Five-Point Play

November 15, 2001
Duke University basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski ("Coach K") is a legend-in-progress. He is respected by his peers, revered by his players, and has become an embodiment of the positive aspects of big-time college sports. A serious back problem a few years ago forced him to sit out a year, providing perspective. He's still a passionate competitor but doesn't measure his success solely in wins and losses. Understanding all that, he's still a helluva basketball coach, as evidenced by last season's national championship with an injury-riddled roster. This is an account of that championship season, with Coach K's insights complemented by those of the players and other coaches. It begins with preseason assessments of the players, noting their physical and mental readiness for the six-month grind ahead. It's fascinating to read Coach K's take on an athlete, then learn the player's perspective, and finally see how it all turned out. Watching how Coach K thinks, the reader gains a tangible understanding of the truism that coaching is more about teaching and counseling than it is about drawing plays on a chalkboard. This is an enriching glimpse into the dynamics of a basketball dynasty that values integrity as much as it does hang time.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2001, American Library Association.)