Coach K Brings Back Pain, For Others Duke Coach Returns To Sidelines And Blue Devils Are Off To 5-2 Start

Mike Krzyzewski is back from the coaching dead.

“After the Michigan game last year,” he said, “I was dead, even though we won.”

Krzyzewski underwent successful surgery on a bulging disk in his lower back last October, and came back to work in 10 days instead of taking the prescribed 10 weeks to recuperate.

The doctors couldn’t convince Coach K he was human. And someone who goes to seven Final Fours in nine years and wins two NCAA titles begins to think that he isn’t.

But Krzyzewski fell apart physically by pushing himself unrealistically, and the bottom fell out on the Blue Devils. They were 9-3 when he finally succumbed to taking a rest, and 4-15 after assistant Pete Gaudet took over.

“We ceased to be a team when Coach Krzyzewski had to leave,” said senior guard Chris Collins, the son of Pistons coach Doug Collins. “We had this easy, built-in excuse: ‘If Coach K was here, things would be different.’

“We lost four games right after he left, and could come together or fragment. But he was the staple who held us together. So it was easy for us to fragment. We played as individuals and stayed in games on talent. But we lost when it got close.”

Duke was 0-6 in games decided by three or fewer points after Krzyzewski was sidelined, and fell out of the polls and postseason play altogether.

This team has less talent than last season’s, but the No. 18 Blue Devils are 5-2 after losing to No. 22 Michigan (7-2) on Saturday 88-84.

“Now I look at him during games,” Collins said, “and he gives me that look of confidence. It gives me confidence. We had a lot of insecurity without him, a lot of bad games because he was gone.”

Players said they could see it in his face last season. He was ashen, with sunken eyes. The pain caused him to lose much sleep and almost all of his appetite.

The rumor mill was spinning overtime about his health.

“The strangest rumor was that I had AIDS,” Krzyzewski said. “And, hey, I have a wild social life.”

He rolled his eyes. Krzyzewski is a family man with a long marriage and three daughters. But there was no denying he was falling apart.

Finally, on Jan. 6, his wife, Mickie, made an appointment with his orthopedist, John Feagin, for 2:30 p.m. Coach K shouted back: “I have practice at 2:30!”

His wife sensed the need for an ultimatum and said, “I’m telling you now: It’s me or basketball. If you’re not at the doctor’s at 2:30, I’ll know what you chose.”

Feagin sent his patient to the Duke Medical Center, and his coaching was over for the season. He required three hours of daily physical therapy, and could’ve used psychological therapy for the guilt he felt as his team lost.

Krzyzewski watched his own basketball instructional videos and Final Four highlights to boost self-esteem, and discovered he still loved the game and coaching young men.

He walked onto the court Thursday at Cameron Indoor Stadium for practice wearing a pair of shorts, smiling and walking confidently.

What does he have now that he didn’t at this time last year?

“I had two big guys who could rebound,” Krzyzewski said. “They were both NBA draft picks.”

He was referring to Cherokee Parks and Erik Meek, and missed the gist of the question. It was rephrased.

“Me?” Krzyzewski said. “I have my health … and I have a better perspective. And it’s hard to have perspective without your health. Now, I’m in great shape.”

He looked across the court at his players loosening up and shooting jumpers.

“We’re not as talented as I’d like,” Krzyzewski said. “But I like my team, and the intensity I have to coach it. I missed being with my players. And in some respects, it’s better to come back with a team that has to go after it just to have a chance to win.

“It’s a good way to come back, rather than with people expecting national championships and undefeated seasons. I know more about what coaching is about, and I’m excited; I hope I’m excited about it after the ACC race.”

Duke lost, 75-65, to unranked Illinois on Saturday, breaking a 95-game unbeaten streak at home against non-Atlantic Coast Conference opponents. His frontcourt is unreliable; guard Trajan Langdon is being redshirted because of a foot injury; Coach K isn’t making Final Four reservations.

“We’re not a great team,” he said - with a smile.

Duke beat South Carolina State, 84-64, Monday but the coach was upset with the open looks opponents were getting on three-pointers. He slammed a chair to the court.

“Digger Phelps came on TV and said I threw a chair,” Krzyzewski said. “I didn’t throw a chair. I picked up a chair, and things get blown out of proportion.

“We won the Great Alaska Shootout (beating Big Ten favorite Iowa), and can think we’re back. But we’re not back. It was a great accomplishment, but it’s a long season.”

Coach K felt his team lacked a take-no-prisoners attitude against South Carolina State.

“He’s tossed some things around the locker room,” assistant coach Tommy Amaker said, “and wants to instill a fire in this group.”

Had anyone jokingly called him Coach Knight after the chair slam?

“No,” Amaker said, “not yet.”

But Krzyzewski isn’t about to settle down, and says it isn’t because he has anything to prove about his attitude.

“This group needs to be very excited and very determined all the time,” he said. “That’s why I have to coach that way, and you’ll see a little more intensity than you saw with the 1992 and 1994 teams.”

Krzyzewski, 48, was tempted by coaching in the NBA in recent years, but now says he won’t consider leaving until Duke is all the way back.

“Coach is showing us he’s behind us with things like slamming the chair,” Collins said. “A lot questioned whether he was emotionally back. They asked, ‘Will he regain his love and passion?’

“But he’s the most vocal and animated he’s ever been, and right when we need it. Now we’re all sure that Coach is back at Duke, and that Duke is where he wants to be.”