Before Krzyzewski calls it quits, NCAA tourney wins record could be out of sight

By the time Mike Krzyzewski finishes his college coaching career, the record for NCAA Tournament victories might be untouchable.

Coach K, who turned 58 in February, tied Dean Smith’s mark when top-seeded Duke beat Delaware State in the first round of the Austin Regional.

In 21 NCAA Tournaments, Krzyzewski is 65-17. He can break the mark with a win against ninth-seeded Mississippi State today.

“I’m not excited because of the record,” he said Saturday. “I just want to make that clear. I’m excited because that’s what I’m supposed to be. If I wasn’t excited, I shouldn’t coach. It would be cheating the kids you coach now.”

North Carolina coach Roy Williams, an assistant under Smith for 10 seasons, understands what the record means. He didn’t get his first head coaching job until he was 37, and even though he’s in the tournament for the 16th consecutive season, he realizes catching Krzyzewski probably won’t happen.

“As young as Mike is, he’ll put that record out there where I think it’ll be about impossible for anyone to reach,” Williams said.

Calhoun says report inaccurate

Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun said a report in Newsday that Huskies guard Antonio Kellogg had failed three drug tests was inaccurate. Connecticut suspended the backup point guard indefinitely on Monday for a “violation of team policy.”

“It’s false,” Calhoun said before practice Saturday. “It was an accumulation of a number of things off the court, academics, misbehavior in class. It’s a kid going through a social adjustment. He is still eligible to play.”

Kellogg has not practiced with the Huskies this week and did not travel with the team to the NCAA Tournament in Worcester, Mass.

Ratings best since 1991

The first two days of the NCAA Tournament were the highest-rated since 1991, the same year CBS began full-day coverage of the games.

The network’s coverage averaged an overnight rating of 5.0 with an 11 share. That’s the best since 1991’s 5.0 with a 12 share.

The average is up 4 percent from last year’s 4.8 with a 10 share.

Auburn’s Lebo gets new deal

Auburn basketball coach Jeff Lebo signed a seven-year contract with the school that will pay him $750,000 a year through the 2011-12 season. He will earn a base salary of $175,000, athletic director Jay Jacobs said. Endorsements, radio and television agreements will bring another $575,000.