We’ve known this day was coming for some time now. My suspicion is that the pandemic hit Krzyzewski hard. He seemed to age more over the course of this season than any in recent memory. Although, I think he’s been enjoying it less and less, possibly going back to the Bagley year. I think losing Zion to injury really hit him as well. I honestly think he would have announced his retirement after that season, had it been what it could have been.
I’m also guessing the pandemic put things into a different perspective. He’s in great shape (presumably) and might just want to spend his remaining years with his family.
All that said, now it’s time to begin the conversation, in earnest, about who succeeds him. And, as of just now, that’s Scheyer. Which is both great and not great for John Scheyer. He gets the chance to follow the GOAT, but… he gets to follow the GOAT. How many guys were truly successful in doing that? For most, at best, they were set up for success by the retiring icon, and had their best year their first year. How long Scheyer remains is entirely up to him. But, he has big shoes to fill with scant time in which to fill them.