As coach Mike Krzyzewski and the Duke Blue Devils beat the Arkansas Razorbacks to advance to the Final Four, an epic Coach K speech proved to be a turning point.
Considered the greatest coach of all time by players like LeBron James, Krzyzewski has to deliver in every aspect of coaching. One that is critical to a team's success is the ability to make adjustments. Another is providing motivation during timeouts.
In Duke's 78-69 win over Arkansas on Saturday, Krzyzewski made an epic adjustment and motivational speech that helped get the Blue Devils back on track. His words helped Paolo Banchero and his teammates make a decisive run.
Duke's 10-0 run gave them a large enough lead that the game was never in doubt again. Krzyzewski got his point across ideally in the timeout.
On Saturday in the Final Four, Duke (32-6) will play the winner of Sunday's game against the UNC Tar Heels and the Saint Peter's Peacocks.
For Krzyzewski to reach his 10th national championship game, he will need another masterful coaching performance.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski and the Duke Blue Devils reach another Final Four
Coach Mike Krzyzewski's final season has been filled with many lasts, and his last NCAA Tournament run has already been special.
With Saturday's win, Coach K passed UCLA legend John Wooden for a record 13th Final Four appearance, adding to his argument as the greatest coach in college basketball history.
Krzyzewski's 13th Final Four makes his percentage of Final Four appearances a ratio befitting the coach's legacy.
Still, the goal is to finish with Duke's sixth national title under Krzyzewski. The Blue Devils want him to ride off into the sunset a winner. While that may be what Paolo Banchero and his teammates want, they will have to beat two outstanding teams to accomplish the feat.
Duke finished the regular season ranked ninth. The school will make its 17th Final Four appearance Saturday in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Wooden holds the record for most championships. He led the UCLA Bruins to 10.
Krzyzewski has led Duke to the Final Four in five different decades. The Blue Devils' last Final Four appearance was in 2015, when they beat Wisconsin 68-63 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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