WATCH: Krzyzewski Discusses Blue Devils' Win Over Wolfpack
No. 12 Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski met with the media following the Blue Devils' 88-69 win over NC State Monday evening.
NOTE: Click on the video in the player above to watch Krzyzewski’s press conference.
Opening Statement:
“That was a big win for us, obviously, after losing two one-possession games. I was telling Jay Bilas today that our league has had so many one-possession wins and losses and you can’t overreact either way. A couple weekends ago we won a game that North Carolina played better than us in and we won by one-possession. Then we won by one-possession against Florida State. It could have easily been two losses – just like the last two games we played could easily be two wins. What happens in times people overreact and now everything is wrong, whereas, if you win by one-possession – everything was right. It’s neither one. People say we’re developing – we are developing. If you don’t continue to develop throughout the year, it’s going to be sad for you. We have a lot of young guys. Tonight, they really played hard - in the fast break coming out of the zone was terrific. We won a big game.”
When asked about game preparation and playing in the zone:
“We only had limited preparation for this game. When you play Saturday night in Charlottesville, you can’t do much on Sunday except walk through. What we walked through defensively, we did not do in the start of the game. Markell [Johnson] is magical with the ball screen. You cannot defend it alone. You have to defend it with five guys and we were not doing it. The only thing we could do was try to keep them out of our paint – not just him, but the whole team and that worked for us. They rebounded well and it gave us a fast break. You can fast break well out of the zone. Justin Robinson was terrific and [Jordan] Goldwire. Those two guys gave us a boost. In the second half, you could play either Vernon [Carey Jr.] or J. Rob alone with the four perimeter guys.”
On the conference schedule:
“We’re going to play what you have to play. I think people scheduled wrong. We already have a tough schedule. That doesn’t influence us. You have to be careful about it. We have a whole bunch of teams that are close. Instead we beat one another.”
On Justin Robinson’s leadership on and off the court:
“In the last month, he’s just played really well in practice. J. Rob, even for this game, is on the scout team - because he knows everything. Jon [Scheyer], Chris [Carrawell], Nate [James]... whoever has the scout, when they get them all together, J. Rob is telling them all what to do. He has a voice that everyone listens to. Chris Carrawell had the game for tonight. Chris put words on the board, not a game plan, and then he had J. Rob speak. To try to get everyone to have ownership – he’s owned it the longest. What a good story he is of persistence.”
On what was happening in the first half:
“We didn’t play defense. We were knocked back with those two tough losses. No matter how much preparation you just don’t know. It’s not bad attitudes. If any of you have ever competed – sometimes you just can’t hit. Sometimes the putt won’t go in. They weren’t doing it. We made some changes. That’s where J. Rob and Jordan Goldwire really – I know J. Rob played well, but Goldwire was sensational tonight. For these kids, it means so much and they take too much responsibility and then it affects them in the next play. Wendell [Moore Jr.] was terrific. For Cassius [Stanley] to come out and just go after it. He wasn’t hesitant. With young guys, you worry if they’re going to be hesitant – they were not.”