Feinstein's article linked on the main page is provocative. He is making a point K is no longer the same coach he once was. This is true. In many ways, K is a better coach- he has created a system that runs like clockwork. It is scheduled, it is micromanaged and somewhat corporate. His assistants are former players who by their very nature are always going to see K as coach and not colleague. This can make for an insular program. This corporate approach is probably true at most top programs- but the difference is that at Duke, it is more visible and more hated. K has presented himself as an ubercoach- doing many things besides coaching. He is definitely more private than he was 15 years or more ago. K is less visible on campus- he has set up a structure that allows him to do the multitude of jobs he now has. He is no longer just a basketball coach. This is not to be critical- but simply a recognition to what sometimes happens to people who reach a level of success and need more challenges in their lives. What does this mean to the team? Well at some level it puts a lot of pressure on his weaker teams than in the past to live up to the past. K has had few teams that did not win one kind of championship or another- so there is not much corporate memory of what to do. A younger K was able to draw on a certain energy level. An older,busier K is less able to correct problems in real time.
The other issue Feinstein points out is the Duke and K hatred. The reasons for this are complex and frankly not well understood. Some say Duke is hated for being successful, but that cannot be completely true as there are other successful programs (UConn) that do not draw this level of hate. Some say Duke is hated because it is an elite private. No other top 10 University has acheived this level of achievement in one of the major sports. This has something to do with it- in part because Duke's bigest rival is a public university with a proud tradition of excellence in the same sport. In sports, someone has to wear the black hat. But still, being hated is not easy- it is wearing - because nothing you do is good enough. If you win - the hatred builds- if you lose- the critics revel. As someone pointed out- it makes for a grumpy fan base.
Feinstein also swings at McBob. Not completely sure if all of what he says is true or warranted. But what is true, is that a system like Duke relies on having certain types of players who trive in a pressure cooker or can rise above it. McBob has struggled or at least has not taken the team on his shoulders as other captians once have. But maybe that is too much to ask of McBob at this point. He did not ask to be on a team with no seniors. Shane was one of those "I will carry you on my back" players but he is rare. JJ was able to transform himself to that level of player- but was never able to have is best games in the big dance. They were both four year guys who were willing to commit themselves to something bigger. As a result, K is looking for more of those guys because he needs them to keep things running. This is a bit of a mid major mindset that K seems to admire. Get teams that may not be the best players but play well together. But the difference is that none of those teams do it in the pressure cooker of Duke bball. They are all admired but no one expects them to be NCAA champion- just to make a little noise come March. Duke is different-at least right now.
So Duke is transforming and everyone is waiting to see what will emerge. Will it look more like a Gonzaga or like the 1999 team with NBA level talent who may leave at a moments notice. We really do not know. K has a few hungry coaches around him that will make things challenging. Roy is a simple coach who is getting connected to the community- who can still be seen going to the Women's games- but he still wants more championships to solidify his legacy. Lowe is trying to bring State back to the heights- a difficult but not impossible task. Being hungry is important to maintain success. K knows this- he writes about it. But doing it with haters all around take a special energy level. If it wanes from time to time- can anyone really be surprised?