CHARLOTTE— Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim provided a friendly jab at his previous competitor and retired Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski throughout Wednesday’s ACC basketball media day.
“He’s busy. He’s gardening and stuff with the grandchildren,” Boeheim said when inquired about his contact with Coach K because his retirement last spring. “I informed him, I said, when it snows out, what are you going to do then? However he’ll be fine.”
Krzyzewski’s absence at the yearly preseason occasion was noted by the 77-year-old Boeheim, who worked as Coach K’s assistant on the United States gold medal-winning Olympic teams in 2008, 2012 and 2016.
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Krzyzewski owns a 13-5 record against Boeheim, winning the last seven and their only NCAA Tournament video game in 1998.
Throughout Duke’s go to the Last Four last season, and before dealing with Syracuse for the final time, Krzyzewski said he and Boeheim were “the closest of good friends.”
“Our households are intertwined,” Krzyzewski said. “My better half Mickie and Juli Boeheim are really friends and so are my grandkids and his kids. So you understand, we’re about as close as you can be in this occupation.”
First-year coach Jon Scheyer formally replaced Krzyzewski at the conclusion of last season, ending Krzyzewski’s 42-year run at Duke that consisted of 5 national championships and more wins than any men’s college basketball coach in history.Boeheim returns for his 46th season with the Orange. Boeheim has enjoyed Krzyzewski and UNC’s Roy Williams retire over the last 2 years, and in 2015’s 16-17 record(9-11 ACC), gave his critics the opportunity to state he’s lost a step. It’s been twenty years considering that he won the 2003 nationwide title with Carmelo Anthony and has reached the Final 4 just when ever since.”He brought a lot to the college video game,”Boeheim stated Wednesday of
Krzyzewski. “More than any person probably. As did Roy( Williams)and Jay Wright. Those guys are difficult to change, but as all of us understand, there’s no one that’s irreplaceable.”