Gold Medal Winning Coach Mike Krzyzewski Returns Home

Just minutes after placing his feet on Americam soil, Mike Krzyzewski addressed a throng of media members and adoring fans at RDU International Airport.  Coach K is still immersing himself in the Olympic experience and will continue to do so as the media requests are sure to come in from well, everywhere.

That’s the life of the legendary college coach who melded together NBA stars into a cohesive unit which of course made all things golden.  While the Chinese media gravitated towards players like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant making them darlings, Coach K is sure to get lots of love in the coming days.

Coach K was flanked by family, in both blood and Duke Blue brotherhood.  As he took to the podium, assistant coaches Steve Wojciechowski, Chris Collins and head of basketball operations Chris Spatola stood at attention behind their captain with the American flag as the backdrop.  His wife Mickie, daughters and their children were just to his right.

In typical Krzyzewski style, he first commented about the players.  “The players were amazing, both on the court and off.  They represented us so very well.”  He then gave props to Spain for a competitive game.  At that point chants of USA, USA, USA, USA could be heard ringing in the corridors of the airport.

He didn’t stop with his praise and commended China on being a good host before joking, “If they had elections there which they don’t, and Kobe  was a write in, Kobe might win.”  This brought laughter from the crowd and allowed his staff to crack a smile in the background.  He continued on Kobe, “Thank goodness he took over at the end of the game.”

He then showed graciousness towards his staff, including new Stanford coach Johhny Dawkins saying they worked tirelessly with no recognition.  You can bet that the work proved worthy for each and will look fabulous on their resumes.  “It’s definitely the best basketball experience I’ve been involved with,” said Duke assistant Chris Collins.

Knowing Coach K, he was probably already mapping out recruiting plans on the flight.  He was quick to quip with a smile, ” It’s so good now to just be the Duke Coach,” which brought about applause from Iron Duke Members and fans alike.  He then said, “It’s really good being the Duke coach having won the Olympics.”

“You don’t realize how proud you are to be an American until you are in those settings and you’re representing your country, said Kryzyzewski.  He then reflected on the awesome accomplishment of winning the Gold Medal, ” During the National Anthem before the Gold Medal game, we are all standing there just mouthing the words and all of a sudden you get emotional.  You start crying and say “Boy,” I wish my Mom and Dad were here … and how the heck are you this lucky to be representing the greatest country in the world in this fantastic sport.”

Well Coach!  Duke fans get a bit emotional too.   We wonder how the heck we are so lucky for you to represent the greatest program in the world and be our coach 24/7.  Congratulations Coach!  You’ve made us all proud.

Note – The Blue Devil Nation will have the Q & A session with Coach K up tomorrow, so please check back that and Coach Cutcliffe addressing the media for the home opener.

Coach K helped America, Duke recruiting and World Basketball

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.  Well, this is but one of many pictures of Coach K that will live on in time.  Coach K further cemented his name into the history books in leading Team USA to the Gold Medal, an accomplishment few can claim.  If you think Coach is satisfied with three national championships and his latest accomplishment, think again.  His staff will be hard at work on the recruiting front trying to help secure the combination of players which will be a part of the fourth or maybe even fifth title by the time they time they arrive.

No matter, how you spin the effect of the Gold Medal on Duke Basketball, there is no denying that it helps in many ways.  During the upcoming season, announcers will all allude to Coach K and his Olympic success.  Current players like Gerald Henderson and Kyle Singler will benefit from his experiences and the nations spotlight will be cast no matter where the Blue Devils play.

What about recruiting?  Duke is in a hotly contested battle for Kenny Boynton in the class of 2009.  Do you think seeing Coach K handle super talented guards like Dwayne Wade and Chris Paul made an impression?  Do you think any of the five kids offered in 2010 want to be a part of something special?  Would they like to attend a school where they will play for a living legend and have all their games televised?

While nobody can answer these questions for sure, one has to think that with Coach K now turning his sole focus on Duke that there will be a lot of kids wanting to play for the man who has handled the best players in America and has produced either the first or second most NBA players, depending on where you look, than any other coach in America.

Yep!  Coach K had this talented bunch of NBA stars buy into teamwork for the greater good.  And we all know that selfless play produces winners.  Believe me, all these players are winners, having endorsements waiting in multiple countries and more importantly, representing what’s best about America!

As Duke fans or Americans, we should be proud of what Coach K had done for the United States, Duke and world basketball.  Thanks to this years edition of Team USA, millions of fans were born making basketball a household name.  Quite simply, Coach K was as selfless as his players, serving as an ambassador of basketball instead of shirking the duties to concentrate on Duke alone.

In the end, we learned a lot about teamwork and as Duke fans we are fortunate to have a legend strolling the sidelines of Cameron for years to come.

Gold! Coach K led Team USA trips Spain to sweep Beijing

Four years after having their mantle of invincibility trashed with a bronze bust in Athens, the USA Redeem Team won back the gold medal with a 118-107 over Spain on Sunday. But not without having to work for it in the final game of the Olympic tournament.

Dwayne Wade score 27 points, Kobe Bryant 20 and LeBron James 14, yet the Americans were still in the fight of the Games when Rudy Fernandez hit his fifth 3-pointer to pull Spain to within 91-89 with 8:13 left in the game.

But Bryant hit a runner, Deron Williams dropped in a 3-pointer from the left corner and Dwight Howard took a feed from Bryant and slammed it home and the U.S. was able to keep enough of a cushion the rest of the way.

Spain, the reigning world champion, was led by Fernandez with 22 points and Pau Gasol with 21. Team USA finished with a perfect 8-0 record and wrapped up the final gold medal away in the 2008 Olympics.

Box Score

Coach K – This was easy.  All these guys committed to Jerry Colangelo three years ago and they said they want to be part of a team.  And Jerry said we’re going to have one collective ego but we wanted you to bring all your egos because that’s how you get better.  We have not had one second of problem as a coaching staff with our team.  It’s been the greatest experience of my life and the lives of the other coaches.”

“It’s exhilaration.   If we didn’t have the three years together, we wouldn’t have won this game because the three years gave us character to beat a great team that had great character in Spain.  It was one of the great games in international basketball history.  To win a game like that is the best.”

LeBron James -”On behalf of the players, first of all, we want to give respect where respect is due to the Spain team.  They were unbelievable. Just like Coach said, we had a game plan and they countered our game plan by making some incredible plays.  Every possession counted tonight for all 40 minutes … every possession counted.  You couldn’t take one possession off, one second off.  If it wasn’t for the determination and the will power we have in each other, we wouldn’t have pulled through and got this win.”

K is for knowledge  

K builds golden legacy  

Same old USA-just better_

Chavez on the long journey

Resume Building

Super celeb Kobe Bryant

Wade and Bryant talk win and K

USA crusies past Argentina – Gold Medal awaits K and company

Team USA went to 7-0 today by defeating Argentina 101-81.  The Coach K led bunch has just one game to go and a win brings the Gold Medal back to the United States.  Spain awaits the “Redeem Team,” on Sunday.

Carmelo Anthony scored a team high 21 points and played with intensity throughout the contest.  LeBron James chipped in with 15 while star NBA guards, Paul and Wade had 12 apiece.  Needless to say Duke fans and Americans alike are proud of the effort.  Coach K has shown the world that he can take the best of the best and have them play together for the greater good.  And don’t think for one minute that endorsements galore don’t await each and every player.

Box Score Link

Team USA Rolls into Semi Finals

It was an honor to play Brian’s (Goorjian) team.  I thought they’ve been the most difficult team for us to defend.   Their offense is so well-conceived for their personnel.  The future is extremely bright (for Australia).  In college, we are able to develop a program and I think what’s Brian has done is develop a great program with the Australian team.  They’re a force to be reckoned with.  We had to play really well in order to win.  They caused us a lot of problems and I’m glad my Duke team doesn’t play St. Mary’s next year.  (Patrick Mills) is a great guard.  He’ll be an NBA guard and I’m very, very impressed and we’re ecstatic because we know we beat an outstanding team, who I think was playing their best basketball right now.  So, it was a heck of a game for us. – Coach K

Two more wins lie between Team USA and the Gold Medal.  More to come -

Box Score   Team USA rides Williams threes   A.P.

Team USA spanks Germany — on to the medal round!

Dwight Howard put on a show missing a single shot on his way to scoring a team high 22 points (9 of 10 FG’s) while grabbing 10 rebounds.   Twelve American players played double figure minutes as the Coach K led Team USA demolished Germany 105-59.  The romp was from start to finish, starting with a Anthony lay up and ending with Paul assisting Redd for slam dunk.  James chipped in with 18, Bryant 14 and Wade and Paul had 10 points apiece.  Team USA is now 5-0 and continues their quest to bring the Gold home.

USA Today  ESPN Recap  Box Score

 

Next up – Australia on Wednesday

USA Destroys Spain 119 – 82

The United States men’s basketball team made a statement Saturday night in Beijing by dismantling Spain 119 – 82 in the fourth game of pool play. Eight American players scored double digit points in the victory. For the first time since arriving in China, the 3-point shots started falling as the USA made 12 of 25 attempts from behind the arc to compliment their 32 – 0 advantage in fast break points. Team USA’s signature stifling defense created 28 turnovers in this game.

Coach Krzyzewski commented: “I thought they missed some open shots tonight. We made our open shots; that was a big factor in the game. We know it’s a pool game. We know the importance of winning pool games, but the most important games are next week.”

Team USA concludes pool play against Germany on Monday evening then moves on to the Quarterfinals of Medal Play.

ESPN
USA Basketball
FIBA
Box Score

Team USA exacts revenge on Greece 92-69

BEIJING (AP) — The U.S. Olympic team stopped the pick-and-rolls — and just about everything else Greece tried. These Americans, who looked so lost two years ago in the World Championship, appear to have found their Olympic defensive way.

Batting away balls or swatting shots on seemingly every possession late in the second quarter, the Americans broke open a close game and went on to a 92-69 victory Thursday night to clinch a spot in the medal round.

The Americans were also able to find the range on jump shots when the Greeks went to a zone defense to slow them down. Kobe Bryant, who entered the game shooting just 37 percent in the first two games, was 7-for-14 from the field and finished with 18 points.

Chris Bosh also had 18 points, Dwayne Wade added 17 and LeBron James had 13 for the United States (3-0), which moves on to a matchup of Group B unbeatens Saturday night against world champion Spain. The winner will earn the group’s top seed for the quarterfinals.

Greece stunned the Americans two years ago in the semifinals of the 2006 world championships, shredding the U.S. defense for 63 percent shooting with clinical execution of its pick-and-roll offense in a 101-95 victory.

This time, the Greeks hit just 41.3 percent (26-for-63) from the field and just 4-for-18, 22 percent, from 3-point range as the Americans used a suffocating defense to extend a seven-point lead to a 19-point cushion in the final 51/2 minutes of the first half.

After the previously slumping Bryant finally knocked down a 3-pointer, James blocked a shot that led to Bosh’s three-point play for a 44-30 lead with 2:31 remaining in the second quarter. James came up with a steal less than 30 seconds later and threw down a reverse dunk.

Bosh swiped at a ball that led to another Greece turnover, and James found him on the next possession for another three-point play and a 49-30 bulge. The Greeks then turned it over again, with James keeping his balance while nearly falling down to take an outlet pass and convert a layup, and Bosh blocked the final Greek shot of the half to make it 51-32 at the break.

And after stubbornly sticking to what wasn’t working in the game two years ago, the Americans showed the Greeks different looks this time. They picked up full court on one early possession, then fell back into a zone defense on another.

Unlike their easy victory against Angola two nights earlier, the Americans kept up the defensive intensity after halftime. Dwight Howard smacked away a shot right into Kidd’s head, leading to a shot clock violation, and James and Bosh had rejections on the same third-quarter possession a few minutes later.   The Americans still struggled from the free throw line and 3-point arc. They were 7-of-20 on 3s and just 13 of 23 at the line.

Greece (1-2), which lost to Spain in its opener, faces winless Angola before closing pool play against China.  Box Score Link  Next up – Spain

Wade leads USA to 97-76 win over Angola

Team USA cruised to an easy victory to go 2-0 in pool play by defeating Angola 97-76.  Dwyane Wade led his team in scoring with 19 points.  Team USA struggled from the free throw stripe and hit just 23% of it’s threes.  In the end, there was simply too much talent for Angola to overcome.  Team USA will need to play a bit tighter against their next foe Greece, a team that defeated them in the semi finals of the World Championships a mere two years ago.

Coach K on the upcoming game with Greece – Our team knows a lot about them.  I’m very close friends the coach.  He’s actually come to Duke and spent time with me.  One of the assistant coaches, Nick, has spent the whole year with us.  We have great respect for them.  They play as hard as anybody we can play against, especially on the defensive end of the court.  Their offensive schemes are well conceived.  I think their team starts with their guards.  They really have three point guards and all three of them can be in at the same time.

They value possessions.  You have to play them possession by possession.  You have to play them with great intensity for 40 minutes.  Our guys already know that but we’ll reinforce that.  It’s a great game for us to play too to get ready for the medal round because we feel Greece has a good chance as anybody.  That’s how much we think of them

Box Score Link

Team USA routs China down the stretch, K and company advance

Team USA began it’s quest for the Gold Medal today by choking China with it’s defense on there way to a 101-70 win.  Of course, all Duke fans are paying more than a little attention to the games and we will continue to cover the games.

Coach K- It was an honor for us to be in this game.  I thought the Chinese team and our team both played extremely hard.  I was proud of our effort.  I thought that the attention we gave Yao early, he made some really good plays to get his teammates involved.  And they hit 3’s.  More than half their points in the first half were from 3’s.  We were like 1-for-12 … I think we ended up 1-for-15 before we starting hitting some 3’s.  I was proud of our guys.  I would hope that their coach would be proud of their kids.  I thought both teams really responded at a high level to the magnitude of this game.

Team USA coasts to win–Tight Defense stymies China’s Bigs–A.P. Recap–Box Score

So, what was the pre game like?–USA savors experience–Silk Road-Tobbaco Road?