory. He was gushing again Thursday night in the Sweet 16 when Duke fought off third-seeded Texas Tech, 78-73, while shooting 71 percent in the second half.
And talk about clutch.
Duke made its final five shots from the floor against Michigan State and its final eight shots from the floor against Texas Tech.
“I wouldn't say it's a new clutch gene,’’ Duke star freshman Paolo Banchero said. “I would say all year in the biggest moments we've always stepped up, and there's no bigger moment than this.’’
Sophomore point guard Jeremy Roach has asserted himself with bold drives into the lane. Banchero drained big shots and elevated his game. And collectively, the Blue Devils have risen to the moment – their biggest yet -- while emerging as college basketball’s version of Boyz II Men.
But Coach K’s “kids’’ figure to be tested again Saturday against the Razorbacks, whose starting lineup features four seniors.
Nolan Richardson, the Hall of Fame coach who led the Razorbacks to the national title in 1994 with a 76-72 victory over Duke and Krzyzewski in the championship game, predicted the Razorbacks would win Saturday night.
“When you look at it with the eye test, when they both (teams) play to their potentials, I think the Razorbacks are three, four, five points better at this point, hopefully because of maturity,’’ Richardson said.
Is the Blue Devils’ late-season growth spurt enough to prove Richardson wrong and give Krzyzewski a chance to coach in the 13th Final Four of his career? Krzyzewski seemed less fixated on that than a recent conversation he had with assistant Jon Scheyer, who will take over as head coach when Krzyzewski retires.
“He said, ‘You know, Coach, this is as good a group as we've had as far as getting along,’ ’’ Krzyzewski said. "… They've been really good, and for me to have that group in this final year for me, I think I'm very thankful for that.’’