Duke basketball: Coach K gives special message after practice

Former Duke basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski provided a special message. 

It was a special day at practice for members of the Duke basketball team on Tuesday afternoon as Hall of Famer Mike Krzyzewski paid the squad a visit.

Krzyzewski, entering his second season of retirement, has been busy this summer with cameo appearances in The Bear and a trip to Las Vegas in which he saw a Las Vegas Aces game and spent time with former members of the Blue Devil program at NBA Summer League.

However, he’s back in Durham and finally getting a look at Jon Scheyer’s squad for this upcoming season.

Coach K viewed practice and then gave the team speech following the workout.

“Thank you for allowing me to watch you workout,” Krzyzewski began.

“You guys have a chance to be very good.”

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Duke returns four starters from last season, Jeremy Roach, Tyrese Proctor, Mark Mitchell, and Kyle Filipowski, while bringing in the consensus No. 2 recruiting class in the country led by 5-stars Caleb Foster, Jared McCain, Sean Stewart, and TJ Power.

ALSO READ: Tyrese Proctor details turnaround, expectations for year

“Don’t assume you’re going to be good. Don’t assume who’s going to start. Don’t assume whether you are a guy coming back or a new guy. Do not assume.”

“You should come after the guy you are guarding every day.”

Few holdover left on Duke basketball team from Mike Krzyzewski era

Jeremy Roach and Jaylen Blakes are the only scholarship players still on the Duke roster who played for Mike Krzyzewski while walk-on’s Stanley Borden and Spencer Hubbard remain on the roster from Coach K’s final season.

“Based on what you guys did last year, the expectations are higher for you,” Krzyzewski said.

“People are going to come after you…hard. You have to come after each other hard in practice.”

ALSO READ: Insiders praise Jon Scheyer for offseason success

Scheyer led the Blue Devils on a 10-game winning streak at the end of the season, including an ACC Tournament Championship.

“You don’t come to Duke to fit it. You come to Duke to be a great player and to be on a great team.”

Chills.