YouTube Gold: Coach K Gets Giddy

As Duke knocks off UNC to win the 1988 ACC Tournament

We wouldn't presume to speak for him, but if you asked former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski what his favorite team was, he might say the ‘86 team, the foundational team of his Duke dynasty. Or maybe the ‘91-92 teams. Possibly the 2001 or 2010 or 2015 team.

In short, he might pick one of his title teams.

Most coaches would say it’s impossible to do that and again, we have no idea. But if you asked him if his ‘88 team was one of his more important teams, we think he’d probably say yes.

In 1986, Coach K had a team dominated by seniors that went to the national championship game before falling to Louisville. The 1987 team was good but only Sweet Sixteen good.

But in 1988, Duke beat UNC three times and the third time was for the ACC Championship.

In this brief clip, you see the final seconds of game #3 against UNC in Greensboro and when Duke wins, Coach K erupts in joy, leaping into Alaa Abdelnaby’s arms.

He puts on a sober face briefly when Dean Smith comes over to congratulate him, then gets back to the celebration. It’s fun to see the party, the funeral, then back to the party - and then back to the Final Four.