Mike Krzyzewski: Feel bad for extra weight put on players' shoulders

Before the 2021-22 college basketball season, Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski announced his plan to retire after one final run, inadvertently placing added pressure on his young players to provide the perfect cap to his four-decade career. So far, the talented group of young players has handled it well on the way to a Sweet 16 berth against Texas Tech with a chance to go deeper in the NCAA Tournament this weekend.

During his press conference, ahead of the Sweet 16 matchup, Mike Krzyzewski addressed the added pressure placed on his players this year. He also made sure to acknowledge his expectations which remain the same as each season he spent at Duke.

“I feel for my guys,” said Krzyzewski. “They’ve had pressure put on them that we’re not putting on them. I tell them all the time, we’re playing for us, for you, but then it just works out. No one — it’s not a sinister plan against us or anything, but it just happens that way. Since the end of the regular season and especially the start of the — I think we’re through. We’re completely through with all that, and our guys, that’s helped them get a little bit more refreshed also.”

The new mindset helped Duke in its first two NCAA Tournament games, first with a dominant win over Cal State Fullerton and then a comeback win over Michigan State. The road to Krzyzewski’s sixth national championship does not get any easier with Texas Tech on Thursday and a potential date with either Gonzaga or Arkansas.

Mike Krzyzewski reaches 1,200 wins

As Krzyzewski will retire at the end of the season and be replaced by Blue Devils’ associate head coach Jon Scheyer, a loss for Duke in the NCAA Tournament would be Coach K’s final game, so the team is hoping they can continue to win throughout March Madness.

While Sunday’s victory over Michigan State extended Duke’s season, it also marked career win No. 1,200 for Krzyzewski – with 1,127 of those wins coming during his long tenure with the Blue Devils. The legendary coach spoke about the milestone during his postgame press conference following the game.

“The 1,200 wins is substantial,” Krzyzewski said. “Obviously, it’s a lot of wins, but it’s a lot of wins against quality competition – and that’s what I’m most proud of. It’s not just the number of wins; it’s the competition that we’ve had in order to win. Today was a good example of it.

“The other thing is I’ve been fortunate that overall I’ve had good health, except for the ’94/’95 season, and I have a great school. So, I have great people, good health, great family. Look, for me, one of the best moments for me was turning around and seeing all my grandkids right behind the bench, and they’re crying, they’re cheering. Wow, I mean, God bless how lucky – I mean, it’s so good. It’s so good. So, 1,200’s great, but that scene was better.”