Duke outlasted Syracuse in a hard-fought ACC Tournament quarterfinal matchup Thursday. With the Orange unlikely to hear their name called Selection Sunday, it probably marked the last meeting between Mike Krzyzewski and Jim Boeheim.
After the win, per WFUV Sports’ Jack Roche (h/t Jonathan Wagner of On3Sports), Coach K reflected on his relationship with the Syracuse coach.
“We’re the best friends,” Krzyzewski said of Boeheim. “I don’t know if there’s anybody in coaching that could be better friends with another coach in his profession than me and Jim. I mean, that comes way before USA basketball, with P.J. Carlesimo and Mike Fratello. The four of us were like brothers, and then the 11 years with the U.S. Team.”
Got the chance to ask Coach K about his relationship with Jim Boeheim following their likely final matchup.
“We’re the best friends. I don’t know if there’s anybody in coaching that could be better friends with another coach in his profession than me and Jim.” pic.twitter.com/0uaIl3Az7J
— Jack Roche (@jjrochie) March 10, 2022
He added that their bond has blossomed beyond a friendly on-court rivalry over their years. Their families are all close with one another, which might have made it bittersweet for Coach K’s Blue Devils to end Buddy Boeheim’s college career as he served a one-game suspension.
“I mean, we grew up — we saw Buddy and Jimmy grow up,” Krzyzewski said. “My older — two older grandsons are best friends with them. So they’re like family. My wife, Mickie and Juli are — they text and call all the time. So there’s nobody except a former player that I cheer for more than Jim.”
Boeheim also lauded Krzyzewski’s impact on the game.
“He means more for college basketball than anybody”-Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim on Coach K
— Duke Basketball (@dukebasketball) March 10, 2022
Krzyzewski will retire with the most wins (1,198) by any Division I men’s basketball head coach in NCAA history. If anyone has any chance of breaking that record, it’s Boeheim. The runner-up currently trails his close friend by 99 victories.
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