USA - Coach K raring to go

NEW YORK (NCAA) - If Duke's NCAA rivals were hoping that Mike Krzyzewski might be a little worn out after coaching Team USA at the FIBA World Championship, they had better think again.

Krzyzewski has a massive rebuilding job to do in Durham, North Carolina this season - trying to replace the likes of JJ Redick - NCAA's most prolific three-point shooter ever - Sheldon Williams and Sean Dockery.

But don't expect any weaknesses on the bench.

Speaking in New York this week to promote the Blue Devils' showdown with Gonzaga at Madison Square Garden on December 21, Krzyzewski insisted he was raring to go.

"To me being the national coach, as much as I love coaching, I am so into coaching right now," Krzyzewski said in the New York Post. "Instead of being worn out going into the year I'm pumped.

"Actually it's like getting your masters or doctorate during the summer and coming back and saying, 'I know this a little bit better.' I'm anxious to see how that works."

While leading Duke through what promises to be a gruelling season in the tough Atlantic Coast Conference, Krzyzewski will also be looking ahead, making plans for the 2008 Olympics.

"I'm a very good coach at Duke University," Krzyzewski said. "Now I'm the national coach. All of the things I do at Duke are not appropriate for being the national coach.

"So you end up maybe doing some things you haven't done for a while as far as developing relationships, or whatever it is and then there are areas you say,

'Geez, I've never been in that situation. I'm not that good in that situation.' "

PA Sport