Quote of the Week Archives

DukeUpdate.com Current Quote Archives

'He's good. Every once in a while he goes to being a freshman ... And I think that's just going to happen. But tonight he did a great job.' — Mike Krzyzewki on freshman Rasheed Sulaimon

“This summer, we’ve been hanging out more and getting to know each other. It seems like everybody likes each other, so it should be a fun year.” The Herald-Sun - Blue Devils seek to bond more this summer

"Shane [Battier] does a great job taking charges. ...It's definitely a skill. I know at Duke they teach that, they drill that, how to step in and take charges and sacrifice your body." -Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant, on why he doesn't take charges (5/15)

After the UNC win at Cameron, UNC thought about cutting down the nets in Cameron Indoor Stadium, but Williams thought it “might cause a scene.” - Roy Williams

"It's kind of a compliment when you get booed so heartily, I think. … It's not 100 percent of a compliment, but there's something about it where I take it a little bit as a compliment because there's a thin line between love and hate." - Christian Laettner on Coaching the Villains team in Rupp Arena

"This is the best [Hall of Fame honor] for me. This is where I live. This is where I’ll live for the rest of my life. It’s the place I love. When you are in the hall of fame, it immortalizes you. It’s forever." -Mike Krzyzewski, on where his Duke Hall of Fame induction ranks amongst his career honors (9/10)

"I would say in 1986, when [Duke] made the Final Four with Johnny Dawkins, I was like a sophomore or junior in high school. That’s when I fell in love with that team. Then I really started looking hard into Duke, and once I looked at everything, I just loved everything about it. The coach, the players, their style of play, the colors, and they wore Adidas sneakers, and I loved that back then. Just the school, it was outstanding. I just loved everything about it." -Christian Laettner, on when he made up his mind on attending Duke (5/9)

"When people are reminded of great plays in championship games, to be part of that is unique and special. The only bad part is you’re reminded of my poor choice of haircuts every March." -Grant Hill, reflecting on his iconic alley-oop dunk in the Duke/UNLV '91 Final Four Game (4/2)

"Jason Williams-- great kid, very bright too. Very gifted athlete, well skilled, an outstanding talent, but not nearly as good as Kyrie [Irving]. Not even close.” -AAU coach Sandy Pyonin, who coached both Williams and Irving, along with 31 other NBA players (11/5)

"[Duke has] a lot of great players on their roster, but they are also pitching me the idea of coming in and being the guy. It's really similar to what Kyrie Irving is doing this year. I mean they have great players but they also have a real confidence that I can come in and be a go-to player. Plus, there is no bigger stage in college basketball than playing at Duke. I think most people would agree with that. I mean they are on ESPN 28 times a year-- that's more than the Lakers. It's just one of the reasons I love Duke." -Duke commit Austin Rivers, after his in-home visit with the Duke coaching staff (9/22) - $

"Nolan [Smith] and Kyle [Singler], they remind me of me and Christian [Laettner]. We were very laid back off the court and aggressive on the court. These guys have the ability to repeat, because they have great leaders. And I think Nolan and Kyle are monsters." -Duke legend Brian Davis, on the 2010-'11 Devils' ability to repeat (7/1)

"He brings the fire out of us. He found the inner fire in Brian [Zoubek] that propelled him. He knows how make sure Miles [Plumlee] is ready to come into a game. He knows how to make sure Mason [Plumlee] is ready to come in and be himself and not play like a freshman." Lance Thomas on Steve Wojcieschowski

“You can really see he's found himself. It’s like he's playing at a slower speed. The game just slows down and he's just in complete control,” Jon Scheyer talking about Kyle Singler

"Its simple. We're pretty much brothers." Nolan Smith on his relationship with Jon Scheyer.

"North Carolina coach Roy Williams (14) would feel right at home in the kiss-and-cry area adjacent to the figure-skating rink. College basketball's resident drama queen teared up -- again -- during a recent interview with Yahoo! about the Tar Heels' struggles this season. Get the man a sequined jump suit, please." Pat Forde, ESPN.com

"No one has contacted me. If they do, saying 'Nyet' would be easy to say." Coach K on rumors that the NJ Nets' Russian owners want him to coach the Nets.

"I don't talk about friends I don't have or women I didn't marry. I don't talk about players I don't coach," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski when asked whether he thought about where his Blue Devils would be if he had landed Kentucky freshman John Wall, who received an offer from Duke and who has led UK to a 19-0 start. … For the record, Krzyzewski said his wife is the only woman he has ever dated. Post and Courier 1/26/2010

"I love Jon. He is right there with the special young men I've had the opportunity to coach," Krzyzewski said. "His family is fantastic. In today's day and age, to have a family that just says, 'Here, here's my son. Do whatever you want to make him not only a good player but develop him into a man,' that's more old school." Mike Kzyzewski on Jon Scheyer (1/8/2010)

"I’ve gained basketball knowledge that I never thought there was. I think it was a really good thing to be around this program, Duke, just the type of teaching they do and everything that’s going on is first class, professional. If I look back I don’t regret it, what I’ve been through there. Obviously I am going to miss the program, but I just felt I’ve got to get out there on the floor.” -Olek Czyz, Explaining His Decision to Transfer from Duke (12/28)

"I'm still waiting for someone to show me one piece of evidence that being the Olympic coach helps Duke. I haven't seen it yet. It might help Mike [Krzyzewski]'s book sales but I haven't seen one piece of evidence." -John Feinstein, on Duke's Recruiting with Mike Krzyzewski as Olympic Coach (11/20)

"Mason [Plumlee] is an incredibly talented young guy. The one thing that we’ve always been impressed with about Mason is that he has an edge to his game. I think that’s what [Mike Krzyzewski] meant by his comparison to Christian [Laettner]. Not as much as players, but in terms of mentality. Christian had that mean edge that you need to be a great player and we believe Mason has that in him too.” -Chris Collins, on Mason Plumlee's Resemblance to Christian Laettner (10/28)

"For me, as a point-guard, shooting-guard, combo-guard, what ever you want to call it, I’m going to look to go out in every game this year, and punch the opposing team’s point guard in the mouth… [chuckles] not literally, though." - Nolan Smith (9/1)

"I'm not going to the Lakers. They have one of the great coaches in the game. I don't know where that rumor started, but there has been nothing done like that, and I'm not leaving Duke. Whatever you hear about anything like that, I will never leave Duke until I leave coaching." -Mike Krzyzewski, on Rumors that He May Be Interested in the Los Angeles Lakers' Job (6/30)

"It's the best program in the country with the best coach-- it's hard to beat that. It was just a great fit. We had other schools to visit, but we decided, hey, we're going to go for the best first, and it was just a great fit. It was an easy decision" -Dell Curry, on son Seth's decision to transfer to Duke (3/30)

"Nate [James] has always been one of the best men we've had play here. He's a good player, but he's one of the best men. I knew he would help us in that regard, helping these guys become men. He's been a huge help." -Mike Krzyzewski on Nate James (3/23)

"If I said anything contrary to Duke, I might not be able to find my Blackberry.” -President Barack Obama, in reference to assistant and Duke alum Reggie Love (2/12)

"Inside the arena, I just hate seeing the baby blue." - Kyle Singler (2/11)

"I hope the rest of your day is better than my last two hours."-Maryland's Gary Williams, After Duke Handed Him the Worst loss of His Career, 85-44 (1/25)

“I don't think Coach K really entertained the notion that I was going to be able to make it to the NBA, much less play. But that's not a critique of him. I don't think anyone else did, either. In the back of my mind, I questioned it.” -Shavlik Randolph, on Reactions to His Decision to Declare for the NBA Draft (12/23)

“I have talked to DeMarcus [Nelson] a couple of times and he is doing pretty well out there in California. He knows that I am moving into his role that he played last year. He just told me to stay aggressive and be a leader. He did a heck of a job during his career at Duke. He is just giving me a lot of the same advice that J.J. [Redick] and Daniel [Ewing] have given him.” -Gerald Henderson, on Preparing for a Leadership Role at Duke (10/27)

“Stanford was actually going to be the choice. I was sold on Stanford's school, the program, the guys. I loved everything about it. What made me change my mind to going to Duke was Elton Brand. I'd known that guy since eighth grade. If it wasn't (for that), it definitely would have been Stanford.” -Corey Maggette, on Why He Chose Duke Over Stanford (10/12)

“I guess that's just how they roll. I ain't mad at that.” -Kenny Boynton Sr., Father of Duke Recruit Kenny Boynton, on the Duke Coaches Arriving by Limousine for Boynton's In-Home Visit (9/19)

“Mike Krzyzewski wasn't famous when I met him on May 4, 1980, the night when Duke athletic director Tom Butters told me that he'd get a 'big name' coach to replace Bill Foster for the Blue Devils. I could tell hundreds of Krzyzewski stories, but the one that's always mattered most to me was when he called me when I returned from Albuquerque, [New Mexico], in 1983, having been on the road three weeks covering [Jim] Valvano and the N.C. State team. Krzyzewski wanted to play tennis -- and he won, by the way. Then he kept asking me what was it like at the Final Four.” -Durham Herald-Sun Columnist Frank Dascenzo, Recapping Memories of His 39-Year Career in Journalism (8/19) - R

“[David Cutcliffe] has to let us know what it takes to run a football program. And then we have to be able tell him how we can help you and work together. But he has to be the architect of that program. I think that’s a novel approach to Duke football. It hasn’t been that way for the last 20 years, I don’t think. [Steve] Spurrier’s probably the last one that did it that way. Although we’ve had good guys, David is a take-charge guy. I’m happy to be on his team, and I hope he’s happy to be on my team.” -Mike Krzyzewski, on David Cutcliffe Coming to Duke (6/18)

“I miss everything — about Duke university, about the surrounding areas...That was home to me, and for a lot of years. And that's not just for my 11 years on staff, that was my permanent residence for the most part since 1982...So we're talking about 26 years of developing relationships and being entrenched in the community. So I'm going to miss everyone there. I will be able to get back and visit friends and family, and spend time with them. It'll just be different. I'll be coaching at a different university. But my feelings and my love toward the university and for the people there have never wavered and will never change.” -Johnny Dawkins, on His Affection for Duke University (5/15)

“[Johnny Dawkins] has a certain poise to him. He's cool, calm and collected. He's very relaxed. But they're getting a fighter. I almost broke down in tears when I heard [about the hiring], because he's such a great fit for Stanford.” -Jason Williams, on Stanford's Hire of Johnny Dawkins (4/27)

“[Mike Krzyzewski] looks at guys as players...as basketball players. You can’t just be one dimensional, one positional. I’ve seen that with the different guys he had – Grant Hill played point guard. He explained that to me. I wasn’t just going to play the guard position. He put me at the four, they told me to play Dahntay [Jones] for awhile. Dahntay was also a guy I looked up to. His style is exciting.” -Gerald Henderson, on What Attracted Him to Duke's System (3/3)

"We love the situation we're in. To be coaching at our alma mater, to be coaching the quality of kids we get to coach and to be working for the best coach in the country, it doesn't get much better. We're part of the same family, so it's not a co-worker relationship. It's in our blood." -Steve Wojciechowski, on Being an Assistant Coach at Duke (2/15)

"It was almost like seeing your wife for the first time. It was kind of like that. Coach [Mike Krzyzewski] looked at me. And I looked at him. And there was something there." -DeMarcus Nelson, on His First Meeting w/Mike Krzyzewski (1/31)

"(I want to be remembered as) an explosive player. One of the best to ever play at Duke. That was one of my goals coming here as a high school player — to be one of the best to ever play at Duke and leave my mark." -Gerald Henderson, on How He Wants to Be Remembered (1/18)

"I’ve been around the game a while. Whether I’m losing it or getting old or whatever, I do know the game. The game is cumulative. The game is never singular. It always has something that’s happened before the game or in games leading up to it that has an impact on it. In the second half, you have to take that into account. You’re not playing this one opponent at that time. Anyway, I know what I’m talking about." -Mike Krzyzewski, on Second Half Basketball (11/29)

"[Josh McRoberts] wasn't ready to be Danny Ferry. If he stayed, maybe he would have been better. ...He wasn't comfortable scoring the ball, but he was comfortable playing. I thought for about a month he played unbelievable defense for us. And then it was 'Josh needs to do this' and you feel that pressure. ...He's a good kid, but it got to him. I don't begrudge his decision to go, but I don't want to look back. He was a pretty damn good player." -Mike Krzyzewski, on Josh McRoberts (11/16)

"I didn't want to lose [at North Carolina]. I'm happy for the Dukies and the South Carolina people. I felt like I was coaching for both of them today." -Steve Spurrier, Following South Carolina's 21-15 Win Over UNC (10/14) - R

"Can the 25th-ranked team on Steve Spurrier's preseason ballot for the umpteenth straight year end its streak of 20 straight losses? Duke had better embrace the challenge quickly by beating UConn at home Saturday. ...If Duke's streak reaches 21, it could very well be at 32 by season's end. Check the Dukies' other home games: Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Clemson and Georgia Tech. Those are L's. Road trips include Miami, FSU and Notre Dame. Those are all big L's. I would like to see the efforts of Ted Roof's players pay off, but it seems his plan to have Duke bowl-ready by next season is far-fetched." -ESPN's College GameDay Host Chris Fowler, on Duke Football (8/30)

"There’s no maybe about it. Every time I turn on the TV and see Cameron Indoor Stadium, see everybody in Krzyzewskiville and see the Crazies jumping up in down with the intensity and the building almost shaking, I wonder what it would have been like to play there with Corey [Maggette] and Elton [Brand] and all those guys." -Kobe Bryant, on Whether He Would Have Attended Duke Had He Gone to College (8/19)

"It's clear that what once might have seemed quaint has begun to lose its charm. We're hopeful that before next season the coaches association can prevail upon Coach Spurrier to find another way to salute his former team — or that Duke gets better in a hurry." -USA Today Deputy Managing Editor Jim Welch, on Steve Spurrier's traditional vote for Duke in the Pre-Season Coaches Poll (8/6)

"A big thing about inaccessibility is I'd rather have [the media] talk to my guys, my players, my assistants. But in saying that, I could see where people say, 'Well, he thinks he's too big.' And that's not the case. But if that's how you're perceived, then I should make some changes." -Mike Krzyzewski, on Fixing His Fractured Relationship w/the Media (6/24)

"[Chris Duhon] is a winner first and foremost. He's been that way since he was at Duke. And every time someone wants to count him out, he seems to rise to the occasion. I just feel like you can always count on him." -Bulls Coach Scott Skiles, on Chris Duhon (5/4)

"I've been working on my form. My shot was the one skill I really hadn't regained since I was in college [2 years ago]." -Shavlik Randolph, Who Had No Shot While in College (3/2) - R

" Q: Would you say something nice about [North] Carolina right now?
A (Elton Brand): Nope.
Q. Hypothetically, if you did say something nice?
A. (Elton Brand): There’s nothin’ nice to say." - 20 Questions with Elton Brand (3/25)

"[Josh] McRoberts puts up nice numbers but appears to believe that playing college basketball is beneath him at times. He's about as ready for the NBA as he is for Broadway, but he may very well depart after the season. If you believe what people close to the Duke program are saying, few tears will be shed in the locker room if that occurs." -John Feinstein, on Josh McRoberts (3/10) - R

"Duke's Cameron Indoor Arena is wonderful, but the Cameron Crazies themselves are now like a human theme park, doing what they think the world expects them to do." -Veteran Basketball Writer Bob Ryan, on Cameron Indoor Stadium & the Crazies (3/7) - R

"[Ted Roof] made the commitment that we would be bowl eligible in 2008. That's quite a plank to walk, but when you look at the whole presentation, that really is the logical conclusion to draw." -Former Blue Devil DE Darryl Brunson (1981-'84) on Ted Roof's Vision for the Duke Football Program (1/17)

"As long as you don't bring your gayness on me I'm fine. As far as business-wise, I'm sure I could play with him. But I think it would create a little awkwardness in the locker room." -Shavlik Randolph, who once wore a "Gay? Fine By Me" T-Shirt [link] ,on the Prospect of Potentially Playing w/a Homosexual Teammate (2/9)

"[Shane Battier is] the finest competitor I've coached in my 16 years in the NBA. I've been fortunate. I've been around a lot of great competitors. I've never been around a competitor that plays every play, every day like he does...The ability to sustain your concentration and your intensity and your focus every play, every day, every practice, every game, it's a unique talent that very few value. But that does have a huge impact on whether you are able to maximize your ability as a team." -Houston Rockets Coach Jeff Van Gundy, on Shane Battier (1/14)

"Coming into this game, we were like, 'Man, we know we're the better team and we've got the better athletes.' Duke ain't what it's been." -Georgia Tech's Thaddeus Young, Following the Yellow Jackets' 74-63 Win Over the Blue Devils (1/11)

"Our program has been built because I am a defensive coach. I have a passion to play defense on every exchange. I’ve been here 27 years and every play that’s been played at Duke University, I’m passionate about playing defense. And when we don’t do that, then we are not the Duke basketball program." -Mike Krzyzewski, On the Importance of Defense to Duke's Program (12/20)

"What I'll always remember was [Red Aeurbach's] humanity. Underneath that gruff exterior, he was a real softie. He always asked about my son, who had a back operation. He would tell him to keep shooting. I took him to the NCAA tournament and a Maryland game last year. We were just a couple of gym rats. He always used to say, 'That Pagliuca, all he knows is Duke, Duke, Duke'." -Celtics Managing Partner Steve Pagliuca, on Red Aeurbach (10/31) - R

"I talk to [Mike Krzyzewski] often. That's a relationship that I value. I love the guy. There's not a decision that I make of any importance that I don't call him and talk to him...I believed in the guy since I was 17 years old. We're going on 15 years of that relationship. I lean on him for everything. Why wouldn't you, with the experience he's had, the success? He's one of the most brilliant men I've ever known." -Jeff Capel, on His Relationship w/Mike Krzyzewski (10/20)

"I'm just not going to come out and slap the floor three times versus North Carolina Central. If you slap the floor at Duke, it's important. If you go ahead and do it every time, it takes away from the importance of it." -Chronic Cameron Floor Slapper Jamal Boykin, on Controlling His Emotion During the 2006-'07 Season (10/14)

"That's why I say I'm happy I did get hurt. First of all, it changed me into a better person. Not that I wasn't a good person then, but you just realize more about life. As far as basketball, I can't tell you how many intangibles Coach K would rip on me that I didn't do." -Jason Williams, on How His Motorcycle Accident Changed Him as a Person and a Player (9/29)

"Yeah, I claim [the lone vote for Duke in the pre-season Coaches Poll]. I've been voting for the boys from Duke since, oh, about 1990, whenever I started voting on that poll. I just want 'em to know that I haven't forgotten about 'em and I appreciate everything they did for me. That's why I did it." -Former Duke Head Coach Steve Spurrier, on Why He Votes for Duke (8/4) - R

"[In college] they said, 'Oh, you're a power forward, but you're too small to be an effective power forward at Duke. You should have gone to a smaller place where you can play more. Duke is too good for you.' I think it turned out OK." -Shane Battier, on Proving Doubters Wrong Throughout His Basketball Career (7/13)

"I don't know if embarrassed is the right word. When [things] happen you should take responsibility for it. ...My main thing with J.J.[Redick] is, 'Let's get on. Take responsibility. I love you. You're an idiot.' But I'm not going to throw him down the drain." -Mike Krzyzewski, on J.J. Redick's DUI Arrest (6/21) - R

"[Duke has] been like the American Express commercial. I epitomize that. I came to play for Coach K and I got so much more out of it than the basketball. Basketball was great, but I'm armed for life now." -Lee Melchionni, on His Duke Experience (4/19)

"I respect Mike Krzyzewski as a coach. And I like him a lot as a person. But over the last eight minutes of the Duke-LSU game on Thursday night, Duke looked like the most undercoached and underprepared team in the tournament." -Mike Lupica, (3/26)

"Shelden [Williams] is our pillar of strength. He fights for us. He hits big free throws. He makes big buckets...There's no kid I've enjoyed coaching in his four years more than this kid." -Mike Krzyzewski (3/12) - R

"I would like somebody who has been a part of our Duke basketball family. If I had to pick one guy, I'd pick Johnny Dawkins. I think as a player and coach, he's given as much to this program as anybody and he'd do a great job." -Mike Krzyzewski on His Potential Successor at Duke (3/2) - $

"The league has been set up for Carolina and Duke since that became the featured game," Williams said. "All the schedules are off of those two games and set up for television. CBS, ABC, ESPN pick the games for ratings and what's left goes to Fox. We've been the third team picked and that's why we play every Sunday night. We play one Saturday (ACC) home game in January and February and that's not fair." -Gary Williams whining about Duke & UNC receiving special treatment (from 2005).

"If [the 2000-'01 season] gets too bad I'm going to pull a Krzyzewski...That one year (1994-'95) when Mike didn't like his team, his back got to hurting a lot worse...I may come down with some ailment here." -Eddie Sutton, who took a medical leave of absence from his 13-11 Oklahoma State team on 2/16/06 after registering a 0.22 BAL and subsequently being charged w/DUI (10/25/00)

"I think everyone has a rivalry with Duke. When you're at their stature, everybody wants a piece of you. That's just the way it is. Duke is the standard..." -Seth Greenberg (2/12)

"[Mike Krzyzewski's son-in-law Chris] Spatola's dream is to be a basketball coach when he gets out of the Army...family ties certainly won't hurt him when he becomes a civilian. Krzyzewski has made it clear he wants Spatola to work for him when he gets out of the Army, most likely in the summer of 2007. His current assistants -- Johnny Dawkins, Chris Collins and Steve Wojciechowski -- joke that one of them had better have another job by then.” -John Feinstein (2/4) - R

"It’s like walking into a church. When you walk through the hallways, you see the retired jerseys and you know all the great players that have come through here. And that trickles down into our fans where they feel like they’re a part of the team. It all builds up to make it a special place. And you can feel it the moment you walk into the building.” -Greg Paulus, on Cameron Indoor Stadium (1/21)

"Our players are just as good as their players, and our coach is just as good as their coach." -Wake Forest's Trent Strickland, Ahead of Duke's 82-64 Win Over Wake Forest in Winston-Salem (1/8)

"I spent a lot of time [at Duke] last year watching practice and watching games. That's a great learning environment for any coach, to be able to have the privilege to sit in and watch [Mike Krzyzewski] and his staff teach and motivate. It was a tremendous environment for me to be in. It motivated me. Everyone knows Mike has a special way of reaching people. You don't have to spend very long around him to feel good, to feel better about everything." -Former Duke assistant Mike Dement, on his experience around the Duke program (12/31)

"Some laws we break." -Luol Deng, on the Dinka tribe's custom that calls for abstinence before marriage (scroll) (12/19)

"J.J. [Redick] just refuses to lose. He's one of the amazing players to play at Duke -- and if he's one of them, he's one of the amazing players to play [college basketball]. He's just amazingly tough. He's the best, man. He's got a will that you can't teach." -Mike Krzyzewski, on J.J. Redick (12/1)

"Bruce Springsteen, Martin Luther King Jr., George W. Bush, Brett Favre, and Jesus." -J.J. Redick, on the Five People He Would Invite to a Party (11/10) - R

"The infrastructure is there for Duke to keep rolling. Kids know what he'll be doing. If he misses a tournament here or there, kids will see he's representing the national team. People will be drawn. It's not about who sees us the most. Duke has become a brand name and kids equate Duke with Coach K and a great program. We won't miss a beat." -Chris Collins, on the Impact of Mike Krzyzewski's Appointment as National Team Coach on the Duke Program (10/27)

"Until the games begin, any poll that ranks Duke anywhere but No. 1 should be wadded up and spit through a straw, preferably at the doofus who concocted such a poll. Duke is No. 1, and the gap between No. 1 and No. 2 is enormous." -Gregg Doyel (10/12)

"Five years is a long time to do this. I'm telling you, I'd be lying if I said anything different. It's an inner struggle. It's like going to your job every day and never getting paid for it...As a football player, if all you base your love of this game on is winning or losing, you're not going to last anywhere. There's only one or two teams a year that doesn't lose a game. You suffer through it, the day after and the day of. The good thing is you've got another game the following week. The thing is I've got only six more of those games left. And I'd like to finish the way I would have liked this whole first five years to go."
-Brian Greene, on Dealing w/Losing Football Games (10/4) - R

"[Josh McRoberts] can do some things that a big man can't do. His ball-handling skills and athleticism are something you don't always see with a 6'10" player. If he works on his shooting and free throws then he'll be a star at the next level,"
-J.J. Redick, on Josh McRoberts' Potential (9/30) - $

"I want to be a part of something special. I didn't want to look at [Duke] on TV and think, `I could have been a part of that.' If the NBA is there for me in the future, it will be there."
-Shelden Williams, on His Decision to Return to Duke for His Senior Year (7/9) - R

"[Shavlik Randolph's] career didn't turn out how any of us wanted it to, and we're all responsible for that. But we're not ashamed of his time at Duke. Any time that happens, there's a 'What if?' I didn't find any fault in the way that we used him...Would I want him to come back for his senior season? Absolutely. I would love to continue to coach him. But part of me admires his courage to go after this."
-Mike Krzyzewski, on Shavlik Randolph's Duke Career and Decision to Turn Pro (6/26) - R

"You learn you make [winning] happen. The players and the coaches make that happen. It's not just a rite of passage. I think that's a lesson that the players in 1995 had to learn, and we didn't have our leader there to snap us out of it. When everything hit the fan, we didn't have the rock or the foundation that was always there, who knew the right buttons to push. We didn't have the right instincts of what our team needed."
-Chris Collins, Reflecting Back on Duke's 1994-'95 Season (5/22) - R

"It doesn't matter to me either way. I'm still going to vote for Duke in the top 25 in the first poll. You know that. I did that for 12 years. You've got to give them an early start. It's one of my old teams. I'm sure most coaches have their favorite teams."
-Steve Spurrier, on the Coaches Making Their Final Poll Votes Public (6/1)

"I thought he was really, really Duke-ish. That's usually kind of uptight and just a different type. But he's not like that. He's so laid-back. He's one of the coolest cats on the squad. I didn't know he was a trash-talker, I didn't know he was a comedian. I didn't know a lot about Laettner. He's been a very pleasant surprise. He's a good dude, a good family man, a great teammate."
-Miami Heat's Keyon Dooling, on His Initial Impression of Christian Laettner (5/29) - R

"I just felt in my heart that I wanted to go to Duke. I love history and tradition and what better place to go than Duke for that. Coach K has been through almost every possible situation. He’s an unbelievable coach, I have a great relationship with the coaching staff and I love the players."
-Duke Commitment Jon Scheyer, on His Decision to Become a Blue Devil (5/17) - $

"Coach Krzyzewski has values, an innate sense of decency and a commitment to friends and family I admire. Even if he didn't go to West Point, his character alone would make me a big fan of his. He and everyone in his program play to win in life, and that's the way it should be."
-President George Bush Sr., on Mike Krzyzewski (4/26)

"I changed my mind so many times, it was unbelievable. Even now, I don't know if I made the right decision or not."
-Luol Deng, on His Decision to Leave Duke Early for the NBA (4/12) - R

"I didn't care what happened in [Duke vs. Michigan State] until Jim Nantz started with his, 'Coach K was saying this week that, no matter what happens, the Duke students and alumni will remember this team for the rest of their lives, the way they kept battling back from so many injuries, how they handled adversity and blah blah blah' routine (I'm paraphrasing). Yeah, what a bunch of courageous underdogs -- instead of relying on players who were top-10 national recruits in their high school classes, they had to rely on some of the guys who were just in the top 30. I feel horrible for them. It's such a chore to play Shavlik Randolph big minutes when he was the No. 1 recruit from that 2002 class. Check out this column from Dick Vitale from October, 2001. Really, I'm supposed to feel bad for Duke? Ever?"
-ESPN.com's Bill Simmons, on Duke (3/28)

"I haven't got tired of it yet. Maybe some other people do, but I don't....It is a blessing, something I get to enjoy until the day I die."
-Christian Laettner, on His Historic Game-Winning Shot Over Kentucky in 1992 (3/16)

"I pick Duke every time, because they're the greatest team ever to put on the blue and white. Honestly, I don't understand how anybody could be born not being a Duke fan. And I'm from Virginia."
-Phillies Reliever Billy Wagner, in ESPN The Magazine

"I think I've had a pretty good career. For me personally, it could have been a lot better, but I've been on a lot of great teams and have won a lot of games. I feel like I've still got a lot of basketball ahead of me. I'll just continue to stay focused, keeping my mind set on what we're trying to do as a team. Hopefully, we can have a chance to end this thing with a big blast."
-Daniel Ewing, Reflecting on His Duke Career Before Senior Night (3/3)

"I didn't think either one of our guys was dominant as a point guard. I thought they could play together, which they have, and you might alternate who brings it up. They're both good players; neither is like a court leader."
-Mike Krzyzewski, on Daniel Ewing & Sean Dockery (3/4)

"Those are the guys that throughout this year and ever since they've been here believe in what this program is about and what it's built on. Those guys are rocks. I would kill for those guys. I'd take a bullet for them."
-Lee Melchionni, on Walk-Ons Reggie Love, Patrick Davidson, & Patrick Johnson (2/21)
"I come in at nights, maybe the night before a game, and just shoot by myself with the lights off. There's enough light to see, but there's something about the mystique of the arena. It's so calming. So serene."
-J.J. Redick, on Cameron Indoor Stadium (2/8)

"That's good, but they'll be really good when they show up on New Year's Day like our guys."
-Mike Krzyzewski, Upon Being Told that Miami Students Arrived at 3pm for the Duke Game (1/20) - R

"Right after I found out I had mono, there was a little article that reminded me of how I'd played...I was sitting on my couch by myself every day, and it gave me a lot of time to reflect on basketball and myself and kind of step away from the hecticness of the ACC and focus more on myself. I think it was a good time for me. I think I grew a lot and I'm going to be better because of it."
-Shavlik Randolph, on the Article which Criticized His Duke Career (1/18)

"We're playing basketball. If we make excuses because of injuries, we're complete idiots as far as what's going on around us. This is the hand you get. Let's play it."
-Mike Krzyzewski, on Coping with the Losses of Shavlik Randolph and Reggie Love (1/6) - R

"[Elton Brand] is my old roommate and a good friend. Hopefully, I got him back for waking me up all those times in the middle of the night."
-Shane Battier, after Holding Brand to 8 Points on 1-7 Shooting (12/28) - R

"I've never been a player who added any extra pressure on myself by being afraid to lose. When you lose one or two [at Duke], they're ready to come with the ax to your head."
-Chris Duhon, on Dealing with Pressure (12/24)

"It's good to see. I'm really happy for him. I got to spend quality time with him at Duke. He did as much at that school as you can do, and he's just as good of a man."
-Mike Dunleavy Jr., on Grant Hill's Return (12/10) - R

"I'm not going to be happy sitting. I learn better on the fly, and the two of us are going to battle it out for the starting spot."
-Duke Commitment Greg Paulus, on Competing w/Sean Dockery for the Point Guard Job Next Season (12/7)

"Christian Laettner played Duke basketball. I guess we need Coach Krzyzewski in the stands all of the time."
-Shaquille O'Neal, following Laettner's 23-point effort with Mike Krzyzewski in attendance (12/4)

"Last year was more like death. No question, this year we competed. That's what I was looking for."
-Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo Declares a Moral Victory versus Duke (12/1)

''All you have to do is play at Duke a few times, and you'll get used to it. The attention we had in college, people were trying to kill us when we were on the road. And whenever anyone came and played us at Duke, you had to have your earmuffs on, and you can't be so sensitive."
-Christian Laettner, on Fan Abuse (11/26) - R

"Mike Krzyzewski is as energized this season as I have ever seen him."
-Jay Bilas, ESPN Insider (11/16) - $
"Going to Cameron hasn't been a pretty sight for the Wolfpack. We go there and lose by 30 every time, so I don't think we'll miss that one."
-Julius Hodge on NC State not playing at Duke this year (11/8)

“Coach K is the greatest person I've ever met. I like what he stands for and the type of players and people he turns out. I can't wait to start playing for him next year."
-Duke Commitment Greg Paulus, on Mike Krzyzewski (10/31)

“For any of the guards on our team, it's probably a little difficult right now because of [Chris] Duhon's play. The guy has played very, very well. He has nice poise out there and everything else. It's difficult for anybody who has to jump in front of him."
-Bulls Coach Scott Skiles, on Chris Duhon's Play (10/21)

“Some say I'm a pain in the [butt] and I'm sure I am. [But] no one has ever said I'm not a team player. I'm the ultimate team player... I've been about playing ball the right way since I was 10."
-Christian Laettner, on His Reputation (10/10) - R

"I know that I will come in and work hard. And take pride in representing and continuing the legacy that is Duke Basketball and enjoy playing for the best fans in all of sports
-Duke Commitment Josh McRoberts, on His Expectations for Next Season (9/28) - $

“That was just instinct. Kind of like running from the cops.”
-Virginia TB Marquis Weeks, on His 100-Yard Kick-Off Return for a Touchdown Against UNC (9/11) - R

“I was pretty much set on taking some more [official visits] to other schools. But on my way home...I thought a lot about it and it was just Duke, Duke, Duke on my mind.”
-Duke Commitment Eric Boateng, after Verbally Accepting a Blue Devil Scholarship (8/26)

"You have people who hate you. They're not supposed to like you. It's like playing against the Duke Blue Devils."
-Stephon Marbury on Playing for Team USA (8/11) - R

"I’ve wanted to go to Duke since I was in the sixth grade. There is no doubt in my mind that this is what I want to do."
-Duke Commitment Jamal Boykin, after Verbally Accepting a Blue Devil Scholarship (8/2) - $

"I'm from Maryland, and nobody can beat me."
-Maryland's Nik Caner-Medley, before disorderly conduct arrest (7/28)