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Duke Basketball: 4 Toughest January Games Without Coach K

By Michael Collins

Jan 6, 2016; Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski looks on in the second half against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Duke defeated Wake Forest 91-75. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 6, 2016; Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski looks on in the second half against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Duke defeated Wake Forest 91-75. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 21, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals forward Jaylen Johnson (10) posts up against Kentucky Wildcats forward Derek Willis (35) during the first half at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville defeated Kentucky 73-70. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals forward Jaylen Johnson (10) posts up against Kentucky Wildcats forward Derek Willis (35) during the first half at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville defeated Kentucky 73-70. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports /

Jan. 14 @ Louisville

Why It’s Tough:

It’s Louisville, enough said.
Road game against top 10 opponent
Tough in the paint

Undoubtedly the toughest game of the schedule without Coach K will be against No. 9 Louisville, on the road, with a lot at stake in the conference.

Bobby Petrino will have the Cardinals ready for this game, and Duke will be in the middle of four games in 10 days, with the final two coming on the road. This may be a worn out Duke team by the time they arrive in Louisville.

The game is also slated for a noon tipoff, which could add to any fatigue problems for the Blue Devils.

Beyond the mental and physical issues that may arise, throw into the mix that Louisville is a possible Final Four team this season and is off to a scorching start including a win over rival No. 6 Kentucky.

In the Blue Devils favor is the fact that Louisville has struggled against ranked teams this season, with all three losses coming to top 20 teams.

It’s going to be a difficult month without Coach K, and the Blue Devils will need to be at the top of their games to come out of this four week stretch still firmly in control of their fate in the ACC.

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