Duke basketball: Next milestone victory for Mike Krzyzewski in final season

Duke basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski has one more benchmark to reach in his final season. 

As the weeks and months slowly inch closer to the beginning of Mike Krzyzewski‘s final season as the head coach of the Duke basketball program, he can still reach one more milestone victory in his career.

The Hall of Famer currently sits with 1,170 career victories (73 at Army and 1,097 at Duke), and since college basketball will have a normal schedule this season, Krzyzewski needs 30 wins to reach the 1,200 win mark.

Three more victories also nets 1,100 victories for the 74-year-old in Durham, something he could achieve in the first week of the season.

ALSO READ: Duke wing shows glimpse into the future with stellar outing

Since the 2000-01 season, Duke has won at least 30 games in a season ten times, three of which came when the Blue Devils cut down the nets in 2001, 2010, and 2015.

Duke did not have the chance to reach the 30-win plateau in the 2019-20 season due to the cancelation of the year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, sitting with 25 wins entering the postseason, as well as the disappointing and shortened season in 2020-21.

The Blue Devils last had a 30+ win season in 2018-19 where Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett, and company fell in the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament.

Mike Krzyzewski would likely reach 1,200 victories if Duke were to make an extended run in the NCAA Tournament next March.

Duke basketball will not have an easy path to victory in 2021-22

While many expect the Blue Devils to regain their National Championship contender form this season, Duke will not have an easy path to victory in its non-conference slate of games.

Duke will play Kentucky, Gonzaga, Michigan State, and Ohio State this season, none of which will be played inside the friendly confines of Cameron Indoor Stadium.

ALSO READ: Duke freshman reveals hypothetical commitment

The five-time National Champions will play Kentucky at Madison Square Garden (New York), Gonzaga at the T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas), Michigan State at the Breslin Center (East Lansing), and Ohio State at Value City Arena (Columbus).

Duke will also host Army, Hartford, and Campbell in a multi-team event at Cameron Indoor Stadium while also hosting The Citadel in a non-conference matchup.