Welter: Let the Coach K media frenzy begin
Posted October 12, 2021 4:57 p.m. EDT
Updated October 12, 2021 11:00 p.m. EDT
Charlotte, N.C. — You don't need to keep reminding me," Coach K said during his ACC Tipoff press conference. "I'm 74, and I still have a memory."
Don't worry coach. You're going to be reminded at least another 1,170 times. That's the number of wins Mike Krzyzewski has entering his final season at Duke, the most all time in D-1 basketball. You could say going out with a national championship would be the perfect ending to a storied career, but even he'll tell you, he doesn't have any more boxes to check.
"Look, I've been the luckiest guy ever coaching," Krzyzewski said. "To have coached at West Point and Duke for almost five decades and to coach the U.S. team for 11 years, it's been an extreme honor. I understand that. I'm very, very grateful."
Nobody can deflect and absorb the praise quite like Coach K. He's equal parts humble and confident. The biggest question took issue with on Tuesday was whether he will stop to savor the moment and appreciate his legacy.
"I don't think about that. That takes away from the moment," Krzyzewski said. "I've never been a rearview mirror guy. I never look in the past because if I looked in the past all the time I'd be able to rationalize why I didn't have to be good now."
K fields the redundant questions now. I'm interested to see how he takes it as we move deeper and deeper into the season. You do have to feel for him and everyone that comes through media day. It's a conveyor belt of "How does this feel?" and "What does this mean?" He talks to us in press conference form for 15 minutes and then walks into the next room where a slightly smaller more personal press conference forms again. I couldn't help but think of the time he scolded a student reporter last year.
"I'm curious what the next step forward is as you guys move into another week of basketball," a student asked K via zoom after a 70-65 loss to Louisville last January.
"Why don't we just evaluate this game. I'm not into what our next step forward is right now," K answered. "We just finished a hard fought game."
K proceeded to ask the student what his major was and provide a brief lecture on the art of the question. The exchange blew up on social media and became the controversy of the week. Given K's inclination for media criticism, I asked how he'd like us to cover his final season.
"Just be the effervescent people that you've been for over four decades," Krzyzewski said to a roar of media laughs. "Where it's been so exciting to be with you and hearing your questions and reading what you actually think I said."
There will be plenty to read this year, K. We're spilling coffee all over our keyboards to memorialize your career. Just wait to see how much we fawn over your final game.
"Go for it," K said as the laughs died down and the press conference came to its conclusion. "Let's see what the hell happens."
