Coach K - Magical

[dukeimac]

This team, IMO, is over achieving and that is all because of Coach K.

The man knows how to coach and it started 4 years ago.

Scheyer - from the bench to starter to bench to star.
Thomas - rode the bench over the years but now is an outstanding defender and stuck with it.
Zo - had troubles over the years but has come to life the second half of this season to be an outstanding post player.

Singler - has been good player from the start but now is a star.
Smith - bench to starter to bench to star.

Rotation of the Plumlees - just critical to this teams success. That person doesn't know a lick about what they are talking about if they do, not a single like.

All done at the hands of the best college coach. No one, and I mean no one should ever question what he does with a team. No one should ever question the playing time of a player, too much or too little.

At the beginning of this season no one thought this team would make the final four and now they are in the championship game. All at the hands of the best college coach in basketball.

No one and I mean no one on this board should ever question Coach K, ever again.

[flyingdutchdevil]

And remember, in the words of Coach K, this isn't a great team. It's 'a really good team.' And yet we're in the NC game.

I smile.

[TobaMom]

Hearing Coach K say how much he loves this team warms my heart. I love this team, too, and I love Coach K.

[SoCalDukeFan]

And remember, in the words of Coach K, this isn't a great team. It's 'a really good team.' And yet we're in the NC game.

I smile.

a team with some really good players and a really really great coach.

SoCal

[flyingdutchdevil]

a team with some really good players and a really really great coach.

SoCal

So when will Coach K call this team, or at least his players, great? Before the NC game? After? Next year? Never?

Gotta be after the NC game, IMO.

[nyesq83]

a team with some really good players and a really really great coach.

SoCal

Can I add "great assistant coaches" - how're our big men doing now?

This is a team effort all the way.

[Reddevil]

So when will Coach K call this team, or at least his players, great? Before the NC game? After? Next year? Never?

Gotta be after the NC game, IMO.

Oh, I think he will refer to this TEAM as great b/c of their heart. What a great bunch of guys. Coach K just kept at 'em, and unlike some years, this team keeps getting better.

[Cameron]

I'm happiest most for him. I love you, Coach.

As a poster (wish I could remember whom) here once perfectly put it, have not fear, the "computer" in Coach's head is on our side. He's truly brilliant at what he does. He's as good at what he does as Beethoven was at what he did. That's the genius we have here, folks. Don't take a second of this for granted.

Go Duke.

[hotbutteredseoul]

Our offensive scheme today was frighteningly good. They just never had a prayer of stopping us. K absolutely disemboweled Huggins. This is why you never want to play us after we have a few days to prepare. NONE of the WVA guys looked for all the backscreens we ran to get open layups. Trying to switch EVERYTHING on a team where every player sets good, tough screens and cuts hard is, obviously, suicidal. What an unbelievable gameplan. Just brilliant.

[hotbutteredseoul]

I also loved Huggins going halfheartedly to the 1-3-1 late in the 2nd half. We promptly ran that nice little play where Singler cuts from corner to corner along the baseline and gets open threes. Three wide open shots later, back to the man. Don't try to run a gimmick defense against the master.

[LSanders]

All of this reminds me of K's classic analogy ... If you're in a fight, you don't slap with an open hand ... You ball all five fingers into a fist ... A single unit ... And, you knock your opponent out.

An open hand ... (You listening Calipari?)

A fist ... THIS team as much as any team K's ever had. YES - That's why we all love this team so much. No sure lottery picks, but a lotta heart, that is now beating as one on the basketball court!

[LSanders]

I also loved Huggins going halfheartedly to the 1-3-1 late in the 2nd half. We promptly ran that nice little play where Singler cuts from corner to corner along the baseline and gets open threes. Three wide open shots later, back to the man. Don't try to run a gimmick defense against the master.

Amen!!

[hedevil]

I think K does think this is a pretty great team. Got to keep them grounded and hungry.

[terrih]

hedevil- i agree. I think he does too, he just doesn't want to say that right now.

[LSanders]

I don't know where to post this because it's basically rhetorical, but ...

I wonder what G and EWill think as they watch this team.

Of course, EWill didn't want to leave, and the decision he made to be closer to his mom speaks mountains for his character. I would think part of him will always be empty (assuming we win, as I believe we will on Monday). If that's the case, I feel sad for him, but I'm also sure he'll reap the rewards of being with his mom at this difficult time for the rest of his life. And, I'm sure he would make the same decision without hesitation.

G puzzles me. He puzzled me last year. We all know he's completely off the charts athletically, which is why he was a lottery pick. And, we all know the rule of thumb is that if you'll be a lottery pick you go. We also know the argument that a bad injury can ruin a career.

Still ... As much as we love G, there are reasons why he's averaging 7-8 minutes a game, getting in only a little over half the games, and that his biggest NBA achievement so far is beating Jordan in H-O-R-S-E. Don't get me wrong. I'm not dissing him, and I'd be a fool to try and judge or second guess his decision.

I'm simply speculating that he'd likely be a much better player with another year of college ... And, perhaps, an even higher pick.

All this speculation to wonder if he feels he made the right decision ... Especially as he watches his former teammates on Monday night.

I remember reading an interview with Laettner a few years ago, and he talked about how the players on the planes and in the hotels ALWAYS talked about their college days, teams, wars, etc. He remarked that the players who came right to the Show out of high school had nothing to say and often seemed lonely. He said that if a kid ever approached him to ask if he should jump to the League and skip college, he'd resoundingly advice them to go to school first.

Obviously, G and Ewill didn't skip college, but missing the chance to play in a national championship game ... Wow!

If you happened to see the Magic/Bird special on HBO, Bird said that the loss in the '79 title game is the biggest disappointment of his life. The collective glory of multiple NBA rings couldn't erase the bitterness of coming up short in his shot at a NCAA championship.

The flip side of this rhetorical coin is ... Would we be here if we still had EWill and G? There's no question about their athletic gifts.

But ... With G, I assume Kyle would have stayed at the 4 rather than create match-up nightmares on the wing. LT would have remained a role player off the bench. I doubt we'd have the Z/LT and Plums squads to share minutes and keep opposing offenses and defenses off-balance.

With EWill, either he or Nolan would have had to come off the bench and neither would have been able to develop the type of rhythm a 30-35 minute player develops.

To some extent, losing those players was a little like Tennessee losing Tyler Smith (their only NBA lock) because of such stupidity he got kicked off the team. A few other players were also suspended for several games. And ... They soon had undefeated, 800 lbs Kansas coming to town. That TEAM had to come together. That TEAM had to quickly learn how to play together, trust each other, communicate, and play ferocious defense. As a result, they beat Kansas and Kentucky, as well as making made their first trip to the Elite 8 in school history.

The Magic of K is that he lost two future (I hope) NBA stars ... AND ... He made the TEAM better. He took a group of good players with great character and huge hearts and molded them into an extraordinary TEAM. One, I believe, will be cutting down the nets on Monday night.

Yes, we all have to cherish this time with the Master and smile as we think about Roy and Calipari and all their NBA talent sharing platters of wings at Hooters on Monday night.

And, to Jon, Nolan, Z, LT, Kyle, Miles, Mason, Dre, Ryan, Steve, Jordan, Seth, and Casey ... Thanks for allowing us the honor of going on this magical journey with you, because win or lose on Monday, it'll be a journey we'll never forget.

[dukeimac]

My advice to everyone is "don't live in the past."

There are no would've could've should've. We will never know what would have happened if this happens or that happens. We can only deal with the known.

Ironically, "don't live in the past" is the same advice I'm giving my UNC friends.

Also, the more hatred the sweeter it is for me. The more people hate Duke and like to tell me about it the bigger my smile gets and the sweeter it gets.

[arnie]

I don't know where to post this because it's basically rhetorical, but ...

I wonder what G and EWill think as they watch this team.

Of course, EWill didn't want to leave, and the decision he made to be closer to his mom speaks mountains for his character. I would think part of him will always be empty (assuming we win, as I believe we will on Monday). If that's the case, I feel sad for him, but I'm also sure he'll reap the rewards of being with his mom at this difficult time for the rest of his life. And, I'm sure he would make the same decision without hesitation.

G puzzles me. He puzzled me last year. We all know he's completely off the charts athletically, which is why he was a lottery pick. And, we all know the rule of thumb is that if you'll be a lottery pick you go. We also know the argument that a bad injury can ruin a career.

Still ... As much as we love G, there are reasons why he's averaging 7-8 minutes a game, getting in only a little over half the games, and that his biggest NBA achievement so far is beating Jordan in H-O-R-S-E. Don't get me wrong. I'm not dissing him, and I'd be a fool to try and judge or second guess his decision.

I'm simply speculating that he'd likely be a much better player with another year of college ... And, perhaps, an even higher pick.

All this speculation to wonder if he feels he made the right decision ... Especially as he watches his former teammates on Monday night.

I remember reading an interview with Laettner a few years ago, and he talked about how the players on the planes and in the hotels ALWAYS talked about their college days, teams, wars, etc. He remarked that the players who came right to the Show out of high school had nothing to say and often seemed lonely. He said that if a kid ever approached him to ask if he should jump to the League and skip college, he'd resoundingly advice them to go to school first.

Obviously, G and Ewill didn't skip college, but missing the chance to play in a national championship game ... Wow!

If you happened to see the Magic/Bird special on HBO, Bird said that the loss in the '79 title game is the biggest disappointment of his life. The collective glory of multiple NBA rings couldn't erase the bitterness of coming up short in his shot at a NCAA championship.

The flip side of this rhetorical coin is ... Would we be here if we still had EWill and G? There's no question about their athletic gifts.

But ... With G, I assume Kyle would have stayed at the 4 rather than create match-up nightmares on the wing. LT would have remained a role player off the bench. I doubt we'd have the Z/LT and Plums squads to share minutes and keep opposing offenses and defenses off-balance.

With EWill, either he or Nolan would have had to come off the bench and neither would have been able to develop the type of rhythm a 30-35 minute player develops.

To some extent, losing those players was a little like Tennessee losing Tyler Smith (their only NBA lock) because of such stupidity he got kicked off the team. A few other players were also suspended for several games. And ... They soon had undefeated, 800 lbs Kansas coming to town. That TEAM had to come together. That TEAM had to quickly learn how to play together, trust each other, communicate, and play ferocious defense. As a result, they beat Kansas and Kentucky, as well as making made their first trip to the Elite 8 in school history.

The Magic of K is that he lost two future (I hope) NBA stars ... AND ... He made the TEAM better. He took a group of good players with great character and huge hearts and molded them into an extraordinary TEAM. One, I believe, will be cutting down the nets on Monday night.

Yes, we all have to cherish this time with the Master and smile as we think about Roy and Calipari and all their NBA talent sharing platters of wings at Hooters on Monday night.

And, to Jon, Nolan, Z, LT, Kyle, Miles, Mason, Dre, Ryan, Steve, Jordan, Seth, and Casey ... Thanks for allowing us the honor of going on this magical journey with you, because win or lose on Monday, it'll be a journey we'll never forget.

Great post - it also brings me back to Bomani Jones' statements last summer that with only 3 scholarship guards and 3 black players on the roster, Duke would be a middle of pack ACC team in 2009/2010. Guess he was wrong as usual. Could be K's best coaching job ever and certainly his best oiled machine.

[weezie]

.... "don't live in the past" is the same advice I'm giving my UNC friends....



Oh, that is wise. They should heed dukeimac-Yoda...:cool:

[chi]

My girlfriend was planning for a trip with her sis, her sis boyfriend from 3.17 to 4.5. When she invited me to join her, I did not realize that it would fall on March Madness. Yeah, I was not thinking straight. So I said I would join her, and kept my promise. I have been following the team with the limited internet access that I had. I knew that the team went to elite eight. Last Sat I had a dream. In that dream, Coach K gave me a light hug, then gave a bear hug to another person. I was wondering then why he gave me only a light hug. After I woke up, I thought the other person was probably one of the players, and I knew that meant that we would go into final four. On Sunday I text my friend to ask if we are in final four, and confirmed my dream. Coach K is magical indeed :)

No, I have not dreamed about us winning it yet. Will post it here if I do ...

[Lord Ash]

My girlfriend was planning for a trip with her sis, her sis boyfriend from 3.17 to 4.5. When she invited me to join her, I did not realize that it would fall on March Madness.

No excuse for that. Turn in your fan card.

[gumbomoop]

My advice to everyone is "don't live in the past."

There are no would've could've should've. We will never know what would have happened if this happens or that happens. We can only deal with the known.

Agree with this advice.

My version is: "If things had been different, things would have been different. But we can't know how different."

So, re G and EWill and what might have been, we absolutely enjoyed their time at Duke, and will always have joyful, vivid memories of G's amazing athleticism and sweet jumper, and EWill's great promise, but ...... under no circumstances would we - right now - want things to have been different. For it is highly unlikely that this team could have turned out better, in multiple ways.

[chi]

No excuse for that. Turn in your fan card.

Yeah, perhaps I should also think about switching girlfriend :). last nite was the first tournament game I got to watch, and I was "forced" to record the last couple minutes of the game and watched it later, as the group wanted to watch a movie, granted the game was already decided at the time.

[BD80]

... No one and I mean no one on this board should ever question Coach K, ever again.

Are you kidding? How long until somebody suggests we should have won it all last year, since we had the same players plus future pros Gerald and EWill, future (NFL) pro GP and defensive specialist McClure?

K's coaching SHOULD be beyond question, but alas, never will be.

[Acymetric]

Are you kidding? How long until somebody suggests we should have won it all last year, since we had the same players plus future pros Gerald and EWill, future (NFL) pro GP and defensive specialist McClure?

K's coaching SHOULD be beyond question, but alas, never will be.

So you're assuming it'll be FDA then? ;)

In all seriousness, K has done a great job this year, its been hard for me to complain about anything most games. I loved his response to a reporter asking how it felt to get the team to the Final Four last weekend. He responded something to the effect "Lets be clear, they [the team] got me here, not the other way around." I can't find the article where I read that quote, but I thought it was a great one.

[tele]

K's coaching SHOULD be beyond question, but alas, never will be.

Greatness isn't beyond question, it is usually beyond doubt.

[RoyalBlue08]

Oh, I don't know. Just imagine how much we would have beat WVU by if our guys didn't have such tired legs from playing too many minutes all season.

[LSanders]

I'm posting this here so it's not perceived as an overconfident jinx but, rather, as a tribute to the endless shining moments provided by K and company ... THAT, my friends, is truly magic:

1991:

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11bm99SXHIg

Gotta love Grant's alley oop to set the tone in the first few moments of the Kansas game.

1992:

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbGiVH_fmTw&feature=PlayList&p=FFA586B666893C07&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=2

The shot. 'Nuff said.


2001:

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zjAGhwVu40&feature=related

JWill's smile ... Dunleavy's 3s ... Battier's, well, everything ... Priceless!!


If these don't get you psyched for Monday, you may be a UNC fan. :rolleyes:

[em0526]

Some people are saying that team is the most surprising title team that Coach K has had b/c they don't have a Laettner, Hurley, Hill, Battier or Williams...

I have to say the '91 title was a little more surprising. We were #2 seed out of the Midwest after getting killed by NC in the ACC Tourney AND we had to go through UNLV which beat us by 30 in the previous year's title game. That run turned Laettner, Hurley and Hill into legends...

Here's hoping that after tomorrow - we start looking at future Duke teams to see how they compare to the legends of Scheyer, Singler and Smith...

Go Duke!