SAN FRANCISCO — Arkansas basketball is the latest personnel with a bet to cease the legendary profession of Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski. The No. 4 Razorbacks take on the No. 2 Blue Devils on Saturday (7: 49 p.m. CT, TBS) within the NCAA Match Elite 8.
The sport would possibly be Krzyzewski’s final, as he’ll retire at the conclusion of this season after 41 years at Duke. Eric Musselman’s Razorbacks stand within the job of 1 extra Final Four for Krzyzewski.
It be also a rematch of the 1994 national championship, when Arkansas beat the Blue Devils. Krzyzewski mentioned he remembers it neatly.
Here’s what Krzyzewski, alongside with Duke gamers Paolo Banchero, Jeremy Roach, Wendell Moore Jr. and Be aware Williams, needed to suppose relating to the matchup with Arkansas.
COLUMN: 8 the explanations why Arkansas Razorbacks basketball can beat Duke in Elite Eight | Toppmeyer
NATIONAL PREDICTIONS: CBS’ Gary Parrish, Kyle Boone predictions for Arkansas vs. Duke basketball in NCAA Elite 8
SCOUTING DUKE: Arkansas basketball vs. Duke in NCAA Match Elite 8: Scouting file, come by prediction
On Arkansas coach Eric Musselman
Krzyzewski: “Their family is even handed one of many immense names and regarded one of many immense households within the historical past of basketball in our nation. His dad used to be appropriate an unparalleled coach and defensive coach. I feel the formative years at Arkansas indulge in the merit of the truth of Eric’s experience within the professionals, and also you’d also gape most of the legitimate impact, notably in one of the most things they quit offensively and one of the most outlandish things they quit defensively.
“I feel it bears out number-engaging within the final five, six weeks they indulge in got been most likely the suitable defensive personnel within the nation.”
On Arkansas’ 1994 national championship decide over Duke
Krzyzewski: “We played against a immense personnel and regarded one of many immense coaches in our sport in Nolan (Richardson). It used to be a heck of a sport, and it got here down to, in truth, a timeout. I felt we knew Scotty Thurman used to be going to gain the ball, and we got a fingernail on it, which didn’t have an effect on its trajectory, and he knocked it down. We had an opportunity then neutral after it, however it used to be a hell of a sport.
“These things are disappointing in that you don’t decide, however I wasn’t disappointed with the bother. We in truth had a immense year.
“An inside of memoir on that: About a month and a half of earlier than that, we changed our offense a little bit. I suggested (Duke heart Grant Hill) we’re going to position a brand contemporary offense in. It be going to be ‘going to Charlotte’ offense and build apart him up on top. It worked. We did experience to Charlotte. I will also neutral soundless indulge in mentioned I’m going to position a national championship. Then he will also want won three.”
On Arkansas ahead Jaylin Williams
Banchero: “He is a key participant for them. Positively looks love he retains them together. He is ready to scoot, shoot, in truth quit the total lot at the five living for them. He is a immense participant. And then the prices, that just just isn’t one thing that you gape loads, a well-known man taking that many prices. It be in truth outlandish. So you’d also neutral soundless hear to him the least bit cases, appropriate the build apart he’s at on the ground.”
On weak ACC gamers Au’Diese Toney and Chris Lykes
Moore Jr.: “Positively I indulge in some memories of Au’Diese. He gave us 27 and 22 (aspects). We faced him while he used to be at Pitt, so he’s without peril succesful. He is definite a immense participant. Coming from North Carolina, I used to be ready to gape him loads on the AAU scene.
“Chris, he’s soundless a immense participant. I mean, at Miami he used to be their main scorer and an All ACC participant. He used to be ACC, so he’s a terribly appropriate guard. Every of those guys assert a host of energy to the Arkansas personnel. They carry a host of energy and athleticism, defense, scoring. These two guys are two well-known parts of the personnel and two things that we have got been having a peep out for within the scout.”
On Arkansas’ defense against Gonzaga
Roach: “It be indubitably appropriate to gape the tape and the arrangement they adjusted to Gonzaga. They took them out of transition. They were precise physical with all of them sport. I feel appropriate coming into this sport the following day, we have got appropriate got to ascertain that depth and even indulge in extra depth than them coming out of the gates. You don’t want to present them a rhythm early on account of it can gain upsetting.”
On Arkansas guards JD Notae and Au’Diese Toney
Moore Jr.: “He is without peril most likely even handed one of many upper guards within the nation. If he misses a shot, it would not mean the leisure to him. He goes to take the subsequent one love it be his first shot.
“I feel that’s what makes him in truth the form of immense participant. It be in truth appropriate his non permanent reminiscence. Nothing looks to grief him. Even in well-known moments he has the supreme self belief, no matter how he’s shooting, that he goes to hit the subsequent shot.
“As far as Au’Diese, he does a little little bit of the total lot for the personnel. He is if reality be told extra or much less love a glue that holds them together appropriate on account of he’s ready to total so noteworthy. He is ready to defend. He is ready to attain. He is ready to rebound. He is most likely even handed one of many more durable kids they indulge in got on their personnel. When you happen to’ve gotten a man love that, he in truth appropriate boosts their total personnel up when he’s taking half in neatly.”
Krzyzewski: “(Toney) has immense energy. That’s one thing you glimpse in every participant. He has outstanding athletic skill and competitiveness, however he plays with energy, man. When you happen to quit that and also you’ve gotten the athletic skill that he has and the liberty that he has with Eric, you are going to make a host of appropriate plays. He did that at Pitt for Jeff Capel, and he’s doing it now on a personnel that in actuality within the future of the nation they’re as sizzling as any personnel in truth within the final 20 games or so. They’ve had a unheard of time.
“I feel they started the SEC 0-3, and what a turnaround, even supposing their league is terribly advanced. I mean, they indulge in got beaten Kentucky, Auburn, Gonzaga, Tennessee. Approach on. It be even handed one of many appropriate groups within the nation.”
Christina Long covers the Arkansas Razorbacks. Additionally, you will electronic mail her at clong@swtimes.com or apply her on Twitter @christinalong00.
This text within the origin appeared on Fortress Smith Times File: What Mike Krzyzewski, Duke basketball gamers mentioned about Arkansas
