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It was a mild late-summer night, the kind you appreciate despite its subtle implication that such nights are rapidly coming to a close. Three friends and I had not unexcitedly-excitedly probably isn't the right word-trekked from Edens to Wallace Wade to usher in a new season of Duke Football.
The Class of 2008 did something only one other class since 1985 can claim: it graduated without seeing Duke in the Final Four.
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.
Second-seeded Duke fell to No. 4 Clemson in thrilling fashion in the ACC tournament finals Sunday at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Fla.
For the first time in head coach Sean McNally's three-year tenure at Duke, the Blue Devils will travel to Raleigh to play N.C. State.
As Duke struggled and lost all three games at Boston College over the weekend, no Blue Devil felt more helpless than the one wearing No. 11.
This time, there were no shots of Blue Devils slouched on the floor, no looks of disbelief or disgust.
The Blue Devils remember what happened on spring break last year, when their trip to Buffalo and the NCAA Tournament was abruptly cut short by Eric Maynor and VCU.
To get back to the Final Four for the first time in four seasons, Duke will have to go through Phoenix.
With four key players in the dugout with injuries, Duke pulled off its biggest series win in head coach Sean McNally's three-year tenure, taking two of three from No. 14 Virginia.
While their men's basketball teams prepare for a Saturday night showdown in Cameron, Duke and North Carolina will also face off on the diamond this weekend.
Saturday night in Cameron Indoor Stadium was all about finishing-finishing a senior's career, a turnaround ACC campaign and a dramatic second-half comeback.
Two schools, separated by a mere eight miles and a shade of blue. Two schools, together again in the top five of the country. Two schools, their histories intertwined with a montage of magical moments, intense battles and legendary performances. Saturday night, at 9 p.m. at Cameron Indoor Stadium, their fates will once again be inexorably linked, when No. 5 Duke (26-3, 13-2 in the ACC) hosts No. 1 North Carolina (28-2, 13-2) for the outright conference regular-season title. As important as the game is, the schools will keep the proper perspective and honor late North Carolina student body president Eve Carson with a moment of silence before the tip. It is the first time the season finale between the two will decide the outright ACC crown since 1991, when the Blue Devils upset the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill en route to the program's first-ever national title. Saturday's meeting also marks the first time since 1998 that both teams are in the top five for the regular-season finale. As a result, a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament likely awaits the winner. "We have a championship game Saturday, then we have the ACC Tournament playing for a championship, then we have a regional championship and a national championship," senior captain DeMarcus Nelson said. "This is the time of the year when we can come together and be excited about playing." The lone senior on the roster, Nelson is the only Duke player to have beaten North Carolina on the Blue Devils' home floor. As a freshman in 2005, the wing had a breakout performance against the Tar Heels, scoring 16 points in Duke's 71-70 win. Since then, however, North Carolina is 2-0 in Cameron, scoring a stunning 83-76 win over the top-ranked Blue Devils in 2006 before coming back last season for a 79-73 victory. But Duke has spent an entire season exorcising the demons of the past. The Blue Devils have avenged each one of their conference losses from a season ago, capped by Wednesday's win at Virginia-the site of last year's most heartbreaking ACC defeat. The victory over the Cavaliers was Duke's fourth in a row following consecutive losses in mid-February. In those games at Wake Forest and Miami, the Blue Devils turned the ball over 45 times and surrendered an average of 91 points. During their winning streak, Duke has turned the ball over a total of just 42 times, and Wednesday night in Charlottesville, the Blue Devil defense suffocated Virginia star guard Sean Singletary into a 6-of-16 performance from the field. Nobody in the ACC and perhaps even the country, though, has as much momentum as North Carolina. The Tar Heels visit Cameron riding a seven-game winning streak that dates back to the 89-78 loss to the Blue Devils Feb. 6. All-everything junior Tyler Hansbrough has carried North Carolina during the stretch, much of which was played without point guard Ty Lawson, Hansbrough averaged 29 points and 10.7 rebounds per game with Lawson out of the lineup, including a 28-point, 18-rebound performance in the loss to Duke. The junior has seemed to save his best for the Blue Devils throughout his career. In five games against Duke, Hansbrough averages 22.2 points and 11.4 rebounds per contest. Lawson returned to action for UNC last Saturday against Boston College. The sophomore has come off the bench in the two games since his return, and he and senior Quentin Thomas have split the minutes evenly. "The difficulty just comes in that we're going to play at a little faster pace because of [Lawson's] speed and quickness," North Carolina head coach Roy Williams said. "The kids have to get used to that, people have to make adjustments, including him. He's never come off the bench before." The Tar Heels' winning streak has led them back to the top of the rankings after a six-week hiatus. "I like it better later in the year because it means you have accomplished something," Williams said. "What it says abut our team is we have gotten better defensively, and we have been able to withstand adversity.... I'm proud of the toughness of our team." Toughness should be on display on both ends of the court Saturday night. After all, an ACC title and a potential No. 1 seed hang in the balance. Even simpler, it is Duke and Carolina. Eight miles and a shade of blue? By the end of Saturday night, the only separation that will matter is that on the scoreboard.
When second-ranked Duke (3-0) hosts Lehigh Wednesday at 1 p.m., the Blue Devils won't be focusing on their former interim coach Kevin Cassese manning the opposing sidelines at Koskinen Stadium.
It didn't take long for March to get mad in the ACC.
Miami started the season with a flourish, jumping out to a 12-0 record and a ranking as high as No. 19 in the AP poll.
Duke will spend part of its weekend looking back on the careers of seniors Wanisha Smith and Emily Waner.
There's an old saying in baseball: momentum is only as good as the next day's starting pitcher.
WINSTON-SALEM - Duke had ended ACC games this season with all five starters on the bench before Sunday night. The difference against Wake Forest at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum was that the No. 2 Blue Devils didn't have a choice.
Slow and steady wins the race.
