Coach Krzyzewski Expected to Make Full Recovery After Light Headedness Forced Him into Duke's Medical Center
ByToward the end of Wednesday night's loss to Wake Forest, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski had to take a knee during a timeout and eventually left the floor due to dizziness.
The major upset could cause Duke to fall in the AP rankings or the tournament's eastern seeding, but that was far from the team's mind Wednesday night. ESPN reported Thursday that Coach K's condition has "improved considerably."
Duke was on the road in Winston-Salem, N.C., about an hour away from their campus. Krzyzewski was returned to the school's Medical Center in Durham and underwent precautionary tests, the school said in a statement.
"His symptoms and condition have improved considerably, and Coach Krzyzewski was sent home during the early morning hours on Thursday," the school said.
Krzyzewski did not make an appearance at the post-game news conference as the team's medical staff at the arena was examining him. Steve Wojciechowski, the team's associate head coach, finished the game for Coach K and said Krzyzewski's condition was likely brought on by his intense investment in the game. The associate coach also noted that Coach K is in perfect health and in great shape.
"He has not been ill," Wojciechowski said after the game, according to the Raleigh News and Observer. "He has not been ill, he's actually in as good of shape as can be. Just the emotion of the game, obviously we weren't playing as well as we needed, and there's a great emotional investment into the game. Maybe the emotion got the better of him. Again, we expect a full recovery."
It does not appear that the team is worried for Krzyzewski's health moving forward, as they have their final regular season game Saturday in Durham against UNC.
"He didn't complain about feeling poorly either before the game or in the first half. There's a great emotional investment, certainly by him," Wojciechowski said. "I've never met a better fighter than Coach K. He pours his heart and soul into everything that he does. His team not necessarily responding certainly can hit hard."