Sorry, this time, I have to defend Coach K.
After top-ranked and undefeated Duke got shocked at Boston College Saturday, my phone and email started blowing up about the excuses Mike Krzyzewski was making following the game. I got one text that said he complained his team isn’t deep and that they haven’t had much time to practice. And it’s young, despite McDonald’s All-Americans galore.
I went back and watched the tape of his post-game press conference, and Coach K was nothing but gracious and complimentary to the Eagles, who obviously are much better than their pre-season pick as No. 14 in the 15-team basketball conference. He said over and over that BC deserved to win, played better than his team and made big shot after big shot from the first half to the closing minutes when Duke had a four-point lead and the ball, but could not salt the game away.
He complimented BC’s perimeter, which was terrific – shooting better from the three-point line (58 percent) than the team shot from the floor (51 percent). Over and over, Krzyzewski praised the Eagles’ North Carolina-native guards Jerome Robinson and Ky Bowman, who combined to hit 20 of 35 shots and together scored 54 points, plus swing man Jordan Chatman who made five of his nine three-pointers and chipped in 20.
Perhaps Coach K stayed too long, because eventually in answering every question he did say his team isn’t very deep and that they have been on the road a lot, playing six of their 12 games away from Cameron Indoor. Playing his depth has always been a problem for Duke, as likes to settle on seven or eight players. In this game, Javin DeLaurier was the only reserve to get double-digit minutes. The Blue Devils have a much deeper bench, but they are young and maybe haven’t yet earned the trust of the coaching staff. Yet, BC played primarily six players as well.
The schedule is an early two-edged sword for Duke. The Devils get tested by some good teams but also don’t practice as much. So call that the truth.
Krzyzewski has been angry after certain losses in his 38 years at Duke, whined and made excuses. But this time, he was truthful and very polite. His team played an opponent that deserved to win, and it did.
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