Coach K reflects, plans to keep focus
Mike Krzyzewski is well aware of the challenges ahead of him on Saturday - North Carolina, his final game in Cameron and all the storylines that come with it.
The storylines are immense. They always are for Duke and North Carolina matchups.
There’s of course the discussion of the rivalry. The talk of game implications. Praise for the opponent and analysis of how challenging it will be to defend player X or player Y. Conversations of the history of the rivalry always works its way into talking points.
Over the years, the press conferences leading up to the game have always covered those topics. For the first time since I began covering Duke basketball in 2007, none of those questions were brought up.
Not a single one.
Mike Krzyzewski was not asked about UNC’s star, Armando Bacot. He wasn’t asked about how important a win would be for Duke’s positioning in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
The Blue Devils secured the ACC regular season title already, so even that was not discussed beyond Krzyzewski mentioning how he congratulated his team Wednesday night on the accomplishment.
And that was that.
It was strange to be sure.
The storylines were extensive, though. And in another first - sans his June 2021 press conference - Krzyzewski did not in annoyance shrug away the questions about emotion, finality or the future. For a man who has not permitted anyone around him to talk about what is to come - beyond game preparations - even he is broaching the topic of conversation.
Thursday morning, he spoke up to his staff with a revelation.
“I said, ‘who would’ve ever thought — it’s my senior day’,” he said with a laugh. “I won’t be concerned about me using up all my energy in warm-ups. So, I’ve tried not to think about it that much but I know it will be emotional.”
Imagine after dedicating 42 years of your life to something, knowing it is coming to an end and trying not to be emotional about it.
It’s as daunting of a challenge as you can imagine.
Krzyzewski is well aware of that fact, but even still, he knows he has to keep together. Unlike many who retire from long careers, his emotional state can directly impact the performance of those around him.
And for Krzyzewski, the ever present reminder is this is not just his moment. It’s his players’ as well. For many of them, this too will be their last game playing inside Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Just as it is for Krzyzewski, it’s also potentially their last game against North Carolina. And there’s no doubt that each and every one of them want it to be a victory. The gravity of it all is quite immeasurable.
For Krzyzewski is this the final game at Cameron, or is this his final game against Carolina?
“It doesn’t feel like either one of those,” Krzyzewski said. “It feels like I’m going to coach against Carolina, our next game and we’ve got to win. That’s the mindset if you’re able to push emotion off the plate. It’s got to be an emotion for the game. Otherwise you won’t do a good job in the game.”
Clearly maintaining that mindset will be a challenge, but Krzyzewski is quick to remind himself of the players.
There is some fear they will burden themselves with the pressure of it being Krzyzewski’s final game at Cameron, and a last opportunity to knock off the Tar Heels again at home. After all, they’re 18-22 years old, but they understand the magnitude of what will be taking place on Saturday.
It’s a historical moment and they’re responsible to carry their hall of fame coach off into the sunset with victories.
They must stay in the moment. For Krzyzewski, all he can do is make them understand it’s not only him they are playing for, but themselves as well.
“I don’t want them to feel — there’s so much about me, but the moment is about us,” he said. “So I want them to understand it’s our moment. And it just happens to be in this situation and for them not to play because it’s Coach’s last game, but to play because we should want to win. So I’ll try to get that message across to them.”
If he does, this Duke team could have yet another statement performance.
It’s hitting its stride, and Krzyzewski is seeing things from his team that reminds him of some of his most successful groups in the past.
This group can go a long way, and nothing should get in the way of that. Not a Coach K swan song, or anything else.
“I feel like in the last couple weeks, the maturity of our team - not that we were immature - the maturity of our team has blown up a lot,” Krzyzewski said. “And we’ve changed a couple things that we do and not doing as much, but doing a fewer things deeper. It gives them time to absorb more.
“Really, it showed up in our Virginia game. The practice the day before, we’re running defense and I look at them and I told Chris Carrawell and Jon (Scheyer) - I said, ‘these guys look like a machine out here. They look like one of our old teams.’ And right now we’re moving the ball better. We just seem to have made a jump and hopefully this game will help us make another jump.”
Duke is currently on a seven game win streak, and during that stretch the Blue Devils have outscored their opponents 81-65.
And each night, it seems as if a different player steps up and leads. The Blue Devils have six players who could take the lead on any given night and it’s been on display over the course of these last seven games.
When Krzyzewski talks about Duke playing like a machine, we’ve all seen it firsthand.
His priority now is not letting his emotions impact his players, or allowing the moment to be overwhelming for them.
As he stated, he needs their focus to be about their moment, and not his. He admittedly says it will be a challenge for not only him, but his team to put everything aside. Unlike all the pre-game ceremonies held at road games, the discussions of this being his final game at Cameron have been prominent.
It creates a different atmosphere. And for a man who prides himself on adapting and living in the moment, this one could be his biggest test to date.
“With this there’s so much before. It’s different. It’s just different,” he said. “Because I try to never look into the past too much or in the future, but a little bit of thinking yesterday - this is your last game in Cameron. It’s crazy. How did that happen? How is it here?
“I’ll have to spend some time - you know have a meeting with me. Maybe a few tough talks about keeping my eyes on the road so to speak. In sport you never know what’s going to happen, so the spontaneity of emotion, of performance is one of the great things about sport. It really is reality TV.
“I think I’m just overall going to let it happen and see what the hell happens. But try not to let it negatively influence anything for my players because for them it’s their game. They’re playing the game, I’m not playing the game. I’m responsible for making sure they have the best chance to win that game. I’ve got to keep my eyes on the road for them.”
Brian, not blowing smoke! That’s a helluva piece. I doubt many were able to grasp the moment like that.