Coach K To Coach National Team

[erpowers]

There are reports that Coach K had been asked to coach the United States National Team for the 2006 World Championship and the 2008 Olympic Games. What do DUers think about this? I think this could be a good thing. K had been a good coach and may help the team win.

[Bluzmann57]

1. Can he handle pro players?

I mean lets face it, Duke players don't have a stellar pro record. And I believe that K had a chance to coach the Lakers and turned it down, due in part to the pro players attitudes. He is undoubtedly a great college coach, but I'm not sold on him being able to make egos mesh.

[northzax]

6. who knows?

he doesn't coach future pros at duke...

[Tummler]

2. It won't make a bit of difference

The solution to Team USA's international woes is threefold: select the right mix of players, keep them together for several years, and get sufficient practice time prior to any major tournament. That's what other successful national teams have done, while USA Basketball has failed on all three counts in the last few years. Any competent, experienced coach could lead Team USA to victory if they followed this blueprint.

[underpants]

4. Aside from the question raised in post#1- the US team problems are

Passing
Moving their feet
Understanding of team play

[KitchenWitch]

3. Personally I cannot stand Coach K

[kick-ass-bob]

5. one's success will do that to people.

[KitchenWitch]

8. LOL

I actually think he is WAYYYYY to big for his britches (which is the reason I do not like him).

I can't think of any basketball coaches, at the moment, that I DO like, perhaps Flip Saunders.

[jakefrep]

7. I don't have a problem with Coach K...

..but the National Team Coach should be a full-time job, not a "lifetime-achievement" honorarium. USA Basketball will struggle on the world stage as long as it continues to act as a marketing arm of the NBA, rather than a serious competitive venture. The NBA players can win, but not if the team is assembled on the basis of merchandise sales.