Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski was asked Tuesday about whether he was surprised the Blue Devils have never played the North Carolina Tar Heels in the NCAA Tournament.
“Probably, but I haven’t thought about it,” Krzyzewski said. “I haven’t looked at as, us against Carolina. I’ve looked at as… We’re playing in the Final Four, so the history of that I have not paid any attention to.”
On Saturday night, the two storied programs will play each other in the Final Four.
“It’s the most amazing day in college basketball to bring four champions together and to play for another championship,” Coach K said.
Specifically, Krzyzewski paid tribute to Villanova head coach Jay Wright, who has made eight consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances not counting the canceled 2020 tournament. Villanova won national titles in 2016 and 2018.
“The team and the program that Jay has had at Villanova — which is, in the last five [to] six years — has been the leader, so to speak, in accomplishment,” Krzyzewski said.
The Blue Devils practiced Tuesday in Durham before they loaded the team buses for Raleigh-Durham International Airport to fly to New Orleans.
Fans, cheerleaders and the Duke mascot lined up on Morton Plaza by Krzyzewskiville as the team loaded the bus. Krzyzewski drew the loudest cheers.
Coach K is in his 42nd and final year at Duke while North Carolina’s Hubert Davis is in his first season as the Tar Heels’ head coach.
“What Hubert has done in his first year to get his team to do that is magnificent,” Krzyzewski said.
Saturday’s game will mark the third time Duke has played UNC this season. On March 5, North Carolina upset Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Krzyzewski’s final home game. On Feb. 5, Duke beat North Carolina 87-67 in Chapel Hill.
“I really don’t draw that much from those games,” Krzyzewski said. “I draw more from…against other teams because they’re really playing well.”
Krzyzewski said Duke has to focus on winning the game, and more importantly, the national championship. He is advising his team to “ignore the noise.”
“Everyone is healthy,” Coach K said. “[I’m] obviously really excited.”
Krzyzewski expressed his belief in the direction of the program as associate head coach Jon Scheyer takes over next season as head coach.
“It’s worked,” Krzyzewski said. “We have great continuity in our program with Jon taking over, what’s happened in recruiting, not just this year for next season, but for the following year.
“We’ve had great continuity, and in order to do that, I stayed on the job and I still wanted to coach. So this wasn’t about getting recognized. Although that’s what you get. That’s what you get if you live in this neighborhood.”