Coach K legend grows as Duke capture title

INDIANAPOLIS (NCAA) - Mike Krzyzewski's legend as one of the greatest basketball coaches of all time was sealed a long time.

In the past several months, he has reminded everyone of his brilliance.

First, he took a USA team that was missing most of the players from the 2012 Olympic-title winning side and molded them into a cohesive united that stormed to glory at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

On Monday night, he completed another incredible season as the coach of Duke University, leading the team to its fifth NCAA championship with a mild upset of Wisconsin.

Coach K, as he is called, has enjoyed many a wonderful moment at Duke, a side he has led since 1980.

His NCAA title wins have come in 1991, 1992, 2001, 2010 and now, 2015.

Leading a young squad, one that has players that are expected to turn professional - 'one-and-done' USA youth national team stars Jahlil Okafor, Tyus Jones and Justise Winslow - was about as good as it has been for the 68-year-old Krzyzewski.

"I haven't loved a team any more than I've loved this team," he said.

"We have eight guys, and four of them are freshmen."

For them to win 35 games and win the national title is incredible - Krzyzewski

Jones, who figures to be in the mix for a spot in the USA's senior team in the years ahead, poured in 23 points in the win over the Badgers.

He was named the Most Outstanding Player (MOP). 

The Blue Devils were good early this year, but they got a lot better after the coach threw a player off the team for the first time in his career.

Krzyzewski made the stunning decision to dismiss Rasheed Sulaimon in January.

The veteran play-caller has had an astonishing career.

In January, when Duke beat St John's, 77–68, Krzyzewski became the first Division I men's basketball coach to reach 1,000 wins.

That drew praise from a lot of people, including one of his most famous players in the USA squad, LeBron James.

USA Basketball President Jerry Colangelo certainly has no regrets about putting Krzyzewski in charge of the national team before the 2006 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

The Chicago native is the most successful coach in USA national team history, leading the squad to titles at the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship, the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and the 2010 and 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cups.

Many expected the USA to stumble last year in Spain but they marched through the tournament unbeaten, winning all of their games in Bilbao, Barcelona and Madrid.

In 2016, Krzyzewski will attempt to lead the Americans to a third consecutive Olympic gold in Rio de Janeiro.

FIBA