Coach K, players reflect on season & The Brotherhood
Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski and his players reflected on their season and close-knit team.
Duke’s season came to an end Saturday, but as much as the loss hurts Mike Krzyzewski and his players, they all are taking solace in the bond built throughout the season.
Krzyzewski has spoken all season long about his love for this team. He haas spoken about how close-knit this group has been.
Following the game Saturday, that’s where his focus was and how his players were reflecting on the past year.
Here are some thoughts from Krzyzewski, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Moore Jr., and Trevor Keels.
MIKE KRZYZEWSKI
On his emotions
“It’s not about me, especially right now. As a coach, I’m just concerned about these guys. I mean, they’re already crying on the court. And I mean that’s the only thing you can think about.
“And then going into the locker room, I’ve said my entire career — or when I knew what the hell I was doing — that I wanted my seasons to end where my team was either crying tears of joy or tears of sorrow because then you knew that they gave everything.
“And I had a locker room filled with guys who were crying. And it’s a beautiful sight. It’s not the sight that I would want. I’d want the other. But it’s a sight that I really respect and makes me understand just how good this group was.
“And that’s what I’m concerned — I don’t want any of these guys to leave and say, I should have made that one free throw; I should made that one — we win and we lose together. And we’ve won 32 games and two championships together. And that’s what I want them to realize.”
On coaching this team
“For these guys, they’ve been a joy. When we made our announcement it would be our last year — I told my wife, Mickie, look, we’re going for it. And I’m going to put everything into it. And I got a group, they’re young, but I think they’ve got a chance.
“And I was right about that. I was right about that. We had a few bumps in the road, but they won 32 games. And they turned it around in March where they’ve been beautiful young men to coach. I could not ask for more.”
On whether there is another message he gives the players upon his exit after tonight
“At some time. Let’s deal with tonight and the season. And obviously we’re concerned about all their futures and making sure that we give them good guidance and advice and support in how we move forward.
“And they know that I’ll always be with them. So they know that. And we’ll be able to move on as a program. But my relationships with them will always be there. Look, these guys are really good. They weren’t good, they were really good. And they’ve been a joy. They’ve been a joy.”
PAOLO BANCHERO
On The Brotherhood
“It’s much more than just a saying. That’s what I learned. Just coming here, being from Seattle, the West Coast, far from home, these guys embraced me from day one. And Coach, recruiting me, he lived up to everything he told me.
“It made me a better player. Made me a better man. And I thank him for that. And I’m just proud to have played with this group. We gave it our all, and it sucks we came up short, but I’m proud of the effort that we put in and the way we went out.”
On what it meant to be on the ride with Coach K in his final season
“Just being able to go to war with Coach and the team for the whole season — he was so committed to us all year. Never made it about him. And you’re just proud that we were able to go out and fight, be in a fight with Coach every game.
“You don’t get time to think about it right now, but I’m sure when we look back on it, we’re going to be proud that we got to play for him. And he had our back the whole year, had our back every game. Put a lot of trust in us. Always believed in us.”
WENDELL MOORE JR.
On what it meant to be on the ride with Coach K in his final season
“I think for me it’s been everything. Like these two guys up here, it was a dream of ours to come here. Coach delivered on every promise he gave us, and even more. Like Paolo said, he not only turned us into better players but better people. And we have someone like that a of his caliber, he doesn’t have to take the time to do any of that. He does it with his heart. He does everything with his heart. He loves each and every one of us dearly. And we all love him. So we can do nothing but thank him for everything he’s done for us.”
TREVOR KEELS
On The Brotherhood
“Brotherhood, I mean, it’s a family. It’s always been my dream to play for Duke since I was a little kid watching it on TV. And when I got the offer and I committed, I was all in. I knew it was a brotherhood. But I didn’t know it was this type of level. Like everybody’s family. Everybody wants what’s best for each other. Everybody loves each other. And it’s probably the best group I’ve ever played with.
“Every day they all talk to me, give me motivation, held me responsible for everything. And I’m happy that I played with them. And I’m happy I was able to come here and play with this group. I can’t ask for nothing else.”