Will the Olympics help Duke Basketball?

Picture this: it's August 24 in Beijing, the final day of the 2008 Olympics and the championship game in men's basketball. There, at the top of the widest podium in sports, stands Mike Krzyzewski, a gold medal around his neck, his hand over his heart and eyes toward the American flag as the national anthem plays. Surrounding Krzyzewski are NBA luminaries, all of whom will tout the coach's meticulous strategy and liberal rotation that pleased everyone as the keys to the team's success. They will casually mention him as one of the best coaches they've ever had. It might as well be a commercial for Duke Basketball. It certainly speaks louder and clearer to the Blue Devils' target demographic than any ad for American Express or State Farm ever could. For better or worse (OK, it's for better), Krzyzewski is the face of Duke Basketball in a way unlike any other coach in the United States. And Coach K's inextricable connection to his "other" gig will be evident throughout the Olympics, whether it's broadcasters introducing him as a college basketball institution at Duke or feature stories highlighting his close relationship with Kobe Bryant. You see, Coach K is at the head of USA Basketball at the best possible moment. It is almost certain that he has the best team, but the United States isn't the slam-dunk favorite it used to be, not after failing to win the last three international tournaments. These Olympics, then, will be the first time since Barcelona and the Christian Laettner-led Dream Team in 1992 that winning gold would be an accomplishment, and not a fait accompli. And if Team USA loses? Well, then the story is the continued growth of international basketball, and Krzyzewski would have failed no more than Larry Brown did in 2004, when the Americans lost three games en route to the bronze. Aside from increasing Duke's already-astronomical exposure in the basketball world, Krzyzewski's work with Team USA should benefit the coach on the court. We've already seen the positive impact working with Team USA assistants Mike D'Antoni and Jim Boeheim had for Duke last season, and another summer on the sidelines should only deepen those relationships. And maybe while Boeheim is teaching him the 2-3 zone, Krzyzewski can try to learn how to beat it in case Miami ever employs it again. It's also energized Krzyzewski. While Coach K will never admit it, it's tough to consistently be the best at your position and not grow complacent. Finding a new challenge was the primary motivation for Krzyzewski's flirtation with the Lakers in 2004, and the Olympics provide him a similar opportunity without depriving him of his day job. (And this job is infinitely better than his second option: playing minor league baseball for the Birmingham Barons.) "There's been a tremendous amount of positive energy and learning coming from that-Coach K's more energized now than I've ever seen him," ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said. "And a big part of that has to do with his involvement with USA Basketball. I know he's learned a great deal. He looks at the game a bit differently." And a renewed perspective is exactly the medicine for the inevitable complacency of being the best at what you do. Some will argue that Krzyzewski's absence will hurt the Blue Devils' recruiting in critical summer months. But communication is international now, and the Duke coaching staff should have no problem calling or texting recruits while overseas (yes, Kelvin, it's legal in July). At the same time, he can lay the groundwork for a China-to-Durham pipeline that may one day bring Duke a big man that plays outside-in-something Duke has sorely lacked in recent seasons. And at the very least, the Olympics will provide Krzyzewski a bit more practice in a tournament setting-that is, after all, where Duke has struggled recently.