Mike Krzyzewski
Mike Krzyzewski
Michael William Krzyzewskiis an American college basketball coach and former player. Since 1980, he has served as the head men's basketball coach at Duke University. At Duke, Krzyzewski has led the Blue Devils to five NCAA Championships, 12 Final Fours, 12 ACC regular season titles, and 13 ACC Tournament championships. Krzyzewski is also the coach of the United States men's national basketball team, whom he led to two gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics and 2012 Summer Olympics. He...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionCoach
Date of Birth13 February 1947
CityChicago, IL
CountryUnited States of America
I just felt it (Friday) at practice, that we were finally in the NCAA Tournament. Southern did us a favor by playing so well. We needed to get on to the next thing.
Giving back what the game has given you, that's one of the things I want to permeate through the program for the next three years and serve as a basis for the team, ... I hope the players look at it that way, too. You forget how lucky you are to be in a specific situation sometimes. We need to get that feeling going again.
We weren't ever a dominant team. We knew that. So things had to go right for us to win.
We will put together a team that will represent our country on and off the court and the way the game should be played, ... It's our game and it's time to reclaim it.
I've always said that you want to end the season where you're cutting down the nets or you're crying in your locker room. And our kids were all crying in our locker room.
You should crave this opportunity, to be in that moment. It's exciting. The beauty of the tournament is you have one pitch. You hit it or you miss it. If you hit it, you get another pitch.
I don't feel like crying, I feel happy. Not that we lost, but I feel happy that I've had them. I mean how lucky. We have been really fortunate with this group, these seniors, to have four years like that.
Lee was aggressive, not just with his shot, but that's the best defense he's played for a while. He was there.
I love Collins; he's unflappable. For them to win, I think they needed Collins to be who Collins is and one of those other two guys have a good night. Just Collins had that night, and that's one of the reasons that we won.
It's his time. He's 27 years old now. He should try to assume a position of leadership in the team. I would think he's very hungry to do this. I see him fitting in very, very well.
It?s his time. He?s 27 years old. He should try to assume a position of leadership on the team. I would think he?s very hungry to do this.
They're both great scorers. I think some collegiate players going into this type of situation would be a little bit intimidated. I don't think either one of these guys will. They more define the specialist role.
That's the best team we've played. They know what they're doing and they do it well. It's a big win for us.
I just told the guys to go out and have fun.