Coach K Talks Hoops

5Coach Mike Krzyzewski is in the midst of conducting  his 13th Coach K Academy in Durham, North Carolina .  Coming off his fifth National Championship season he took time to address the media.  Here are some of the highlights of what he had to say.

- Coach immediately said he had less time this spring in that his team won the Nation Championship.  That meant less meeting with his staff.  He also mentioned that Duke had to hit the recruiting trail the Friday after Monday's title game.  "We're moving on and have three of our guys in summer school in Matt Jones, Sean Obi and Amile Jefferson," said Krzyzewski.

- Coach said he likes all the new NCAA rules joking they changed more in one session that they had done in thirty years.  "I think every thing they did was right on but think the lane should be wider and the three point line should be moved back to the international stripe.   Krzyzewski said he might be in favor of going to a 24 second shot clock as well which would give the refs less to work with in the way of counts, meaning five second calls, ten seconds to get the ball over mid court, etc.

- "We really haven't gotten away yet as a family," said Krzzyzewsi when asked whether he had rested since the season.  He mentioned that his family would be making a trip to the North Carolina coast after the camp.

- Coach mentioned that it was time for his three stars to go pro.  He said he asked them to finish up the school year and that Tyus, Jahlil and Justise did so,  He said this years team would not have the same dynamic that Jah and Jones had.

- Coach Krzyzewski mentioned that all the players would be on campus during the second summer school session,

- "We won't have that big guys inside like Jah this year, said Krzyzewski, but he did say they would have some good bigs.  "We should be able to score the ball, said Krzyzewski.  He immediately went into a spill on Grayson Allen, saying he would attack and get to the line.  He said that Luke Kennard was a shooter as well.  Kennard and Allen give Duke two guys who are scorers this coming season on the wings.  He called Derryck Thornton who will be the new point guard, a pass first point guard.  "We're just going to be young," said Krzyzewski.  He said he has had few talks with next years team as a group but wanted to share things about the championship .

- Krzyzewski mentioned how they used small line ups in the title game, saying it just happened that way at season's end.  He mentioned that his players played big, singling out Justise Winslow and Matt Jones.

- On Derryck Thornton - "He's talented.  He's mature.  He's the same age as Tyus," said Krzyzewski.  He mentioned that he played at Findlay Prep and the talented schedule they face.  He said he played 40 game schedules with  outstanding players.  "We just have to show these guys the same amount of confidence we did this past years team.  it will be interesting to see how we mesh together."

- Briefly mentioned Rasheed Sulaimon saying he thought he would graduate this summer and that he had fulfilled his requirements and that the school had theirs as well.  He said he though it was great he was going to Maryland for his last season of eligibility.

- Krzyzewski said it was terrific that Kyrie Irving would play in the NBA Finals and then said "Our whole perimeter  from the World Championships are in," meaning James Harden, Kyrie Irving and Stephan Curry in the playoffs.

- Coach Krzyzewski said Team USA would have a mini camp in August the 11th through the 14th.  It will be an All Star like gathering with no contact with an All Star Game like exhibition taking place per the Gold Medal wining coach.

- Coach said he texted Kevin Durrant over the weekend to see how he was doing.  He responded that he was doing well and that he wants to be a part of USA Basketball.

- "The young guys are better.  The younger guys today are better guys than ten years ago," said Krzyzewski.  He said that the USA Basketball program was being funded well at the grass-roots level and propped Jerry Colangelo for that.  He said that players were will to give up AAU ball for the Team USA experience and that it was tough for his players because of summer school.