December 30, 2010

Krzyzewski Passes Dean Smith in Wins: With Duke's win over UNC-Greensboro Wednesday, Mike Krzyzewski passed Dean Smith on the Division I men's basketball all-time win list Wednesday night and is now in second place at 880. He's 23 wins away from passing Bob Knight -- his mentor and former coach at Army.

posted by rcade to basketball at 05:21 PM - 3 comments

As a Wake Forest fan I've watched the UNC-Duke thing for decades with no dog in the fight. Bearing in mind that we are talking about degrees of greatness, I have to say that Dean Smith was the best of all time. Nobody else ever exploited the rules of the game to such infuriating extremes that he forced those rules to change. Smith's "Four Corners" offence led to the shot clock in college basketball. In another brilliant innovation, faced with a team of ten good players but no great ones, Smith came up with the "Blue Team" concept. He would pull all five starters and put in the second team whose entire pupose was to run the other team into the ground. Just as the opponents caught up to what was happening, here came the rested starters again. It was truly demoralizing.

Either this year or next Coach K will pass Bob Knight and become the winningest coach in college basketball history and he is one of the greatest ever. But he ain't the best. My top five?

Smith Wooden Krzyzewski Knight Rupp

posted by gradioc at 11:48 PM on December 30, 2010

I am a Carolina alum and, therefore, hate Dook and Coach K. However, I tip my hat to an amazing feat and say 'Job well done'.

posted by FonGu at 06:57 AM on December 31, 2010

I have the exact opposite opinion. Developing the Four Corners and forcing the institution of the shot clock is a point of extreme shame, not pride.

Coach Smith had a decent roster at that time, even though the ACC was very competitive. He did not have to uglify the game the way he did.

But he chose to do so. No free pass out of jail for that one. It was appalling to watch. And as bush league as it gets.

Contrast that to Princeton's approach, entering the NCAA tournament often physically overmatched. They won games with flow, discipline, and great fundamentals. No standing around killing the clock trying to win a 40-38 ballgame.

posted by beaverboard at 04:26 PM on December 31, 2010

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