Coach K's last dance: Coverage from Mike Krzyzewski's final season as Duke basketball coach

David Thompson, The Fayetteville Observer
·4 min read
Fans hold an image of Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski prior to an NCAA college basketball game between Duke and North Carolina in Durham, N.C., Saturday, March 5, 2022. The matchup is Krzyzewski's final game at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Fans hold an image of Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski prior to an NCAA college basketball game between Duke and North Carolina in Durham, N.C., Saturday, March 5, 2022. The matchup is Krzyzewski's final game at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

One of the most storied coaching careers in men's college basketball is in its last stanza.

As Duke's Mike Krzyzewski coaches his final season, USA TODAY Network beat writer David Thompson has been along for the ride.

With 15 ACC tournament championships, 13 regular-season championships,12 Final Fours and five national championships at Duke to go with three gold medals with USA Basketball, Coach K has entered his last March with one more chance to carry a team to greatness.

Here's a collection of his stories chronicling Duke basketball during Coach K's final season.

Surrounded by former players, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski applauds while being recognized prior to the team's NCAA college basketball game against North Carolina in Durham, N.C., Saturday, March 5, 2022. The matchup is Krzyzewski's final game at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Surrounded by former players, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski applauds while being recognized prior to the team's NCAA college basketball game against North Carolina in Durham, N.C., Saturday, March 5, 2022. The matchup is Krzyzewski's final game at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

The Coach

► 'Mine for 42 years, but it's Duke's forever': Coach K readies final bow at Cameron Indoor

► 'Best friends in coaching': Duke's Coach K and Syracuse's Jim Boeheim could meet for the final time Saturday

► Coach K's final season is not about savoring, it's about leaving on top

► 'There's a symmetry to it': Duke's Coach K begins final season at Madison Square Garden

► 'We'll see what the hell happens': Duke's Mike Krzyzewski ready for one last ride

Duke forward Paolo Banchero (5) celebrates with forward AJ Griffin (21) after scoring against Syracuse during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022.
Duke forward Paolo Banchero (5) celebrates with forward AJ Griffin (21) after scoring against Syracuse during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022.

The team

► Jayson Tatum, Lebron James among former players to salute Duke's Coach K

► These are the former Duke players who will be in attendance for Coach K's final game at Cameron

► 'Loyalty is love': The story behind Coach K's final recruit, Theo John

► Coach K's legacy is firmly cemented in Cameron. The verdict is still out on his final Duke team

►'It's only the beginning for him': Duke's A.J. Griffin displays rising star in rout of North Carolina

► Could Duke basketball's entire starting lineup get drafted this summer? It's a possibility

►'All-American year': Wendell Moore's breakout season at Duke has been a long time coming

► 'He's a dog': Duke's AJ Griffin moving closer to potential with season-high against South Carolina State

► Paolo Banchero is as advertised. But can Trevor Keels be the most important player for Duke?

► Top freshman Paolo Banchero makes Duke basketball debut. Here's how it went

►Entering Coach K's final season, renewed team chemistry will help push for a title

Nov 26, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Duke Blue Devils forwards Joey Baker (13) and Theo John (12) react on the bench during the second half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Duke Blue Devils forwards Joey Baker (13) and Theo John (12) react on the bench during the second half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

The moments

► Coach K in Chapel Hill: Remembering Mike Krzyzewski's greatest moments in the Dean Dome

► Coach K: COVID went through 'just about our whole team', Duke will return to play Tuesday

► Duke basketball takes over No. 1 ranking after beating Gonzaga

► Duke's Paolo Banchero says he has no regrets after aiding and abetting DWI charge

► Duke's Coach K responds to DWI charges against Paolo Banchero, grandson Michael Savarino

► 3 things we learned from Duke's return to Cameron Indoor

► Duke's Coach K calls Dick Vitale's public cancer fight 'God's work'

► Countdown to Craziness: 5 things to know about Duke basketball, Coach K this season

Mar 1, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Jeff Capel (left) presents a trophy to Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski (right) before their game at the Petersen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Jeff Capel (left) presents a trophy to Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski (right) before their game at the Petersen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The honors

► Jeff Capel's parting gift to Duke's Mike Krzyzewski a symbolic gesture of love, respect

► Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski: Virginia's pregame tribute 'meant a great deal to me'

► Duke favored to win ACC. Freshman Paolo Banchero named preseason player of the year

► Coaches pay tribute to 'titan' of college basketball Duke's Coach K during ACC Tipoff

► 'I think a statue is next': Former player wants to honor Duke's Mike Krzyzewski

Nov 16, 2021; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils center Mark Williams(15) dunks during the first half against the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2021; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils center Mark Williams(15) dunks during the first half against the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

The games

► UNC spoils Coach K's last game at Cameron

►Duke buries Syracuse in Coach K's final trip to the Carrier Dome

► Duke secures ACC Tourney's No. 1 seed with win over Pitt

► A.J. Griffin's late charge fends off Virginia. Jeremy Roach shines in Duke win

► Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski returns to bench after 'exhaustion' led to early exit in previous game

►Duke routs Florida State in Coach K's penultimate game at Cameron Indoor

►Mark Williams' heroics save Duke from epic collapse after Coach K's second-half exit

► 'One of the most dangerous plays I've ever seen:' Duke's Coach K reacts to flagrant foul during Clemson win

►'We were not worthy of winning': Virginia's buzzer-beater hands Duke a loss and a lesson

►No. 6 Duke routs rival North Carolina in Mike Krzyzewski's final game in Chapel Hill

► How star freshman Paolo Banchero helped Duke basketball survive a home scare, beat Clemson

►Duke back in the ACC driver's seat after rout of N.C. State

► 'It's a lesson for us': No. 2 Duke looks inward after shocking loss to Miami

►Duke fights through COVID fatigue to secure a win over Georgia Tech

► Smaller lineup pushes Duke past Virginia Tech in the second half of ACC opener

► Wendell Moore's triple-double paces Duke to win over Army in return to Cameron Indoor

►Coach K leaves Madison Square Garden a winner behind Trevor Keels' big night

► Ohio State's second-half comeback knocks No. 1 Duke from its pedestal

Duke fans cheer prior to the team's NCAA college basketball game between against North Carolina in Durham, N.C., Saturday, March 5, 2022.
Duke fans cheer prior to the team's NCAA college basketball game between against North Carolina in Durham, N.C., Saturday, March 5, 2022.

The fans

► Emotional Duke fans take in Mike Krzyzewski's final home game at Cameron Indoor Stadium

► Duke fans came from all over to see Coach K one last time. These are their stories

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Coach K's last dance: Coverage from Coach K's final season as Duke coach