Mike Krzyzewski reflects on state of ACC following Virginia trip

As Mike Krzyzewski continues coaching his way through his final season at Duke, he received a farewell gift from long-time rival Tony Bennett and Virginia’s basketball program for all he has done for the ACC. After escaping with a 65-61 win on the road, the Hall of Fame coach took time to reflect on what the conference means to many people.

During his postgame press conference, Mike Krzyzewski thanked Tony Bennett and Virginia for their sign of support and took a deep dive into what the ACC has meant to him over the years.

“Tonight was, to me, I was a little bit emotional about it because that’s the college game and that’s the ACC I know,” said Krzyzewski. “It’s beautiful. There’s not one program that wins all the time. There are a lot of great programs and they should be celebrated, and the people in them should be celebrated – not just by their own fans, but by the other programs. It’s just a huge sign of respect.”

Krzyzewski now has three regular season games remaining in charge of the Blue Devils, including a road trip to face his old foe, Jim Boeheim. His final regular season game comes at home against North Carolina, the only fitting end to his tenure.

Duke is now 24-4 this season with a 14-3 record in the ACC. Although the conference is experiencing a down year with only a few teams in tournament contention, Krzyzewski continues to celebrate the history he has helped create.

Mike Krzyzewski receives gift

Before tip-off of Wednesday’s game between Duke and Virginia, Tony Bennett brought Mike Krzyzewski out to midcourt and spent a few minutes talking about his impact on college basketball. With rivals fans cheering for the storied career and many moments brought to them over the years, he again soaked in the moment.

“It was really very good of Tony to do that,” said Krzyzewski. “Tonight was beautiful, and it showed the brotherhood in our league and the respect that programs have for one another and that coaches have for one another. It meant a great deal to me. What they gave me weighs about 800 pounds. I thought he gave it to me and had me carry it so I would get a hernia right before the game. It’s beautiful.”

Virginia also presented Krzyzewski with a plaque in the shape of a jersey. On the front, the words read “Coach K” with a small description below.

Many other teams have also provided Krzyzewski gifts throughout the 2021-22 season so far.