A story guarantees greatest Duke basketball season in history

The ultimate Duke basketball tears to come

Continuing for a minute with the theme of Mike Krzyzewski-related miracles, look no further than the fact that Dad and I, who habitually butt heads due to God creating our noggins with an overabundance of matching parts, still manage to get along with each other.

Actually, without our Duke basketball bond, I have to wonder if Dad would have tried to convince Mom to put me and all of my incessant opinions up for adoption at some point in the early 90s. He definitely would’ve had my brother’s vote.

Now, I’m old enough — this month, I turn 40, which is the same age as Coach K when my Duke basketball interest began in 1987 — to accept that my father won’t be around forever. The same goes for Coach K, specifically as a head coach.

That leads me to the most important lesson I’ve learned throughout a Duke basketball fandom that has spanned the five different decades I’ve been on this planet. It’s simple: cherish every moment, both the good and bad, while refusing to ever believe in anything other than greatness on the horizon.

So on that note, consider the stacked recruiting class, the ambitious grad transfers, the solid returning talent, and all the dialed-up emotions in store next season. Indeed, there’s every reason to believe that Coach K will go out on top while every type of tear streams down the face of all the countless followers he’s amassed and deeply impacted over the years.

Will Duke go 40-0? Don’t count on it. Will the Blue Devils sweep the Tar Heels? Lord, let’s hope so. Will they outdo the most elite teams from Coach K’s first 41 years? Well, that’d be a treat. Will they produce one or more specific plays that will forever live in Duke basketball lore? Chances are they will.

ALSO READ: The 100 greatest Blue Devils under Coach K

What we can absolutely trust in, though, is that Coach K will have his guys prepared. Even better, he’ll also have them believing. Meanwhile, Jon Scheyer is certain to continue learning from the GOAT while he can, as he works to fully trust in his own identity as the soon-to-be head man.

Finally, you better believe the overall product will convince some six-year-old boy somewhere to trash his LEGO set and beg his Duke basketball fanatic father for a history lesson. He’ll want to know all about that man with the funny last name plus the sharp sidekick who is gearing up to take his place.

Speaking from experience, no matter the wins and losses that ensue, there’s simply nothing greater than that exact type of connection.

All thanks to Coach K and all the miracles he’s inspired.