Mike Krzyzewski: Now is not time for relaxation

It’s March, which means coaches don’t sleep until April, or they’re knocked out of the tournament. This season is a bit different for Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski, as he is set to retire at the conclusion of the Blue Devil’s NCAA Tournament run.

Kryzyewski was asked about the prospect of relaxing following Duke’s first round victory over CSU Fullerton. With his eventual opponent Michigan State battling Davidson in a back and forth, exciting matchup at the time of his press conference, Krzyzewski had no time to celebrate with such a quick turn around on Sunday.

“Well, that’s not happening,” Krzyzewski said about taking his foot off the gas. “Relax has not been there since June, which is fine. I mean, that’s what you do. We’re excited and proud of the fact that we’re going to play on Sunday. So you get reenergized. But tonight will be a real late night. One of the teams are playing right now. You don’t know who you’re playing and scouting and whatever. So there’s no time to sit back.”

Now that Krzyzewski knows he’s dancing one more time against long-time friend and coaching adversary Tom Izzo and his Michigan State Spartans, it provides extra motivation to Krzyzewski, who is fighting to keep his career alive one game at a time this postseason.

Izzo said Wednesday that, “It would be an honor,” for Michigan State to play against Krzyzewski. The future hall of fame headman is 3–12 all-time against Krzyzewski. The last time Krzyzewski played Izzo and the Spartans in the NCAA tournament in 2019, it was Michigan State who sent him packing in the Elite 8.

“I like the game, I just don’t like the record in that matchup over the years,” Izzo said about matching up with Duke. “I’ve gotta be his favorite coach because he’s beaten us like a drum. One more time to play against maybe the all-time great.”

Duke and Michigan State tips off Sunday at 5:15 p.m. ET in the final installment in the Izzo-Krzyzewski rivalry live on CBS. Will Izzo end his friend’s hope for one last national title? Or will Krzyzewski cruise into the Sweet 16 for a date with either Texas Tech or Notre Dame?