Mike Krzyzewski Quotes (197 Quotes)

The life expectancy of a team is about eight months. Then the next year, it's a whole new team.

We will put together a team that will represent our country on and off the court and the way the game should be played, ... It's our game and it's time to reclaim it.

Don't jump to the conclusion that it's everything for just the low seed. It is everything for 65 teams. Each player and each team has a dream.

I thought our defense in the second half was outstanding. That is the best we have played in a couple of weeks.

I've tried to handle winning well, so that maybe we'll win again, but I've also tried to handle failure well. If those serve as good examples for teachers and kids, then I hope that would be a contribution I have made to sport. Not just basketball, but to sport.

I don't feel like crying, I feel happy. Not that we lost, but I feel happy that I've had them. I mean how lucky. We have been really fortunate with this group, these seniors, to have four years like that.

I promise you that this is a dangerous venue to play in. We are very happy to get a win. We've had some teams play hard against us this year, but not like Clemson did today.

It's an unfortunate situation, but we'll let the powers that be handle it -- but in front of everybody, not behind closed doors. But we're moving on. We've got to play North Carolina next.

Sometimes it's not bad to hurt. Sometimes you don't want things until you get hurt. We got hurt today, let's see what we do.

He's done one of the best jobs in the country.

I was very pleased with the entire selection process. The manner in which it was conducted included all parts of United States' basketball, from the professional level to the colleges and high schools. Everyone was considered.

I would think that security is not ready for that type of thing. We weren't going to win the basketball game, the game was basically over, so why put those kids in harm's way.

Rudy is a legendary NBA and Olympic coach. The class, the dignity and experience he brings is tough to quantify. I feel very fortunate that he's going to give his time to our team.

Things happen in a game, and he took responsibility for it. I hope ... he's not punished. ... That kid's a hell of a player.

He has really good timing and he can block shots with either hand. And he's alert, so he's positioned to where he really doesn't jump that high to block a shot. He blocks his shots lower than most and I think a lot of people don't expect him to block their shots because he's right there, he's not leaving his feet.

He's great, in every sense of the word. We're so lucky to have him.

Thornton's performance was nothing less than spectacular. We had no answer for him.

That's what I do now: I lead and I teach. If we win basketball games from doing that, then that's great, but I lead and teach. Those are the two things I concentrate on.

We've been a really good defensive team, and Saturday we were not. We didn't play with a passion on the defensive end. ... It wasn't an X and O thing on Saturday it was a breakdown of our communication.

My ambition in high school was to be a high school coach and teacher, and that's still what I do: teach.

It was a chance for basketball fans, not just our fans, to say thanks. It was the appropriate thing to do.

I thought our final possession was huge, just to score, because they totally outplayed us and got themselves back in. That gave us a little bit of momentum.

We're probably going to get beat a number of times. I just think we have to keep improving. I like my team, but we're not who we will be.

I really thought we were playing better than them but it wasn't translated onto the scoreboard. We were frustrated and I thought it hurt us on the defensive end of the floor.

This (the tournament) is not an easy thing to win. Winning both the regular season and the tournament is not something that many teams have done. We look forward to playing again tomorrow.

When we don't match another team's intensity that doesn't happen very often then all of a sudden we do 'J.J.-watching,' where we're watching J.J. play. We might as well get tickets and sit behind the bench. No one is doing anything out there.

I liken the game that we'll have to play (Saturday) to that. A number of our games to get to the Sweet 16 have been our toughest games.

I thought our guys stopped looking at the basket. That puts a lot of pressure on J.J.

Once you win a National Championship, how do you do that again? How do you get the passion to do that again? We won it again right away, the next year. A lot of it had to do with the fact that I didn't give myself an opportunity to enjoy the first one.

It's his time. He's 27 years old now. He should try to assume a position of leadership in the team. I would think he's very hungry to do this. I see him fitting in very, very well.

If you just focus on J. J. and just watched him, you'd be shocked at the maze of things that he has to get through usually to get a shot. I think he's just evolved each year as a better basketball player, and the last two years he's made a year-round commitment to being in exceptional shape.

I would hope they're an NCAA (Tournament) team. I thought they were before this game, but certainly, they're very deserving of it.

Somebody's got to win and lose, you know I thought (the Heels) deserved it. I don't think they necessarily wanted it more than we did, but in some respects, we made it bigger than it was. Sometimes, you can want things at such a high level that you end up putting pressure on yourself. I thought Carolina played really hard and good defense and we added to it. And we have to learn from that.

I think some parents now look at a youngster failing as the final thing. It's a process, and failure is part of the process. I would like it if the teacher and the parents would connect more. I think that used to be, but we're losing a little bit of that right now.

We're not playing defense like we should. I don't think we've played very well defensively in the last few weeks. The last time we played well defensively would have to be the Miami game. We do it in spurts, and you can't beat good teams that way.

I didn't think Sean was going to be able to play. We were a little bit worried it might be real serious, but it wasn't. He played hurt, yet you wouldn't know it. I'm proud of him.

Overall I was pleased with our performance against a team that played very well. It was our first time against a real zone team that played very well. They play a lot of defenses and they play a lot of zones. Once Greg (Paulus) started penetrating, it started opening up for us.

Each group and each youngster is different. As a leader or coach, you get to know what they need.

J.J. was sensational once we found him. We did not do a good job of finding him at first, but once we did, he had one of his best games.

It's a great game. Carolina has done wonders with their team. Their fans have been so supportive. They supported them again tonight in first-class fashion. It was an honor to play here tonight. Thought we beat a really good basketball team.

I really respect Boston College. They're veterans. They play a unique system. They're tough competitors.

Your heart has to be in whatever you lead, ... It became apparent that this decision was somewhat easier to make because you have to follow your heart and lead with it.

He can be as good as anybody. Next year, without injury over the summer he can be one of the best players in the country. That's my vision for him.

Thornton from Florida State was absolutely sensational. He's been terrific all season, but he played about as well as anybody has played against us in the last five years here at Cameron.

It's not bad to hurt that's one of the great things about sports we just have to learn from this.

Michael has decided to pursue opportunities at another school. He is leaving Duke in good academic standing and we wish him well in the future.

That puts this group in elite company. And this was truly a team win.

It's a great recruiting class so far. Having marquee players like that, guys who are hungry to represent their country, two of the top players in the game, that's a great start.

We feel like we won a really tough basketball game against an outstanding team.

J.J. had one of the great performances here. Are you kidding me I'm not sure how many times he hit the rim. He hit the rim more on his free throws than he did on his 3-point shots.