Tudor's Take: K keeps climbing

Mike Krzyzewski’s reaffirmation to Duke basketball comes as no surprise, but it is another sign that his eventual victory total will stand long after the current wave of big-name college coaches moves on.

At age 62, with 833 wins and likely to coach five more seasons if his health remains good, Krzyzewski easily should overtake his old coach, Bob Knight (902 wins), on the all-time list.

In 29 seasons with the Blue Devils, Krzyzewski’s teams have averaged an amazing 26.2 wins per season — and that’s after his first three averaged only 12.6. If he coaches to age 67 and averages 25 wins per season during the stretch, he would have 953 wins, which should keep him ahead of 67-year-old Jim Calhoun of Connecticut (805 wins) and Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim, 64, who has 799.

North Carolina’s Roy Williams, No. 8 on the active list with 594 wins, will turn 59 in August. If he coaches nine more seasons to age 67 and averages 25 wins, that would be 819 wins.

Among current coaches, Krzyzewski’s closest long-range challengers could be West Virginia’s Bob Huggins and Kentucky’s John Calipari.

The 55-year-old Huggins has 637 wins and would be close to the 940 mark if he works 12 more seasons and averages 25 wins. Calipari, age 50 with 441 wins, projects in the 870-win range if goes to age 67.  Huggins has had some health trouble and Calipari may have to stay a step ahead of an NCAA posse for a while.

Wins and wins alone are not the be-all, end-all definition of coaching greatness, of course. The 700-win club seems to be adding a new member or two almost every other season, but the list of national championship winners is as difficult to crack as ever.  

Krzyzewski and Williams have covered the gamut — winning a lot while also winning championship. While Williams may not catch Krzyzewski’s victory total, the late Adolph Rupp’s winning percent of 82.2 percent is within Williams’ reach.

At 594-138, he winning games at an 81.1 percent rate. That’s better than Krzyzewski’s 75.2 and even ahead of UCLA legend John Wooden’s 80.4.

Career wins list (active)

...................................AGE.......WINS
Mike Krzyzewski, Duke.......62.......833
Jim Calhoun, UConn...........67........805
Jim Boeheim, Syr...............64........799
Bob Huggins, WV...............55.........637
Tom Penders, Hsn.............64.........631
Gary Williams, Md............64..........625
Homer Drew, Valpo..........65..........602
Roy Williams, UNC...........58...........594
Bo Ryan, Wis....................61...........575

Career wins list

Bob Knight.............902
Dean Smith............879
Adolph Rupp...........876
Mike Krzyzewski......833
Jim Phelan.............830
Jim Calhoun...........805
Eddie Sutton..........804
Jim Boeheim..........799
Lute Olson.............799
Lefty Driesell.........786