Three weeks ago, this Duke team was buckling beneath the weight of trying to make Coach K’s final act a success, writes ByPatForde. Four NCAA tournament wins later, here we are
and declaring the performance “unacceptable.” At that moment, his team buckling beneath the weight of trying to make a legend’s final act a success, it was hard to envision these Blue Devils transforming into the likely Final Four favorite.
He knew the drill. This was the 13th time he’d climbed a ladder and snipped a regional championship net, surpassing John Wooden for the most men’s Final Fours in history. The first time Krzyzewski did it, in 1986, he was 39. The 36-year span between first and last Final Fours ties DePaul’s Ray Meyer for the longest in history.
The frailty that accompanies aging can soften hard stances in the sporting world. Tiger Woods was loved by plenty but also disliked by plenty—yet when he unexpectedly won the Masters at age 43, there was an accompanying surge of respect and affection. This feels similar for Krzyzewski, whose career arc has included a couple of decades as a popular villain.
At this point, the daunting task facing this team is largely fulfilled but tantalizingly incomplete. The young Blue Devils, with nobody older than 20 playing more than five minutes against the Razorbacks, have done enough to send out their legendary leader on a high note. If reaching the Sweet 16 is a benchmark of tournament success, reaching the Final Four is “the Promised Land,” as Krzyzewski put it Saturday. That’s when good seasons become great seasons.
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