Duke players explain what cutting down the net meant after the Regional Final

Duke is back in the Final Four, as the tour continues for Mike Krzyzewski in his final season. After defeating Arkansas to advance to New Orleans, Blue Devils players explained what cutting down the nets meant to them.

First, Paolo Banchero has been one of the leaders for Duke all season long. In their nine point victory over the Razorbacks, the star forward accumulated 16 points and seven rebounds. Afterwards, he told a touching story about how cutting down the nets connected to a moment he shares with his mother.

“I did that specifically because, just a little quick story,” started Banchero. “My mom won a state championship as a coach, and she got to go up on the ladder and cut the net, and I remember her swinging the net around and being I always wanted do that. Then I won state in high school, and they lowered the hoop to cut the net. They didn’t bring the ladder, and so it kind of ruined the moment a little bit.

“So when I got the ladder, I made sure I looked up and there tell my mom, make sure you get this on video and get a picture. Yeah.”

As you can see, the moment will live on forever for the Banchero family. Additionally, teammate Wendell Moore Jr. stated that the moment “means everything” to him, and that these are the type of experiences you expect to have when you choose Duke.

“For me it means everything,” stated Moore. “I preach it all week, but for me it’s been a three-year wait. You come to Duke looking to get to moments like this, and unfortunately for me those first two years that moment was taken away. So to be able to do it with these guys right here, I wouldn’t want it any other way. This moment right here is definitely pretty special to me.”

The victory doesn’t just mean the continuation of Krzyzewski’s career, but the highlight of every player on Duke’s career. With the unfortunate circumstances that befell Duke over the last two seasons, a Final Four berth is the culmination of a return to the nation’s center stage.

Still, the job isn’t finished for the Blue Devils. The only way to send Mike Krzyzewski off into retirement better would be by cutting down the nets in New Orleans. However, Duke will have to go through their Final Four opponent first — either bitter rival North Carolina, or upstart underdog Saint Peter’s.