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 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

USA U18 Team comes up short against Argentina

Team USA fell to host Argentina, 77-64, in the championship game at the FIBA Americas U18 tournament in Formoso, Argentina.  UConn incoming freshman Kemba Walker scored 21 points in the defeat and was named the tournament Most Valuable Player.

Argentina used two big runs to secure the victory: 14-2 in the first quarter and 11-0 in the third.  USA Coach Bob McKillop described the environment as hostile and credited the Argentina team with being very talented and deserving champions.  He said the experience will assist the players in their upcoming college careers.

In July 2009, the U19 World Championship will be held in New Zealand and the USA will have the opportunity for redemption against Argentina and other top international teams.

Plumlee shines, Coach K readying for China, Peach Jam and more

Duke commitment Mason Plumlee struggled a bit in his most recent game, but had 14 points and 14 rebounds in the previous game versus the Bahama’s as Team USA U-18 team continues to win.  The semi-finals start today with Team USA taking on Canada.

The time has been set for 9:00 est for the Duke at Purdue game which is part of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.  This link lists the time for all games.  An aside, Mason and Miles Plumlee’s Mom played for the Purdue Women’s Basketball team and his Dad grew up rooting for the school.  His parents will have the opportunity to see their eldest son Miles in action just up the road.

Speaking of scheduling, Montana is looking forward to their jaunt to Cameron which highlights the Grizzlies schedule.

Team USA wants to re-establish itself to the world.  This link tells of how they plan to do it. 

Dwight Howard is looking forward to July 21st which will be the start of practice in the quest for the Gold Medal.  Coach K is currently busy ironing out the final plans.  This is surely a busy time of year for Duke fans.

Boo Williams won the boy’s 17-U championship at the Peach Jam.  Blue Devil Nation Premium members have access to several interviews with the likes of Andre Dawkins, Jamil Wilson, John Wall and many more.  BDNP is a subscription service which takes you behind the scenes and allows access to discuss those issues on a premium members only message board.  Go to one of the paypal logos in the right side of the menu in this link which is our old site.