Mike Krzyzewski provides health update following win over Florida State

Duke fans received an early taste of the Jon Scheyer era in Cameron Indoor Stadium on Tuesday, when head coach Mike Krzyzewski — after trainers had attended to him for much of the first half — did not come out of the locker room with the team at halftime.

In Krzyzewski’s absence, Scheyer, who’s set to succeed Krzyzewski next season, took over the team with a nine-point halftime lead, and the Blue Devils barely won the game. Wake Forest amounted a significant second-half comeback but fell just short of Duke, as the Blue Devils ended up winning by a 76-74 final score.

Krzyzewski came back in full capacity on Saturday, helping lead Duke to an 88-70 win over the Florida State Seminoles, and quipped about his health in his postgame press conference.

“Well, it’s good seeing you,” Krzyzewski said to the media. “I’m glad I made it to the end of the game. It’s about time. They pay me to do the whole game, not portions of it.”

In a subsequent question, Krzyzewski was asked if he had any concerns about his health after leaving the Wake Forest game early. He explained that he wasn’t concerned for his health; in truth, the reason why he left the game was due to exhaustion, as Duke had a heavy schedule that week.

“We played that stretch of four (games) in eight (days) and five (games) in 11 (days). I don’t change my habits of preparation. So, look, it’s a long year, and I don’t have — that’s why I’m retiring — it doesn’t perk as quickly,” Krzyzewski said. We had that day off on Wednesday, and I saw whoever I needed to see. It was basically exhaustion, but nothing else. Like, I feel great. We get to more of a normal schedule now, so I think I’ll be good. I’m trying to be good. But I’m good, thank you for asking.”

WATCH: Mike Krzyzewski updates health after leaving Wake Forest game Tuesday night

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski gave an update to his health following his departure in the middle of the Blue Devils’ game against Wake Forest Tuesday night. The good news: he’s doing better.

Coach K gives a health update after leaving Tuesday night’s game versus Wake Forest.

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“During the first half, I got lightheaded on the bench and I called Jon Scheyer and Chris Carrawell over I said, ‘Look, I’m not feeling great, you guys do more, you know, just don’t hold back.’ And then I started feeling a little bit better during the half and then, as I’m walking off the court at halftime, and so first time I had stood up,” Krzyzewski said. I really thought I could pass out. I got to the locker room, and my medical people just you know gave me IVs and whatever. I’m better.”

Scheyer, who was named as Duke’s next head coach when Krzyzewski retires at the end of the 2021-22 season, took over a led the Blue Devils to victory thanks to a last-second dunk by Mark Williams to win 76-74. By the time Duke returned to the locker room postgame, Krzyzewski was already feeling a bit better thanks to the medical staff.

Scheyer explained during his postgame appearance that Krzyzewski was feeling better, but needed additional rest still. Scheyer added that Krzyzewski was feeling well enough to address the team in-person in the locker room after the game.

“You’re worried about Coach K coming out in the second half and thankfully he’s doing much better, but that affects you,” said Scheyer about the confusion surrounding Krzyzewski’s absence. “At the end we were able to make a play, we have some things to learn but we had the toughness to get it done.”

Krzyzewski already missed some time earlier this season, against Wake Forest, with a non-COVID illness. He left Jon Scheyer in charge of all duties then, allowing him to taste the future as Duke’s head coach. The plan coming into the season was for Krzyzewski to coach one more season with Scheyer learning the role under his mentorship before retirement this offseason.

“I think you get exhausted, and yeah, I don’t know if it was my way of celebrating my 75th birthday,” he said. “It’s saying ‘knucklehead, you are 75. You’d better do something a little bit different,’ but I’m better and I’m glad that it was that, you know, and not something else. My guys did a really good job and we were able to beat a really good Wake Forest team.”