Krzyzewski exhilarated, not relieved

WRALSportsFan

Krzyzewski exhilarated, not relieved

By Jake Lloyd

Aug 27, 2008

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Durham, N.C. — Mike Krzyzewski has claimed three national titles, reached 10 Final Fours and won 803 games.

But these days, the 61-year-old Duke coach isn't taking any wins for granted.

Krzyzewski spoke at a press conference in Durham Wednesday, two days removed from returning from Beijing after coaching the United States men's basketball team to a gold medal. And he scoffed at the notion that returning the U.S. to the top of the basketball world was simply a relief.

"At the end of that Spain (gold-medal) game, where most people would said, 'Weren't you relieved?' No, I wasn't. I was exhilarated. It was euphoric. It was the way it should be.

"And that's the way it's going to be for me for the rest of my career, too. It's going to be that way."

Krzyzewski said that in the past, the pressure of having such high expectations placed on him and his teams has, at times, kept him from enjoying the moment. He said those days are behind him.

"Over the years, whether it be our own people here at Duke, obviously our opponents, people in the media, they expect you to be perfect," Krzyzewski said. "They don't look at process any more. It's like, 'What? We haven't gone to the Final Four? What? We didn't win a national (championship)?'

"You know, very spoiled. And it ruins it a little bit — really a lot. And so part of that becomes where you win and sometimes you're just relieved to win. I'm not saying that that happens all the time, but it happens.

"For the rest of my career, I'm not going with that relief thing."

For three years, Krzyzewski dedicated himself to the USA Basketball program in addition to his duties with Duke. Now, gold medal in hand, he doesn't expect to have much of a role with the national team besides some possible consulting. Life should become less hectic.

And less tiring, though Krzyzewski made sure to qualify the type of fatigue his two jobs have caused.

"We all get tired, but there's good tired and bad tired," he said. "A good tired is doing something I love."

Krzyzewski joined the ranks of coaches with both college championships and Olympic gold on his resume. When asked to put the accomplishment in perspective, he said, "You're lucky. I got on some good people's buses."

Looking forward, Krzyzewski and his staff believe the Olympics experience will be beneficial for the Duke program. Even last season, the Blue Devils employed some principles of the Phoenix Suns' offensive system that Krzyzewski learned from fellow U.S. coach Mike D'Antoni

Assistant coaches Chris Collins and Steve Wojciechowski were on their head coach's staff in Beijing, and Collins thinks the three-year commitment was as much a basketball tutorial as it was a job accomplished.

"I've said a lot, it was like being in a coaches' clinic the last three summers," Collins said. "There are so many ideas, there are so many times we sat with the whole staff exchanging ideas, exchanging philosophies.

"And I think even so last year with our (Duke) team there were things we tinkered with that were a little bit different here or there, and we'll even add more things that coaches on our staff did but also the things you learn from the different countries. You know, it's a different game and different ideas and different ways and different things and different plays."

Krzyzewski spent time during the experience observing foreign teams' coaches and the international players. He marveled at the spirit of the Argentina players and the toughness of the Greek squad, which didn't feature a single NBA player.

While Duke won't play against international teams any time soon, its coach now has a firm grasp of how the game is played globally.

"I learned a lot in the three years I've been doing this," Krzyzewski said. "I think I'm a better coach — I know I'm a better coach after going through this … there's no question about that.

"And (I) have a great understanding, I think, of the international game right now — (of) how many good players there are, how many good coaches there are."

The coaching staff was busy in Beijing, but at least Collins and Wojciechowski made sure to maintain contact with the Devils back home who were watching. Duke's players sent Krzyzewski and his assistants off with a get-together before they went abroad. And they were there to greet them after 24 hours of traveling Monday evening.

The focus will return now to Duke basketball, as the Devils return all but one of their top players from a team that finished second in the ACC last season. And as the 2008-09 season approaches, the Devils are confident that the gold-medal winning experience will only help the future of Duke basketball.

"I think it was nothing but positive," Collins said. "And for our whole staff to be there and be together and talk basketball, you know, in a normal situation — it's not like that in the (normal) summers."

Most Recent Comments

"Is that all you got?"

Nope. How about this:

...more NCAA titles, more Final Fours, more ACC titles, more all-time wins, and more wins head-to-head.

Is that all you got? Pitiful! Keep on hatin'!!!!

"know all about petitioning to have something thrown out....What? You know, nevermind"

Yeah, dook fans don't usually want to go there. It's a good thing USA won the gold or K would be petitioning the IOC to have the loss wiped from his record.

know all about petitioning to have something thrown out....What? You know, nevermind, that immature, senseless statement doesn't deserve a response. I'm out and maybe all the a##holes, I mean tarholes, will leave this post about Coach K's success! It's obviously striking all kind of nerves in them! Peace!

Hey Ring guy, don't you have to go stock up on your Nursery blue oxfords, khaki's , and penny loafers, don't forget to NOT wear socks with those loafers for the upcoming b-ball season???? I hear Macy's has a sale going on 2 nursery blue oxford shirts for free IF you tell them you're a KaroWHINA fan. If you get all of the above I understand they'll throw in the pennies for the loafers for FREE!!!!

Hurry though, the sale ends Saturday. Oh, also if you show up at REDS Beach Club with your receipt in hand they'll let you in for $5.00.

HAPPY SHAGGIN'

WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan