Coach K Wins 500th At Duke
It was a win so big they named the court after the coach.
Carlos Boozer had 22 points and coach Mike Krzyzewski won his 500th game at Duke as the second-ranked Blue Devils beat Villanova 98-85 Friday night in the Preseason NIT.
Following the game, Duke's court was named after Krzyzewski. Coach K Court at Cameron Indoor Stadium was unveiled in a ceremony after the game.
"I'm very humbled by it," said Krzyzewski, who is 500-160 in 21 seasons at Duke. "I'm not sure anyone would feel that honor more than me. My love for Duke and the people in this building - I can't love it more."
The Blue Devils (2-0) helped their coach reach the milestone in typical Duke fashion.
After a slow start, Duke's relentless pressure wore the Wildcats down. Pressing full-court for most of the game, the Blue Devils forced 29 turnovers - 18 in the first half - resulting in 42 points.
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The Blue Devils will play Texas in the semifinals Wednesday at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Michael Bradley, a transfer from Kentucky, led Villanova (1-1) with 28 points, eight rebounds and six assists. He hit 12 of 16 shots for the Wildcats.
"I thought he was tremendous and I know he can get better," Lappas said. "What can you say about him? And this is only his second game."
Shane Battier, who set a Duke record with nine 3-pointers against Princeton on Tuesday, had 18 points and seven rebounds. He shot 7-for-13, including 2-for7 from long range.
Duke hit 59 percent from the field, and six players scored in double figures. Chris Duhon had 18 points, including four 3-pointers, and Mike Dunleavy added 16.
Krzyzewski became the fifth-fastest coach to reach 500 wins with one team, doing it in 660 games. Only Kentucky's Adolph Rupp (583), UNLV's Jerry Tarkanian (614), North Carolina's Dean Smith (653) and Henry Iba of Oklahoma State (654) did it quicker.
Boozer hit nine of 15 shots. His dunk off a pass from Jason Williams gave Duke a 67-53 lead with 12:25 left. He added six rebounds and five steals.
"He gave us a big boost," Krzyzewski said. "We couldn't get him the ball too much against Princeton, so we consciously tried to get him the ball tonight."
Williams finished with 13 points and 10 assists.
Villanova used a 9-0 run to pull within 89-80 with just over two minutes left, but got no closer.
Villanova broke down Duke's pressure for three easy baskets and a 17-16 lead with 13 minutes left in the first half, but Duke wore down the Wildcats.
The Blue Devils had eight steals in the first half, including one that led to a thunderous dunk by Boozer that gave Duke a 31-23 lead with 8:55 left.
Duke had 12 turnovers in the first half, but hit 20 of 31 shots.
"We're not an outstanding team right now, but we're a good team and hopefully we'll keep getting better," Krzyzewski said.
Duke's Reggie Bryant banked a 25-footer at the halftime buzzer to give the Blue Devils a 51-40 halftime lead. The play came after Villanova's Jermaine Medley was called for traveling 80 feet from the basket with 1.9 seconds left.
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