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sports Tuesday 22 March 2022
NCAAs: Coach K’s farewell tour extended through next weekend

By JIM LITKE times in the first half alone
AP Sports Columnist and didn’t shoot much
Mike Krzyzewski’s farewell better. Davis was 0 for 7
tour was thisclose to over. from 3-point range and his
Duke trailed Michigan teammates weren’t much
State 70-65 with 5:10 left to better, just 2 for 15.
play Sunday and there was “Shot the ball uncharacter-
next to nothing he could istically poor today. Turned
do about it. the ball over. We’re No. 1 in
“I’m an Army guy,” recalled the country in fewest turn-
Krzyzewski, who played for overs. Today,” coach Greg
Bobby Knight at West Point Gard summed up, “we
and started his coaching were not.”
career there. “But it looked If it’s any consolation, two
like our ship was sinking.” more Big Ten teams joined
From the moment in the Badgers in heading for
June when Krzyzewski an- the exit.
nounced his 42nd season Seventh-seeded Ohio State
would be his last, it was pulled within 60-58 of No. 2
bound to be all about him. Villanova with just under six
And really, how could it be minutes left and then went
otherwise? Coaches have colder than cold. Instead
always been the enduring Duke's Paolo Banchero (5) hugs head coach Mike Krzyzewski after a win over Michigan State in a of panicking, the Wildcats
stars of the college game college basketball game in the second round of the NCAA tournament Sunday, March 20, 2022, got two turnovers and
and no one since John in Greenville, S.C. Associated Press cranked up the defense,
Wooden lit up the firma- pulling away to a 71-61 vic-
ment like Coach K. become a spectator until those last four or five min- burn coach Bruce Pearl tory as the Buckeyes missed
Now imagine being a kid this one last run through the utes,” he said. “It all had to said. “We didn’t know how six of their final seven shots
in a Blue Devils uniform and NCAA Tournament ends do with heart and togeth- to respond.” from the floor.
watching that light flicker. with a loss, but he’s already erness.” Or for that matter, 11th- Coach Jay Wright has been
“We can either lay down,” learning to enjoy the view. That might be overstating seeded Iowa State, which quietly building a Coach
freshman Paolo Banchero “You guys were terrific, the case, since talent is a tipped No. 3 Wisconsin K-caliber program, having
recalled thinking, “or turn it man,” Krzyzewski told the more reliable measure of 54-49 in Milwaukee, just a won national champion-
up.” players sitting alongside success than emotion. But fast hour’s drive from the ships in both 2016 and 2018.
Duke responded with a 20-6 him after Duke notched an not in every case. Badgers’ campus in Madi- That kind of continuity pays
run the rest of the way. The 85-76 win over the Spartans Just ask 10th-seeded Mi- son. Wisconsin had Johnny dividends.
6-foot-10 Banchero steam- to advance to the Sweet 16 ami, which handcuffed Davis, the Big Ten player of “This is what happens when
rolled Michigan State’s and a matchup with Texas Auburn’s Jabari Smith and the year, a hard-earned you play great teams and
Joey Hauser on a drive to Tech. “I’m so — I’m really Walker Kessler — both like- reputation for taking care it’s happened to you be-
the biggest bucket of the proud to be your coach.” ly NBA lottery picks — en of the ball — a nation-low fore, and you can fight
night for a 75-74 lead. Jer- Coach K has been hoarse route to the day’s biggest average of 8.4 turnovers through it. If you haven’t
emy Roach followed with since the tournament start- upset, a 79-61 beatdown per game — and a frenzied done it, it’s hard, you can
a 3-pointer to stretch the ed, but he insisted on mak- of the No. 2 Tigers. crowd behind it. panic,” Wright said. “But
lead to four with 1:16 left. ing a point. “It had noth- “It’s the first time that we But the Badgers ominously all these guys have been
Krzyzewski won’t officially ing to do with coaching in got it handed to us,” Au- gave the ball away eight there.”q

Warriors’ Curry expects to return by

start of playoffs

By JOE STIGLICH be on the floor for the War- play he did, but I don't
Associated Press riors' first playoff game. think it was malicious or
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — "Yeah, we've got enough dirty."
Stephen Curry said he's time for that … but I'm Curry was walking awk-
confident he can return an optimist," he said be- wardly in the boot Sun-
from a sprained left foot fore Golden State's game day. He said he's doing
by the time the Golden against San Antonio. what he can in the weight
State Warriors begin the Curry and Smart were room to stay in shape. By
playoffs. going after a loose ball next week, he hopes to be
The two-time league when Smart dove for it back on the court doing
MVP wore a white boot and crashed into Curry's some basketball activity
on his foot Sunday as he leg. The play had Warriors but added that a cautious
addressed reporters for coach Steve Kerr yelling at approach is necessary.
the first time since leav- Smart from the sideline as "From what I'm told, just in Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry talks to the media
ing Golden State's game Curry headed for the lock- terms of ligaments around about his injury before an NBA basketball game against the
Wednesday night after a er room. the injury and the bone San Antonio Spurs in San Francisco, Sunday, March 20, 2022.
collision with Boston's Mar- "He didn't try to hurt me," that's underneath there, Associated Press
cus Smart. Curry said. "There's a cer- you want to not rush the Curry said. "Then, when not dealing with crazy
With 12 games left in the tain way he plays. I don't beginning phases of heal- you do put the shoe back soreness or anything."
regular season, Curry was think many other people ing because that's when on and get back on the The Warriors are third in the
asked if he felt he would would have made the you get the most progress," court and get reps, you're Western Conference.q