BRA/USA – Coach K meets and greets Brazil’s Magnano at Duke

RIO DE JANEIRO (FIBA World Championship) – At Team USA press conferences last summer in Turkey, boss Mike Krzyzewski always invited his opposite to Durham, North Carolina, where he is the long-time coach of Duke University.

Coaches can always learn by sharing information and observing practices.

And it doesn’t have to be a coach in the same sport, either.

Jason Garrett, the new coach of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys visited Duke recently and raved about the techniques of Krzyzewski, saying he would incorporate some of what he had seen into his own philosophy.

Brazil national team coach Ruben Magnano is one who faced Krzyzewski at the FIBA World Championship and taken the American basketball icon up on his offer.

Magnano, whose team nearly forced overtime against the USA in their Preliminary Round game in Istanbul but fell 70-68, travelled to Durham this month while on a tour of the United States.

"We made that contact during the World Championship in Turkey," said Magnano.

"I spoke to the USA coach during the games and we were invited to see the university. It was very interesting, the time we spent at Duke, a high level university in the USA.

“Mike showed us the basketball structure as well as telling us what they were doing in practice. It was a great opportunity and a first contact for us. Without a doubt, we left the doors open for Brazil in this university."

Among the NCAA players Magnano visited on his tour of North America was Fabricio Melo of Syracuse.

Melo could represent the country in the future, possibly at the 2016 Olympics when Brazil are hosts.

"Our first aim was to know him personally and exchange ideas,” Magnano, “then to know his interest in representing Brazil and place him on the list of players that are in our basketball project.

"He has been a starter many times for his university and he showed an interest to defend Brazil."

Magnano’s Duke visit took place before the NCAA Tournament.

Krzyzewski has since led Duke into the Sweet 16 with victories over Hampton on Friday and Michigan on Sunday.

Melo, whose coach at Syracuse if Team USA assistant Jim Boeheim, got a taste of the NCAA Tournament but he and the third see Orange lost in the second round on Sunday to Marquette.

This summer, Brazil will play in Argentina at the FIBA Americas Championship and there, Magnano will counting on those who competed for him last summer to help get the Brazilians into the London Olympics.

He met Denver Nuggets center Nene, San Antonio rookie Tiago Splitter and Toronto guard Leandro Barbosa on his trip.

“We were well received,” Magnano said.

“We spoke about the national team and they all showed an interest in playing for their country.

“Of course, we depend on numerous factors for them to be in the Pre-Olympic in Mar Del Plata, but the main thing is that they are willing to be in the national team and want to be at the Pre-Olympic.

“We will continue to be in contact with all of them until the date of the team announcement."

If Brazil reach the Final of the FIBA Americas Championship, they will qualify for London.

FIBA