With Coach K back, identity-seeking Duke gets past Pittsburgh
The return of coach Mike Krzyzewski to the sidelines was a breath of fresh air for a Duke team that just weathered a storm — going 4-3 under associate head coach Jeff Capel in Coach K's absence after back surgery.
After hitting a rough patch in early January under Capel, made worse by Grayson Allen’s controversial court behavior, the Blue Devils notched huge back-to-back road wins against Wake Forest and Notre Dame heading into Saturday’s home game against last-place Pittsburgh. The Panthers put up a legitimate fight, further highlighting the depth of a conference that will likely send double-digit teams to the NCAA tournament. Ultimately, Duke pulled away and now is on solid footing in the ACC just ahead of hosting archrival North Carolina on Thursday.
But the story line isn't so much Coach K's return, or Duke beating the worst team in the ACC. The Blue Devils, preseason national title favorites based on an array of veteran and young talent, still haven't developed a full-fledged identity. The Devils have shown flashes of brilliance (and failure), but it's just not there yet.
Coach K tweaked his starting lineup for the ninth time this season, putting in freshman Frank Jackson for senior Matt Jones. Jackson is probably the closest thing Duke has to a true point guard, although Allen has run the point capably at times.
Krzyzewski isn't afraid to shake things up to improve team chemistry. He benched three-year starting point guard Greg Paulus in favor of blossoming guard Nolan Smith to get more athleticism in the lineup in 2008. Based on how this team looked on Saturday, Duke's best lineup appears to be with Jackson, whether he's fully developed at point guard or not.
Player-of-the-year candidate Luke Kennard has a lot to do with why this team has won games, including an epic 34-point performance and game-winner against Wake Forest. And as much flack as Allen has gotten, he’s been strong of late, finishing with 21 points in Duke’s wins against Pitt and Notre Dame. Let’s remember: Teams often develop their identities through adversity, and the Blue Devils have certainly had their share.
After the game, Krzyzewski said of an ESPN report about his team being kicked out of the locker room a week back, that it "wasn't about punishment, it was about getting rid of bad habits."
ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said before the game that Coach K's presence Saturday would be a "return to normalcy." It was, sure. But it also was a reminder that the Hall of Fame coach has a team with waves of potential still figuring it out.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM COLLEGE BASKETBALL THIS WEEK
