Coach K
Duke steals one on charitable missed FTs
Tom Shanahan Feb 8 2020CHAPEL HILL – The next time unranked North Carolina faces a Duke team rated in the Top 10, bank on the Tar Heels pulling off an upset. If they can make free throws, that is.Struggling North Carolina was on the verge of shocking its historic Tobacco Road rival, but sub-.50-percent...
Blue Devils win on emotional night for Coach K
Tom Shanahan Jan 29 2020Mike Krzyzewski frequently shows anger on a basketball court, but it’s limited to poor play from his Blue Devils or calls he feels the referees missed. This time his wrath found a new target in Duke’s 79-67 win Tuesday night over visiting Pitt. At the halftime buzzer, the...
Another Basketball Jones point guard tandem
Tom Shanahan Jan 27 2020DURHAM – The first Basketball Jones-led point guard tandem that pushed Duke to its 2015 NCAA basketball title was Tyus Jones and Quinn Cook. As interchangeable parts they set their Blue Devils lore into the quarry stone used to build Cameron Indoor Stadium. Now,...
Blue Devils climb toward NCAA title potential
Tom Shanahan Jan 10 2020By Tom Shanahan, Special to the TimesEight straight wins, seven by double figures, five of them by 20-plus points and two those in ACC games by 39 (Boston College) and 33 (Miami). Duke looks again like not only a Final Four team but one that can win it all. With no other...
Coach K with more old school talk about Duke
Tom Shanahan Dec 30 2019DURHAM – Mike Krzyzewski said from the beginning this was an “old-school team, old-school season.” Relying on balance and depth was Duke's path to an ACC and/or NCAA title.He meant teaching his players lost arts as a result of the modern AAU circuit that emphasizes individual...
Blue Devils were overlooked in latest poll
Tom Shanahan Dec 27 2019By Tom Shanahan, Special to the TimesDURHAM – This sounds ironic, but it’s fair to wonder if Duke was overlooked in the latest Associated Press Top 25 basketball poll. The Blue Devils often get the benefit of the doubt, including from referees opposing coaches charge.But despite...
West Point linked and inspired their careers
Tom Shanahan Dec 13 2019#AFAN (Air Force/Army/Navy) stories: My series is about more than academy football players. These stories are about future officers selflessly committed to serving their country during a seemingly endless war on terrorism. There are only 0.5 percent Americans making up the...
Coach K with a new formidable trio up front
Tom Shanahan Nov 4 2019DURHAM – Duke basketball again confronts teams with a formidable trio, although it’s not comprised of one-and-done NBA draft picks like a year ago. This trio doesn’t require a hot shooting hand or drives to the basket to have a big night.Its defensive hands create a road block to...
Duke good guys win better than just great guys
Tom Shanahan Feb 20 2019Duke always recruits great players under coach Mike Krzyzewski, but there is a difference with this year’s cast of NBA one-and-dones and the past. The 2018-19 great players are also good guys. The Blue Devils' selfless play is their trademark entering Wednesday's home game...
Coach K recruiting afterthought turns golden
Tom Shanahan Feb 13 2019Where did Jordan Goldwire come from? Besides the end of Duke’s bench, that is. Usually, guys like Goldwire, Duke’s lightly recruited sophomore guard, only play during blowouts. With the Blue Devils' NBA combine roster, that means mop-up duty of an overmatched opponent. But on...