PITTSBURGH (93.7 the Fan) – Pitt head coach Jeff Capel said before the game Tuesday night it would be “weird” facing Mike Krzyzewski and his alma mater, saying of the love he has for Coach K and the Duke program. After a 79-64 win, Krzyzewski responded.
“We beat a good team tonight and a crowd that was ready,” Krzyzewski said. “What a great atmosphere that is back, that is back at Pitt.”
The crowd was fired up for the first ten minutes or so as the Panthers held a lead at the 13 minute mark of the first half, only to have second ranked Duke go on a 29-9 run to end the half. But Krzyzewski said it wasn’t for a lack of effort.
“What they lack in depth and experience, they make up for in grit, togetherness and really tough play,” Krzyzewski said. “Every game I watched, they played hard the whole time. That is what I would expect from Jeff’s team.”
“One of the key things is they are together. He and his staff have done a great job of building great comradery and belief in one another. So they play as one.”
Capel’s start at Pitt has been a surprise to many, 12-7 overall and 2-4 in ACC play, both eclipsing last year’s totals by mid-January.
A winner of five national championships, Coach K also rebuilt the Duke program when he arrived there 39 years ago. Krzyzewski says Capel has always loved the City of Pittsburgh and that it’s a great fit for his former assistant and All-American, also for the fans here and the ACC.
“In the last seven years he’s been a part of us sustaining excellence,” Krzyzewski said. “He knows it’s a day-to-day fight no matter what level if you want to be really good. You all are lucky to have him and he’s lucky to be here.”
Coach K said he loves Capel and "he is part of our family and I’m part of his". However there is a matter of business.
“It was tough before (the game) and now it’s tough after because one of us lost. But I’d still rather have him lose. I love him, but I love us a little bit more.”