Coach K's System

[LTDukeFan]

Here is an interesting poll by CBS Sports:

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebas...he-best-offensive-coach-in-college-basketball

It ranks Coach K #5 ... I think they got his ranking 4 lower than it ought...

What I thought was interesting was an anonymous quote from one coach:

On Mike Krzyzewski: "Coach K has won a title with no great post presence and also won another when his best player was a true center. He changes everything on offense to maximize his personnel. Calipari does that too. But Coach K is the best at it."

I am constantly perplexed by fans of other schools bashing Coach K -- especially when we get a recruit that they did not get:

It goes something like this "Well <recruit's name>, just blew his future career as a NBA <insert position>. Coach K will ruin his draft stock because Duke's system limits their <insert ability> and he will never develop <insert another ability>. Really feel sorry for the kid....NOT....I hated him anyway."

The quote from the coach in the poll was pretty much how I have always believed Coach K to run his program -- especially on offense; use whatever you have.

The only "system" that I have seen at Duke is man-to-man defense. I have always thought this is Coach K's trademark -- Smith can keep his 4-corners. However, even that is not the case -- Last season we would not have been the champions without running zone.

I don't know if I am overly simplifying my point of view -- I know the results of whatever system he is doing -- he should do more of that.

LTDF

 

[LH24ND]

The mentality of someone that bashes K is not worth responding to.

 

[twdukefan]

And of the four rated above him, they combined have won as many titles as I have

 

[DukeDenver]

Nice post. Soak up every day that we have him in charge. Whether or not we sustain winning games post-K, it will be impossible to replicate his class and mentorship.

 

[LTDukeFan]

Nice post. Soak up every day that we have him in charge. Whether or not we sustain winning games post-K, it will be impossible to replicate his class and mentorship.

You are right, Coach K is irreplaceable. However, whenever that happens, I think the guy stepping on the court will have been on the court before -- as a player, a coach, or both. I hope whoever that is won't replicate Coach K, rather embrace and extend what he got from the GOAT.

 

[FearTheBeard]

Coach K's system = winning with class.

 

[gottagonow]

This simply proves again that when you are the best at something, others are jealous.

 

[JCColsCane]

Alas, it is just not a good time to be a "Duke hater"!! The bottom line is Duke=Coach K="The purest form of College BB today". Nuff said!!!
Go Duke!!


JC-OFC

 

[DukeSky85]

Where was Ol' Roy on the list? Surely his No timeout offense ranks supreme. He must have turned down the honors..

 

[Mark Gastineau]

I guess I brought this on myself, but I'm in a discussion over at Rupp Rafters about the top-3 jobs in the college game. A very "bright" mind over there seems to think Arizona is a better job than Duke. Here are his reasons:

"Arizona is the most underrated job in America. They can recruit California and Nevada, as well as nationally, and they pretty much own their conference. They are a basketball crazy school too, some of the best fans in the country. Best current program west of Lawrence, Kansas by a wide margin."

I respond with: "I would say it's actually overrated. 1 title and only 4 final fours in its entire history, all by Lute Olson. If recruiting were such a boon out there, you'd figure they would have done something of substance recently. Hell, Arizona hasn't been to a final four since 2001."

His comeback: "They've lost to Wisconsin in the Elite Eight the last two years, and have 4 top 50 players coming this year."

My reply: "That's how you help justify Arizona as a top-3 job over Duke (5 titles and 16 final fours)? Interesting."

His comeback: "We'll see what happens to Duke when K leaves. The ACC is brutal, and Duke will struggle to keep up without K. I don't see guys lining up to follow him. Part of what makes Arizona a good job, in my opinion (and I understand I'm thinking outside the box a little) is that you can kind of create your own legacy there. It wouldn't surprise me to see Steve Kerr leave Golden Sate if the Arizona job opened up. At Duke you'll always be compared to K. The other top programs have been very successful under several different coaches. Duke was a historically solid program before K, but not really a top program. They were the upstarts in 1978."

My reply: "Duke had as many final fours before Coach K as Arizona has EVER had. Duke was the runner-up twice before Coach K. Duke won countless regular season and tournament conference championships prior to Coach K. You are either minimizing all that was accomplished before Coach K, or totally overlooking all historical reality. Either way, you're completely wrong. And to think nobody is going to line up to follow Coach K when he retires? Seriously? This will be the most coveted opening when it becomes available. The only two jobs that are comparable are Kentucky and Kansas (sorry UNC, but it's the truth). Regardless, nobody needs to line up. Coach K will pick his successor (likely Capel), and the future looks very, very bright, considering the legacy Coach K will have left, the facilities in place, and the brand that has been strengthened over the past 30 years."

Finally, his response: "Capel is the best they can do? Thanks for proving my point. Dude has won 58% at Zero-U and most of that is due to having Blake Griffin for a year. The fact that you admit K will retain power even after he retires tells me all I need to know about that job."

I don't know why I even bother.

 

[LTDukeFan]

@Mark -- nice post. I feel your pain...

 

[crazyduke3]

I actually agree often with those who claim he is not the best X's and O's coach. I think it's obvious he's pretty good, but not the best at that stuff.

Where he destroys the rest in is his ability to understand the game on an almost omniscient level. He is constantly current with the game. In it and out of it. He has an incredible feel for what's going on in game and moves to try and what approach is best.

My top 5 recruits aren't doing jack in the national title game and we are losing? Let's see what Grayson Allen can bring. Everybody was just lauding that defense of Wisky, but he was the only one who believed they were weak to the dribble drive and thought Grayson best brought that. At the right moment of the game.

Two freaking point guards? Starting? He understands the teams chemistry and let's ride. Two National titles because of it.

The man also is a absolutely fantastic recruiter and has been always. Spare me the BS that recruiting doesn't say much about a coach. Yes it freaking does and that's one reason I think Calapari is actually very good.

So calling plays? Eh, yeah there are better choices. But there is a reason he has 5 rings and is the GOAT.

 

[HuffyJB]

The evolution of Duke haters has always cracked me up. They used to try to bash K for whatever manufactured reason they came up with. Now, with all he has done, you can't bash him without looking like a total idiot. So now the move is to assume the program will leave with K. Their only recourse at this point is a hypothetical, highly unlikely future scenario. I love that.