Duke basketball: Coach K already raking in special attention

Duke basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski was honored at the Champions Classic. 

The first of many ceremonies for Duke basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski is in the books as the Hall of Famer was honored at halftime of the Champions Classic on Tuesday night.

ESPN and the Champions Classic presented Krzyzewski with a plaque for his achievements in college basketball midway through the Kansas vs. Michigan State matchup.

Coach K announced in the spring that this would be his final season as a head coach at the college level and he would be retiring at the end of the season.

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Current associate head coach Jon Scheyer will be his replacement once the college basketball season ends in April.

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Krzyzewski has manned the bench in Durham since 1980, and prior to that, he began his head coaching career at Army in 1975.

The Blue Devils will play Army inside Cameron Indoor Stadium in their home opener on Friday, November 12.

The 74-year-old has won five National Championships, all at Duke, and amassed 1,170 victories in his career.

Duke basketball head coach certainly to get more attention this season

The major theme in most Duke games will be what opposing school gives him the best departing gift.

Winston-Salem State presented Krzyzewski with a gift prior to the Blue Devils’ lone exhibition game this season.

Duke does not play a true road game until November 30 against Ohio State in the ACC vs. Big Ten Challenge, but gifts are likely at each game this season, unless it is not the last matchup with an opponent.

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No. 9 Duke will play No. 10 Kentucky in the regular season opener at 9:30pm EST in the State Farm Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night (ESPN).

The game will be the last for Mike Krzyzewski in New York City until March when the Blue Devils play in the ACC Tournament in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.