Mike Krzyzewski on Kirby Smart's coaching: 'I love it, you're genuine'
Mike Krzyzewski’s career ended with an absolutely bonkers Final Four loss to North Carolina.
Yes, the Tar Heels owned Duke and Coach K this season during his farewell tour.
But the never-before-seen rivalry match in the NCAA Tournament semifinal did not disappoint.
Even Eric Church – who more or less re-scheduled a concert for the game – couldn’t have predicted it would be this good.
Mike Krzyzewski gushed over Kirby Smart’s coaching job in the National Championship
Mike Krzyzewsi had Kirby Smart on his SiriusXM radio show, ‘Basketball and Beyond with Coach K,’ after Georgia won the National Championship.
Krzyzewski emphatically shared some complimentary observations about the Bulldogs’ triumph over Alabama.
He really enjoyed watching the Bulldogs’ defense in the red zone, Stetson Bennett and Brock Bowers.
Coach K also shared his insight on what makes Georgia successful under Kirby Smart.
And I have to imagine that Smart will never forget it.
“During a ballgame, you are an emotional guy,” Krzyzewski said.
“Too emotional,” Smart replied.
“I didn’t mean it that way,” Krzyzewski went on. “Watching you, I said, ‘Man, this guy should be playing too.'”
Not only does Kirby Smart’s energy pay off for the Dawgs.
Krzyzewski admires a particular trait of Georgia’s football coach that transcends physical excitement on the sideline.
“They certainly see the emotions,” Smart said. “I wear them on my sleeve.”
“I would call it, and I love it, you’re genuine,” Krzyzewski added. “Genuine goes a long way with guys trusting you and wanting to play for you.
That’s what I see from the outside.
I see that guys want to play for you. They see you’re right there with them.”
Putting Coach K’s compliment of Kirby Smart into perspective
Regardless of his final defeat, Mike Krzyzewski’s coaching career stands tall among the greats.
Coach K began his career at Duke in 1980 (a year Georgia fans no longer have a love-hate relationship with).
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In that span, he led all NCAA coaches, ever, in Final Four appearances (13) and wins (1,202).
Only John Wooden (10) has more national titles than Krzyzewski (5).
So, yeah. A lot of people finally got a chance to dance their “Coach K will never go Dancing again” dance Saturday night.
When you win that much, at a program like not-so-easy-to-love (let alone get into) Duke, you’ll attract your fair share of haters.
But Krzyzewski earned every one.
And Georgia football fans have to love the compliment Kirby Smart’s already earned from him.
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