Mike Krzyzewski embracing the so-called “one-and-done” philosophy over the past half decade or so has been well-documented. From Kyrie Irving to Austin Rivers to Jabari Parker, he’s had a host of great players leave Duke for the NBA after one season.
On his team that won the National Championship on Monday night, beating Wisconsin 68-63 for Coach K’s fifth title, there was likely three one-and-done players: Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow, and the game’s Most Outstanding Player Tyus Jones.
For teams that don’t, or perhaps more accurately can’t, land these types of players, it’s understandable how it could be frustrating. And after his team’s loss, Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan seemed to vent some of that frustration, saying this in his post-game press conference:
“All the seniors that I’ve had … hard to say the word. But every player that’s played through the program, okay, we don’t do a rent-a-player. You know what I mean? Try to take a fifth-year guy. That’s okay. If other people do that, that’s okay. That’s great. I like trying to build from within. It’s just the way I am. And to see these guys grow over the years and to be here last year and lose a tough game, boom, they came back.”
Certainly there’s something to be said for raising a team full of seniors who will graduate and have nicely framed diplomas on their office walls, but winning games is paramount. It’s doubtful that Bo Ryan, or any high profile coach, would turn down the type of players Coach K is bringing in just because they’re a “rent-a-player.”
RELATED: Watch the tournament’s “One Shining Moment” montage.
(SOURCE: SB Nation)
