Mike Krzyzewski reflects on time at Duke, impending final game at Cameron Indoor

Duke defeated Florida State on Saturday, winning 88-70. With that game in the books, Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski only has one more game inside Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Blue Devils have four games remaining, but the next three are on the road against Virginia, Syracuse, and Pittsburgh.

Krzyzewski knows that his final game coaching a game inside Cameron Indoor is coming, but while he is appreciative for his time there, right now he is focused on the games that lie directly ahead on Duke’s schedule.

“We have a one game lead (in the ACC) and we’re going to Virginia,” Krzyzewski said when asked about only having one game left at Cameron Indoor. “That’s all I’m thinking of. There’s plenty of time for that, and I know it’ll be emotional, the last game here. Some of these games have been a little bit emotional for me in one way and another. But even today, with all the crowd and whatever, you want to savor that feeling because you’re only going to be able to walk out on that court one more time and have that feeling.

“It makes me understand how lucky I’ve been to do it hundreds of times. Not a dozen or a few like 600 times. I don’t know how many games I’ve coached, it’s been a lot. How lucky have I been to have a moment like that to savor, but I’ve had those moments hundreds of times. It’s been a blessing to be the coach here. And with this crowd and our culture, I’ve been a very, very lucky guy.”

To add even more intrigue to Krzyzewski’s final game at Cameron Indoor, the game will be Duke’s last game in the regular season, and it is a big matchup against UNC.

Krzyzewski has compiled an impressive resume as Duke’s head coach

As Krzyzewski said, Duke currently holds a one game lead in ACC standings. The Blue Devils are 23-4 overall and 13-3 against ACC opponents. Notre Dame is one game behind at 12-4 in conference play, and Miami and UNC are two games back at 11-5. Wake Forest and Virginia are also 2.5 games back at 11-6.

Krzyzewski has been a head coach for 46 years, 41 of which have been at Duke. In his career, he has compiled a 1,170-361 career record, including 1,097 wins at Duke. He has won five national championships, 12 Coach of the Year awards, and also has six gold medals as the coach of the United States Men’s National Team. Krzyzewski’s 1,170 career wins are the most in NCAA history, while his 1,097 at Duke are the most at one school in NCAA history.

Additionally, Krzyzewski has made 12 Final Fours, won 12 ACC regular season championships, and 15 ACC Tournament titles. His 97 NCAA Tournament wins are also the most in NCAA history, and his 517 ACC wins are the most in the conference’s history.

Krzyzewski is undoubtedly one of, if not the best to ever do it. But even though he knows that emotions will be running high when he takes the court as Duke’s coach at Cameron Indoor one last time, he wants to make sure that his team is in the best position to make one final run under his leadership this year.