Mike Krzyzewski’s farewell tour around college basketball is underway as the legendary Duke coach embarks on his 42nd and final season leading the Blue Devils before he hands the program over to assistant Jon Scheyer. The five-time national champion and three-time Naismith Coach of the Year also spent five seasons as the head coach at Army after his playing career at West Point, so it’s only fitting that No. 9 Duke is playing the Black Knights on Friday as part of the Duke Veterans Day Weekend Showcase.
That game follows the Blue Devils’ 79-71 season-opening win over No. 10 Kentucky on Nov. 9 in the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York. The arena is one of Coach K’s favorites, and his team made his potential final appearance in the venue a memorable one.
The Blue Devils won behind a combined 47 points from true freshmen Paolo Banchero and Trevor Keels, who were making their college debuts. Duke won despite hitting just 1-of-13 attempts from 3-point range. It was a fitting opening salvo for a coach who started at Duke several seasons before the 3-point line was introduced in the college game.
As Krzyzewski’s final season continues, we will update this piece with the latest tributes from the farewell tour of a coaching legend.
How to watch Duke vs. Army live
Date: Friday, Nov. 12 | Time: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Cameron Indoor Stadium — Durham, North Carolina
TV: ACC Network | Live stream: fuboTV (Try for free)
Garden party
Krzyzewski’s final season began on a big stage, with the Blue Devils beating Kentucky at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 9 in the Champions Classic. The venue is one of Krzyzewski’s favorites, and it offered a parting gift to the legendary coach. Krzyzewski is now 34-11 all-time at Madison Square Garden, and that record will remain unchanged unless the Blue Devils end up playing in the NIT, which would be nothing short of a disaster.
