Tag: Mike Krzyzewski

Purcell Pavilion sold out for Notre Dame’s game against Duke

Think people are excited for this game?

With Notre Dame on such a hot tear lately, many have been wondering when Purcell Pavilion will start getting more fannies in its seats. The student section has been more packed lately, but the number of fans in the rest of the arena has left a little to be desired. Well, that won’t be the case for at least one night. People have realized how big the Irish’s game against Duke will be, and they want to be in the house for it:

Granted, some probably are there to watch Mike Krzyzewski in South Bend for one last time. Still, even that’s the case, there will be large contingent of Irish fans. If you don’t believe that, just look at these:

 

Oh, and if you’re wondering about all the green, here’s why:

You don’t have to be at the game to wear green either. The South Bend Cubs are doing their part:

With this game being shown on ESPN, a large TV audience will tune in to watch as big a moment for Notre Dame basketball as there has been in some time. To make it even better, Purcell Pavilion will be rocking like nothing else. Gosh, is it a good time to be following this program.

Notre Dame facing biggest test of season against Duke

This is a huge one.

So many storylines will be coming into play when Notre Dame hosts Duke in a game rescheduled from New Year’s Day. The obvious one is that it will be Mike Krzyzewski’s last visit to South Bend. Similarly, Mike Brey will be coaching against his former boss for the final time barring a meeting between the teams in the ACC Tournament. Most importantly, the Blue Devils are the strongest team the Irish have played so far this season, and this game comes at a time when both teams and Miami are bunched closely together in the top three of the conference.

While Blake Wesley could be a first-round pick in this year’s NBA draft, the Blue Devils might have as many four players with that distinction. Perhaps the Irish can counter that with two of the best 3-point shooters in the country: Dane Goodwin and Nate Laszewski. Also, the Irish hopefully will have a rabid crowd at Purcell Pavilion to back them up, and they deserve to have one with their 9-0 record in that building. So many things can topple that powerhouse from Durham.

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Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Coach K on Hall: ‘Most improved player on the planet’

Duke coach Mike Krzykewski came away as impressed with one of Clemson’s players as any of his own following the teams’ tightly contested matchup Tuesday at Cameron Indoor Stadium. In what eventually became a 71-69 loss for the Tigers, PJ Hall once …

Duke coach Mike Krzykewski came away as impressed with one of Clemson’s players as any of his own following the teams’ tightly contested matchup Tuesday at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

In what eventually became a 71-69 loss for the Tigers, PJ Hall once again paced Clemson with 14 points and 10 rebounds in 35 minutes, scoring in double figures for the 19th straight game. It wasn’t the most efficient night for the Tigers’ sophomore big, who shot just 6 of 21 from the floor.

But Hall’s work on the glass helped neutralize Duke’s size advantage on the interior with 7-foot-1 center Mark Williams as the Tigers finished plus-8 in rebounding margin (39-31). Hall also showed his offensive versatility by stepping out to shoot a season-high seven 3-pointers, making two of them.

Hall’s performance wasn’t lost on Duke’s Hall of Fame coach, who wasn’t watching the same player who averaged just 3.5 points and 2.0 rebounds in limited playing time last season as a freshman. The 6-10, 242-pound Hall is Clemson’s leading scorer at more than 14 points per game this season and is also averaging nearly six rebounds.

“Hall is the most improved player on the planet,” Krzykewski said. “He played nine minutes a game last year, and he’s one of the better big guys in the country.”

Krzykewski continued singing Hall’s praises, adding he believes the Spartanburg native has a future beyond the collegiate level in the sport.

“He’s a pro, really, because he can shoot,” Krzykewski said. “He can go out and he’s mobile.”

Hall spent most of the night matched up against Williams, who made it difficult for Hall and the rest of the Tigers to score around the rim with his length. Williams had 10 points, 10 boards and three blocks.

Krzykewski said Williams has improved his lateral quickness over the course of the season, something he said helped against Clemson’s most improved player.

“I see him improving in that area, and he needed to do it (Tuesday) because Hall’s a big-time matchup problem,” he said. “Mark did a good job.”

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Why Brownell hopes he’s not seeing the last of Coach K

Like he’s done routinely over the last 12 years, Clemson’s Brad Brownell will lead his team against one of college basketball’s historically powerful programs led by a historically successful coach. But the Tigers’ next matchup with Duke will be a …

Like he’s done routinely over the last 12 years, Clemson’s Brad Brownell will lead his team against one of college basketball’s historically powerful programs led by a historically successful coach. But the Tigers’ next matchup with Duke will be a last for Brownell.

The ninth-ranked Blue Devils (15-3, 5-2 ACC) will make the return trip to Clemson next month, but Brownell will coach against Mike Krzyzewski for the final time at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Tuesday. Duke’s future Hall of Fame coach is going through his 42nd and final season at the helm of the Blue Devils’ program before returning at the end of the season.

Brownell and his program haven’t fared well against Duke in Brownell’s 12 seasons at the helm. Brownell is just 3-10 as Clemson’s coach against the Blue Devils, who have historically owned this series. Duke leads it 110-32 heading into the teams’ 143rd all-time meeting.

And much like many visiting teams, getting out of Cameron Indoor with a win has been an even tougher assignment. The Tigers (11-8, 3-5) have won at Duke just four times in their history. The last time it happened? The 1994-95 season.

One might think Brownell would be happy to see a coach go that’s given him so many fits over the years, and that may be the case from an on-court perspective. But there’s another reason why Brownell said he hopes he’s not seeing the last of Coach K in the ACC this season.

“Obviously what he’s done for the game speaks for itself,” Brownell said. “He’s been an incredible ambassador for not only our league but college basketball in general. We’re all thankful and grateful that somebody in his position would care enough about everybody else in this sport to be as involved.

“Hopefully he’s going to stay involved. We need him to stay involved. He’s very forward thinking. Sitting in ACC meetings with him and listening to him, he’s thinking about things that are on the horizon and he has some fantastic ideas. I’m hopeful and optimistic that he’s going to not just ride off into the sunset but that we’re going to find a way to keep involved with the game.”

Brownell would love nothing more than to beat Krzyzewski on the court for the first time at Cameron Indoor. More importantly, Clemson could use that type of quality win. The Tigers, fresh off a win over Pittsburgh that snapped a three-game skid, have yet to notch a Quadrant 1 victory this season, something they have an opportunity to change. 

But regardless of what happens Tuesday and what’s happened in the past against Duke, Brownell said it’s been special for him to compete against the sport’s all-time winningest coach over the years.

“I love the game, I love studying the game, and to watch him coach his team, lead his team and make adjustments, you get to see his film,” Brownell said. “I’ve been doing it 12 years now against him, mostly unsuccessfully. So that part of it selfishly I think you really, as a coach and a basketball guy, love to watch and learn from other guys and see things they’re doing.”

Clemson’s last win over Duke came during the 2019-20 season. Tuesday’s game is set for a 7 p.m. tip and will be televised on ESPN2.

Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.

Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help.  #SaveNicks

Coach K chased after Georgia Tech’s Michael Devoe for talking trash to him during the game

We’re not going to miss that.

College basketball is certainly going to be different without Mike Krzyzewski coaching the Duke Blue Devils. But I must say, we’re not going to miss the kind of outbursts like the one that unfolded during Tuesday’s game against Georgia Tech.

Coach K lost his cool late in the second half when Georgia Tech’s leading scorer Michael Devoe pointed at him and had some words for the Hall of Fame head coach. Instead of laughing off the competitive banter, Coach K responded in the most Coach K way possible.

He chased after Devoe and had a long, heated discussion with the refs.

Sure, Georgia Tech was trailing at the time, so it wasn’t exactly the best time to talk trash to the opposing coach (or bench area). But still, that’s the kind of thing any other coach would brush off. Plus, Devoe isn’t some scrub — he’s the ACC’s leading scorer. Let him have some fun.

When the game ended, Krzyzewski was still a bit heated over the exchange. He caught up with Devoe to give him a postgame lecture and also had words for Georgia Tech head coach Josh Pastner.

In a postgame interview, Devoe explained what went down. According to him, Krzyzewski dropped the “You Don’t Know Who You’re Talking To” card. Via USA TODAY Sports:

“He said, ‘You don’t know who you’re talking to. But I was just trying to compete with them. That’s all there was. So I guess he took it the wrong way. But me as a competitor, I want to beat Duke. I went and apologized after the game and everything like that.”

Duke ended up winning, 69-57. Devoe scored 21 points in the loss.

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No. 1 pick candidate Paolo Banchero charged with aiding and abetting DWI

Two Duke basketball players face charges in Orange County following a driving while impaired arrest early Sunday morning. According to court records, Michael Savarino, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski’s grandson, was arrested for DWI while star freshman Paolo Banchero is charged with aiding and abetting DWI. The N.C. Highway Patrol made the arrest in Orange County at 1:10 a.m. Sunday.

N.C. Highway Patrol spokesman Sgt. …

N.C. Highway Patrol spokesman Sgt. Christopher Knox told the News & Observer that Savarino was stopped for a stop sign violation while driving on Brushy Creek Road outside Hillsborough. The officer observed signs of impairment and Savarino was taken into custody. A breathalyzer test showed a blood alcohol content of .08. A copy of the arrest report and corresponding citations, obtained from Orange County District Court, confirmed Knox’s statement, and showed the responding officer administered two breathalyzer tests to Savarino, who was driving a white 2017 Jeep SUV registered to Banchero.

Mike Krzyzewski’s farewell tour is going to be a lot

The Coach K celebration has begun.

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I don’t know if you’ve heard about this or not but this is going to be Mike Krzyzewski’s final season coaching basketball at Duke University, which is something he announced at an incredibly awkward press conference last June.

Coach K has had a legendary career at Duke, winning five national championships and going to 12 Final Fours since taking the reigns of the program in 1980. He has been the face of Duke, and arguably all of college basketball, for many years, which has been more than an impressive run.

But yeah, his farewell tour is going to be super annoying.

The tour kicked off last night at Madison Square Garden where Duke beat Kentucky in the Champions Classic. The Blue Devils looked really good and should be contenders again this year.

Coach K was celebrated at halftime of the first game last night at MSG and then the announcers during the Duke game made sure to let us know that this was a special night and special season for a special coach who deserves all of our love and praise over the next five months.

At halftime of the Duke game a long video of John Calipari, Tom Izzo, and Bill Self talking on a zoom call about Coach K’s impact on the game played over MSG’s in-house video screens.

These tributes are likely going to go on all season long and it’s going to be a lot.

Duke has long been the enemy of all college hoops fans who didn’t go to Duke and now they’re all going to have to hear over and over again about this being Coach K’s final season and how he’s a god and how we’re all lucky to have experienced his time leading the Blue Devils. I’m guessing those fans who don’t like Duke are not going to enjoy that very much.

I’m also guessing we won’t hear much about the time he chewed out a reporter from the student paper, but whatever.

Coach K’s farewell tour is going to get a lot of attention partly because college hoops isn’t what it once was. Unfortunately, the coaches have become the stars over the years because the good players rightfully leave for the NBA as soon as they are ready to go and it’s tough for casual fans to enjoy college hoops like they did in the past.

I’ve never understood why college coaches are so beloved because it seems like for years they’ve made a lot of money thanks to kids who couldn’t get paid for all the money they brought in but we live in a country where people really care about colleges they used to go to or grew up rooting for so these coaches become larger than life figures. College sports are just very weird to me but thankfully now the kids can make some money off their names, too.

Get ready for a very long Coach K farewell tour, everyone. It’s gonna be something.

Quick hits: NFL midseason power rankings… Fantasy football studs and duds… NFL MVP bets.

Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

– Charles McDonald has his midseason NFL power rankings, which has a team from the NFC West in the No. 1 spot.

– Charles Curtis has his Week 10 fantasy football studs, duds, and sleepers.

–  Christian D’Andrea has 3 sneaky NFL MVP bets that could pay off.

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What role does Jordan Goldwire have for the 2021 Oklahoma Sooners?

A deeper look at what Jordan Goldwire brings to the Oklahoma Sooners basketball program

The Oklahoma Sooners head into the 2021 season under new leadership and with a slew of new players. Lon Kruger retired in March, and in steps Porter Moser. Moser accepted the gig and moved on from Loyola-Chicago. Moser’s most successful season at Loyola–Chicago came in 2017–18, with a 32–6 (15–3 Missouri Valley Conference) record, MVC regular season and tournament titles, and appearance in the Final Four as a no. 11 seed. In 2020-2021, Moser led the eighth-seeded Ramblers to the elite eight before losing to Oregon State.

Once he was hired, Moser immediately knew he had to mold the Sooners into the identity he wanted for his program. A tough, gritty, defensive-minded group that gets after teams with ball pressure for a full forty minutes.

With the NCAA granting players an extra year of eligibility due to the challenges of COVID, Moser garnered the nickname “Portal Moser” as he hit the transfer portal hard.

One of his biggest finds? A former Duke player. Duke is without a doubt one of the sport’s titans. Year in and year out, the Blue Devils land top-five recruiting classes heightened by the one-and-done experience. Guys who stick around for multiple years sometimes have no choice but to leave if they want to have more playing time, and that’s what point guard Jordan Goldwire did.

He left Duke and entered the portal in an attempt to get more playing time that may have been hard to come by with a few highly touted freshman guards coming in. Duke will miss him. Still, he offers a lot to this Oklahoma program and will serve as the perfect one-year player as Moser settles down in Norman.

Goldwire comes to Norman after playing 116 games for Duke.

The 6-foot-2 guard from Norcross, GA, averaged 5.8 points, 4.0 assists, 2.1 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game last year at Duke.

Goldwire had a solid year for the Blue Devils despite Duke’s failure to live up to their standards and expectations last season. He was a 2021 All-ACC Defensive team selection.

Due to the offensive talent that has cycled through Durham, NC over the years, Goldwire has always been leaned on to be a defensive specialist and energy guy for those Duke teams. He matured physically and became more confident in what he could do offensively.

That may be why he left Duke as well. Goldwire was never a focal point in the offense, and despite his growth, he was never really an offensive threat for Duke. With the vacancy left by Austin Reaves (Los Angeles Lakers), De’Vion Harmon (transfer to Oregon), and Brady Manek (transfer to UNC), the Sooners need offense. It’s a perfect fit for both team and player.

Goldwire will be a fit nicely next to Elijah Harkless, who was second in the Big 12 in steals last season, coming away with 1.9 per game. One thing that severely cost Goldwire minutes at Duke was his inability to knock down shots and his inconsistency finishing at the rim.

He shot 26% and 12% from three in his first two years at Duke, respectively. In the following two years, he posted 35% and 33% from three. He’s improved there, and hopefully, this spring and summer, he continued to do so as the likely report on him will be that he was not a great shooter. If he’s able to shoot about 33 to 37 percent with increased opportunities, that’ll be a big boost to an Oklahoma team that will be looking for some offense from their transfers.

He can also get Oklahoma into their offense, get in the lane, and make the right decisions by distributing the ball to others. On top of his All-ACC defensive selection, he was tops in the conference in assist to turnover ratio.

Defensively, he is what you want from a lead guard. Coach Mike Krzyzewski deployed Goldwire to pressure the ball full court almost every time he was on the floor, and Goldwire was more than up to the task. At 6 foot 3, Goldwire has the size and strength to guard positions 1-3. He switches well, communicates, and also has very quick and active hands.

Goldwire is far from a superstar, but he’s a good college player in a system that will afford him the chance to become something even more with the right situation and a significant increase in opportunities. He should be a significant part of this team whether he contributes offensively or not because he plays defense as if his life depended on it.

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College Basketball: The 10 all-time most annoying Dukies

Who belongs at the top of this list and why?

College basketball officially starts nationwide tonight which means it’s a chance for all of us in this divided nation and world come together in one cause:

Hating Duke basketball.

As a kid I ate it all up.  Mike Krzyzewski was a hero in my 15-year old eyes when Duke won it all in the spring of 2001, but 20 years later I’m grateful to have seen the light since and realized just how insufferable that entire program is.  How Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey developed into such a likable figure after spending eight years on Krzyzewski’s bench is beyond me, but I digress.

With Krzyzewski starting his final season as Duke’s head coach this year let’s honor him by naming the 10 Most Annoying Dukies of All-Time: