Sunday’s NCAA Tournament classic between Duke and UCF was never going to be an ordinary game for Mike Krzyzewski.
Coach K was coaching against Johnny Dawkins, one of his most iconic players and someone credited for jump-starting the Duke program in the 1980s. That alone ensured that Krzyzewski was going to have a lot of respect for his opponents, and it showed after the narrow 77-76 victory, as Krzyzewski consoled crying UCF players after their heartbreaking defeat.
Coach K consoles sobbing UCF players after Duke survives
(via @ShawnKrest)pic.twitter.com/ZiV7t9vXSZ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 24, 2019
Krzyzewski was effusive in his praise for Dawkins and UCF in his postgame press conference.
Coach K is getting very emotional talking about Johnny Dawkins. "I love Johnny Dawkins." #UCF
— Brian Murphy (@Spokes_Murphy) March 24, 2019
Coach K: "I feel bad that they lost … it's like a ying and a yang here.
"They were so good and I'm so proud that those kids played at the level of their coach. #UCF
— Brian Murphy (@Spokes_Murphy) March 24, 2019
Krzyzewski reserved arguably his highest praise for Dawkins’s son Aubrey, who led UCF with 32 points and dominated the game for the Knights.
Coach K: "Aubrey was the best player on the court today." #UCF
— Brian Murphy (@Spokes_Murphy) March 24, 2019
Krzyzewski hasn’t always had the most cordial relationship with every opponent he’s faced in the NCAA Tournament. That was not the case here, and the respect seems to have been mutual.
