Coach K Is King

Krzyzewski and Knight's relationship goes
far beyond the basketball floor.

A man that once learned from the best, now takes his place among the best.

Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski surpassed his mentor and the legendary Bob Knight for the most wins in Division I men's basketball history with a 74-69 victory over Michigan State in the Farm Champions Classic Tuesday.

The win was the third in as many games on the year for the No. 6 ranked Blue Devils, while it was the 903rd of Kryzewski's career. With most of his family, friends, former players and Knight, who was broadcasting the game for ESPN, in attendance, it was anything but an emotional night for the man known as "Coach K".

In front of a sold out crowd Madison Square Garden, Krzyzewski had tears in his eyes after embracing Knight post game, thanking him for all he had done for him over the years.

"I just told Coach I love him," Krzyzewski said. "I wouldn't be in this position without him. It's a moment shared. I know he's very proud and I'm proud to have been somebody who's worked under him and studied under him and tried to be like him."

After brief stints at Army, Indiana and Texas Tech, Krzyzewski first came to Duke in 1980 and has never looked back, recording 830 of his 903 victories in Durham.

Along with now becoming the winningest coach in NCAA history, Krzyzewski owns a NCAA-record 79 NCAA tournament victories, is second on the all-time list with 11 Final Four appearances, he has earned 12 Coach of the Year honors, 12 ACC regular season titles and 13 ACC championships.

Let's not forget his four NCAA Tournament Championships, second only to the late John Wooden's ten during his time at UCLA.

If that weren't enough, Krzyzewski enjoyed success in the most recent Summer Olympics, just like Knight once did. Both were able to lead the United States men's national team to a gold medal in 1984 and 2008 respectively. Krzyzewski was also able to capture gold in the 2010 FIBA World Championship and will have another opportunity for his second Olympic gold medal next summer in London.

As for the game, junior guard Andre Dawkins led all scorers with 26 points, 18 of those coming from beyond the arch. Dawkins sparked a 20-1 run late in second half for the Blue Devils, extending their lead, 61-41.

Krzyzewski, left, was Knight's starting point
guard at West Point.

But Spartans head coach Tom Izzo never let his team quit as they forced multiple turnovers and eventually cut the Blue Devils' lead to five in the game's final minute, giving Coach K and the New York City crowd a scare.

Krzyzewski will look to further his legacy in the team's next game when they host Davidson, Nov. 18, but tonight the Knight will now take a bow to the king.

Tar Heels With A Little More Magic

Freshman Harrison Barnes has
played well in the tournament
averaging 29 pts. per contest.

The North Carolina Tarheels was able to overcome a 17-point deficit against the Miami Hurricanes on Friday afternoon and found that magic again Saturday.

North Carolina scored the final seven points of regulation against the Clemson Tigers to force overtime. Junior forward Tyler Zeller, who hit the game-winner against Miami as time expired, put in the game-tying field goal to force the extra-period. The Tarheels scored the first nine points of the overtime period, led by freshman Harrison Barnes' career-high 40 points, to secure a trip to the ACC title game.

Carolina is the No.1 seed in the tournament and seventh ranked team in the country. Head coach Roy Williams is looking to capture in his second National Championship in three years, but will have to get by a familiar face, Mike Krzyzewski, in the ACC tournament before he can do so.

If Duke is able to take care of business later against Virginia Tech, who has beaten the Blue Devils already this season back in February by a score of 64-60, we could have the greatest rivalry in college basketball meet for a third time this season.

North Carolina looks to have Cinderella's glass slipper on their heel heading into the NCAA tournament.