38-47

[Mac9192]

It's Coach K's record for his first 3 seasons at Duke. I knew his first few years were not good, and a lot of folks wanted him gone, but I didn't realize it was that bad, plus his conference record was 13-29. To make matters worse for him and Duke nation, Carolina wins it all in 82 and NC State in 83. I will admit to complaining about him quite a bit over the years, and have MANY times questioned why he does what he does, why doesn't he do this... but all coaches have their own ways. Boeheim has been at Syracuse forever and doesn't have as many wins and only 1 title. Self, Calipari, and Izzo 'only' have 1 each, and they're all really good coaches.
What he has accomplished in his 37 years at Duke is nothing short of amazing. I mean Duke is known by every basketball fan from NC to Alaska, and when a team beats Duke, it's like they won a championship. He is the reason, as we all know. Period.
So for how ever long we are fortunate to have him as our coach, all of us fans, myself included, need to appreciate him for what he is, which is the greatest coach of all time.

 

[timo0402]

Great post. It's truly extraordinary what he's done, especially when you compare it to other great coaches. He's in rarified air and arguably the best ever in his sport and one of the best across all of sport. It is so hard to win, win consistently and consistently win big- he's done that and is still remarkably doing it. We can easily take it for granted and all of us are guilty of doing that from time to time, myself included.

To your first few statements- I so hope that our fans remember how K struggled early in his Duke career only to have his AD believe in him enough to let him right the ship. I hope that when his successor inevitably goes through a rough patch or has a rough season, that we give him time. It might not work out, but we saw a ton of flack thrown at Cape this season in just a handful of games. The next coach will have an impossible task ahead of himself. Let's stand behind him.

 

[hart2chesson]

It's Coach K's record for his first 3 seasons at Duke. I knew his first few years were not good, and a lot of folks wanted him gone, but I didn't realize it was that bad, plus his conference record was 13-29. To make matters worse for him and Duke nation, Carolina wins it all in 82 and NC State in 83. I will admit to complaining about him quite a bit over the years, and have MANY times questioned why he does what he does, why doesn't he do this... but all coaches have their own ways. Boeheim has been at Syracuse forever and doesn't have as many wins and only 1 title. Self, Calipari, and Izzo 'only' have 1 each, and they're all really good coaches.
What he has accomplished in his 37 years at Duke is nothing short of amazing. I mean Duke is known by every basketball fan from NC to Alaska, and when a team beats Duke, it's like they won a championship. He is the reason, as we all know. Period.
So for how ever long we are fortunate to have him as our coach, all of us fans, myself included, need to appreciate him for what he is, which is the greatest coach of all time.

Absolutely w/o question we are so fortunate!!!
#SetTheStandard

OFC

 

[hart2chesson]

It's Coach K's record for his first 3 seasons at Duke. I knew his first few years were not good, and a lot of folks wanted him gone, but I didn't realize it was that bad, plus his conference record was 13-29. To make matters worse for him and Duke nation, Carolina wins it all in 82 and NC State in 83. I will admit to complaining about him quite a bit over the years, and have MANY times questioned why he does what he does, why doesn't he do this... but all coaches have their own ways. Boeheim has been at Syracuse forever and doesn't have as many wins and only 1 title. Self, Calipari, and Izzo 'only' have 1 each, and they're all really good coaches.
What he has accomplished in his 37 years at Duke is nothing short of amazing. I mean Duke is known by every basketball fan from NC to Alaska, and when a team beats Duke, it's like they won a championship. He is the reason, as we all know. Period.
So for how ever long we are fortunate to have him as our coach, all of us fans, myself included, need to appreciate him for what he is, which is the greatest coach of all time.

Thank The Lord Tom Butters thumbed his nose at a number of Iron Dukes, and held on to K like Norman Dale! (And we didnt even have Jimmy Chitwood!)

All kidding aside I think Butters admired what K was ESTABLISHING. Mind you, obviously not a winning record those first three years (but a SYSTEM he knew his young coach fully believed would work), and Butters watched recruiting. Duke won an intense battle over Maryland's Lefty Driesell for Johnny Dawkins. They won another shootout for Danny Ferry over Dean Smith. The tide definitely turned....The tortoise wins the race....

Sure I wanted K out, I was convinced Duke could never win consistently in basketball playing man defense. K persevered, undaunted and established a legacy in college hoops the likes we may NEVER see again. Nice post Mr Mac....



OFC

 

[Dattier]

Jay Bilas has stated that he takes certain pride in having trusted K and committed to Duke during that time, when K was unknown and unproven. I was new to the area and new to basketball and I take a certain pride in starting to pull for them then, too, based on how young they were and how much they stood to improve.

 

[skysdad]

Coach K sure upset that apple cart down in chapel hill. It hasn't been the same for them. He got in unc's face had told them I'm not afraid or intimidated by anyone. You're gonna have to deal with it. OFC

 

[hart2chesson]

One of K's great feats in those first 3 years was getting to the NIT his first year. G-man was gone and Mike Tissaw (Sky I know you remember Tiss) was our blue collar, bring your lunch pail but not much else to the game center.However Tiss worked as HARD as he possibly could, and K willed a team built around Banks, Dennard and Vince Taylor to a 17-13 record and memorable home win over UNC...We also won two games in the NIT including a gritty win at home over Alabama w/o the injured Banks. Reserve Jim Suddath had a career nite for Duke. That team could have made it to the Garden for the NIT semis and possibly won it all had we not lost Banks to a broken wrist. OFC

 

[2004Audi]

I recommend everyone read the legends club by john feinstein.

 

[germantondevil]

I can remember going to the golf course with my Dad back then and listening to all the Hole fans riding Duke and saying they would never have a basketball program worth anything and I have to admit I kind of agreed with them. I hated Hole fans even when I was young and would love to be able to go back and talk to them old rascals now a days. Definitely been blessed to witness Coaches whole career at Duke. I will never ever forget the first FF and Natty that Coach brought back to Durham.

 

[germantondevil]

One of K's great feats in those first 3 years was getting to the NIT his first year. G-man was gone and Mike Tissaw (Sky I know you remember Tiss) was our blue collar, bring your lunch pail but not much else to the game center.However Tiss worked as HARD as he possibly could, and K willed a team built around Banks, Dennard and Vince Taylor to a 17-13 record and memorable home win over UNC...We also won two games in the NIT including a gritty win at home over Alabama w/o the injured Banks. Reserve Jim Suddath had a career nite for Duke. That team could have made it to the Garden for the NIT semis and possibly won it all had we not lost Banks to a broken wrist. OFC

Man the memories. I loved Gene Banks

 

[topps coach]

Man the memories. I loved Gene Banks

Loved the entire 78 team

 

[pisgah101]

Yeah but all Duke fans were NC St fans back then anyway. At least that's what I learned from thr once

 

[dukiejay]

Jay Bilas has stated that he takes certain pride in having trusted K and committed to Duke during that time, when K was unknown and unproven. I was new to the area and new to basketball and I take a certain pride in starting to pull for them then, too, based on how young they were and how much they stood to improve.

And recruiting was different back then too. I remember Bilas saying the first time he ever stepped foot on the Duke campus was the fall of his freshman year. He never even visited before that. He was a California kid hopping across the country to play for Duke, of all places. It's a cool story to hear him tell.

 

[hart2chesson]

He wasnt the first California kid to make the trek. Outside sharpshooter (and renowned NBA shooting coach now) Chip Engelland as well as Scott Goetsch among others made the journey as well for the late and great Bill Foster. Engelland actually played for K three years I think.... Terrific shooter w/outstanding range. I think Alarie was from Arizona.

OFC

 

[dukiejay]

He wasnt the first California kid to make the trek. Outside sharpshooter (and renowned NBA shooting coach now) Chip Engelland as well as Scott Goetsch among others made the journey as well for the late and great Bill Foster. Engelland actually played for K three years I think.... Terrific shooter w/outstanding range. I think Alarie was from Arizona.

OFC

I wasn't implying he was the first to do it. He was the first to do it for K, though....and without ever visiting. He committed and signed on to play for a coach and program with a losing record and never saw the school.

 

[hart2chesson]

I wasn't implying he was the first to do it. He was the first to do it for K, though....and without ever visiting. He committed and signed on to play for a coach and program with a losing record and never saw the school.

And I certainly didnt mean to denigrate your post at all. I was merely implying Duke has had tremendous success IMO recruiting players from the left coast. Bilas had a nice career as a Blue Devil, really forced to play out of position at center. However that really didnt rear its head throughout our magical 37 win season in '86, until he was outplayed thoroughly by Louisville's Pervis Ellison. Still, he was an exemplary student-athlete.



OFC