Mike Krzyzewski addresses health issue following return win vs. NC State

After having to miss Wednesday’s game at Wake Forest due to a non-COVID-19 related illness, Duke men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski returned to the court Saturday and coached the Blue Devils to an 88-73 win over NC State.

Following the victory, which moved No. 8 ranked Duke to 14-2 overall on the season, Coach K met with the media and discussed the illness he was dealing with and how he’s feeling now.

“I’m doing well now,” Krzyzewski said. “I had two really difficult days. We did all of our changes on Monday. We actually had a 7:00, hour-and-15-minute meeting – a kind of ‘Come to Jesus’ type of thing about how we were going to change and all that. And then we had a really good practice that afternoon. And then that night, I don’t know. Something hit me. I thought I had COVID, even though I’ve been boosted and everything. I had so many of those symptoms and I had no energy at all. I couldn’t keep my eyes open.

“So, I came in the next day and I said something’s wrong. They sent me home. Then I tried to go to Winston-Salem and the doc said you’re an idiot. I appreciated their canter because a lot of times, in my position, people don’t tell me what to do when I should be told what to do.”

With Coach K sidelined on Wednesday at Wake Forest, Duke associate head coach and head-coach-in-waiting Jon Scheyer stepped in and served as the Blue Devils’ acting head coach, leading them to a 76-64 road win.

While Krzyzewski – who will retire at the end of the season – is happy to be back with his team, he is proud of the job Scheyer and the rest of the coaching staff did in his absence. He’s also glad to not have COVID and be feeling better.

“The transition we’re making with Jon – he would’ve done a really good job no matter what – but really he’s been kind of a head coach with me the whole year,” Krzyzewski said. “I thought my staff was magnificent at Wake.

“I’m good now – just fatigued. No COVID. I’ve been tested every day, including today. I’ve been doing the rapid and the PCR for the last three days and they’ve all been negative.”

Duke returns to action Tuesday on the road at Florida State. Tip is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET.