DURHAM — Mike Krzyzewski wasn't disappointed in Duke's effort in Wednesday's 101-87 loss to North Carolina.
"We played our butts off," Coach K said.
He wasn't even angry with the second-half shooting or the second-half defense.
"I thought our guys played well," he reiterated.
Actually, K was just honest after Duke's sixth loss in eight tries to UNC — and fourth straight at Cameron.
"We're not as good as they are right now," Krzyzewski admitted. "They're better than we are."
There's no argument to the contrary. The teams are separated by a game in the ACC standings but the margin between the two programs grows wider with every Carolina win in the series, every recruiting coup, every ACC title and every March run.
Make no mistake, Krzyzewski was giving no ground to his rivals. He was talking about the now, the immediate aftermath of a Carolina victory fueled by a guard Duke had no answer for and a power forward that matched Tim Duncan's 4-0 career record at Cameron.
But when asked if Duke could catch this Carolina team, K responded:
"That won't be our goal. We need to get better. I don't really care how anyone else plays," he said.
Of course, to spend energy on Carolina would be counterproductive but the specter of the Heels never goes away. To think otherwise would only be self-deception.
Comments
recruiting
Fri, 02/13/2009 - 10:41 — the_wb91K has no one to blame but himself. He constantly recruits mostly slow un-athletic players that can shoot, or a big slow post player with little to no hops. He will sprinkle in a good athlete here and there. With K's spread offense and pressure D if he recruited more athletic players Duke would be unstoppable.
FOCUS, DETERMINATION, UNC....
Thu, 02/12/2009 - 16:41 — occasionalIf the Tar Heels came into every game with the same intensity they had for the game last night at Duke maybe they would not have been out of the Kansas Final Four game last year in the first five minutes.
and
Thu, 02/12/2009 - 20:27 — gvillegatrTyler, Wayne, Ty and Danny would all be gone to the NBA. it all works out really well for us fans if they win it all this year!!
assistants
Thu, 02/12/2009 - 16:38 — abc5193Johnny Dawkins is surely missed. Wojo and Collins are loved as former players but how are they doing as coaches and recruiters? Is it time for them to look elsewhere for employment and for Coach K to consider bringing in someone with more experience? Would Coach K even consider someone that isn't a former player?
You think?
Thu, 02/12/2009 - 13:46 — JPDOhioMy sister-in-law does this all the time. I call it, "Proclaiming the obvious."
Consistency in similiar calls.
Thu, 02/12/2009 - 13:38 — NoNewGunControlI wish someone would address the issue of why the refs let Singler slide after his flagrant technical foul (elbow to Hansbrough's jaw) under the basket...after the whistle blew. When a Miami player did the same thing to Paulus last week, he was ejected...and rightfully so. Did the refs assume that it's not as serious, since Hansbrough is tough enough to take the abuse while when some of the Duke players get hit, they roll around on the floor for a while and cry and wet their pants?
Yes, we are
Thu, 02/12/2009 - 12:49 — davet"They're better than we are."
Yes, Carolina is better than Duke in every conceivable way except for 1) spoiled self-absorption and 2) faux Gothic architecture.
spoiled self-absorption...
Thu, 02/12/2009 - 14:03 — FurbishLousewartIsn't your comment a bit ironic in and of itself?
Especially since you are saying this while Coach K is saying "We're not as good."
The fact is..
Thu, 02/12/2009 - 12:03 — UNC1998Duke doesn't have enough athletes on it's team to truly compete for championships. Over the course of a game, diving for balls and jumping in the stands can only get you so far. Duke has 0 (zero) big men who score the majority of their points in the paint. The fact is UNC and Duke are building two different models with regard to basketball teams. UNC recruits fast, long, and athletic players. Duke recruits shooters. I predict this season will wear out the legs of the shooters. They will not go far in the NCAA tournament. Duke's coaches must recruit big, athletic players who can play both away from and near the basket. Look at it this way, Hansbrough was not the best player for UNC last night. The fast, athletic point guard was.
Look out NCSU!
Thu, 02/12/2009 - 10:38 — mghood"But when asked if Duke could catch this Carolina team, K responded:
"That won't be our goal. We need to get better. I don't really care how anyone else plays," he said.
Of course, to spend energy on Carolina would be counterproductive but the specter of the Heels never goes away. To think otherwise would only be self-deception. "
LOOKS LIKE K IS SETTING UP FOR A REAL BIG RIVALRY MATCHUP....WITH MOO U.
Go gettem, K!
I can hear the Rocky music
Thu, 02/12/2009 - 09:46 — FurbishLousewartI can hear the Rocky music already!
HARK THE SOUND........
Thu, 02/12/2009 - 07:37 — SweetsieHARK THE SOUND........