Krzyzewski addresses students on eve of his final game at Cameron Indoor Stadium

Josh Chapin Image
Saturday, March 5, 2022
Krzyzewski addresses students on eve of final game at Cameron Indoor
Coach Mike Krzyzewski called a team meeting Friday night -- that meeting was between him and the entire Duke student body

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- Duke men's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski called a team meeting Friday night.

That meeting was between him and the entire student body.

"When we play tomorrow night, cheer like it's your home because it is your home," Krzyzewski said.

The legendary coach will roam the sidelines at Cameron Indoor Stadium for one final time Saturday night against heated rival North Carolina, no less.

"There's nothing else in sports where you can say K and it means Coach K," said Harvey Allen, a graduate student who is tenting for the game Saturday.

Before the rally inside Cameron on Friday night, Allen and other students came out to the ESPN College Gameday set in front of the arena to watch as the TV crew previewed the game.

The setting for Gameday is in Krzyzewskiville, where undergraduates traditionally camp out for the game. The tents were pulled up a few days ago for TV crews to come in and set up.

It also gave students time to rest and build up their energy.

RELATED: Krzyzewski admits he's let his mind reflect a little as final home game nears

"I don't think privilege does enough justice to how I feel right now," said Ben Randoing, a senior and a line monitor for the tenting process. "I'm going to take it all in, enjoy it and I wish Coach K the best."

Langley Barnes is also a line monitor.

She grew up in Goldsboro and was raised a UNC fan because her dad went to Chapel Hill. Her mom, though, went to Duke.

"This is our Super Bowl," she said. "This is all we've been talking about for the whole week and for the whole semester."

Ticket prices were on the Super Bowl level on the resale market. To get in, Stubhub said it would cost around $4,500. To have better seats, you'd have to pay more than $10,000 at least.

"Just to be on campus here and especially being from North Carolina, it's a blessing," said Todd Gurley, the former All-Pro NFL running back who is from Tarboro.

He'll be inside for the game Saturday and has met Coach K on numerous occasions.

Jay Bilas, who will call the game for ESPN, signed autographs for fans Friday night. He played for Krzyzewski back in the 1980s and said he doesn't know how he's going to feel at tip-off.

"It's going to take on a different feeling when you get down to the floor," he said. "On the one hand, you want to hold it together and do your job and be a professional, but on the other hand, you want to experience it, and I don't yet know how it's going to feel."

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