Despite boasting one of the stingiest defenses in the nation, the Utah Utes (5) figure to have their hands full with the Duke Blue Devils' (1) multi-faceted offense.
On the line for both teams is a trip to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. While Utah is chasing its fifth Final Four appearance and its first National Title since 1944, Duke is seeking its fifth title, all of which have come since 1991.
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If Duke can get the best of Utah Friday night, it will also be the school's 100th tourney victory. Ironically enough, Duke is going up against another Polish-American coach with a long last name that starts with a K.
"I admire what Larry [Krystkowiak has] done," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said of his counterpart in a pregame press conference, according to the Associated Press. He took over a program where it had to rebuilt, but has had great tradition."
Coming into his own presser Krystkowiak reportedly said his name aloud and asked not to be referred to as what his players call him, which is "Coach K." Though they may well be the only two "Coach K's" in major American sports, there is not much doubt as to which one is better known.
Like Krzyzewski's start at Duke, Krystkowiak has not exactly had it easy at Utah thus far, but they have gradually improved to the point of an NCAA Tournament bid and an upset win over Georgetown.
"Certainly I'm not predicting the future that we're going to turn Utah into Duke," Krystkowiak said. "But (Krzyzewski) reminded me that when he first started at Duke, it wasn't all roses and went through a period of about three, four years where there were questions about what was going on there."
