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Tuesday, April 3
Students virtually drown out Coach K
Associated Press
DURHAM, N.C. -- The NCAA basketball championship trophy and
the team that won it returned to Durham on Tuesday, greeted by a
crowd cheering so wildly that coach Mike Krzyzewski could only
stand back and listen.
|  | | Duke's Shane Battier, right, carries the NCAA Championship trophy under his arm as he and teammate Nate James, left, arrive at Cameron Indoor Stadium. |
Krzyzewski finally asked the thousands of Duke students in
Cameron Indoor Stadium to quiet so he could speak.
"It's obvious that somebody put something in your iced tea
today!" Krzyzewski told the crowd of about 4,000 fans.
The coach went back to the Feb. 27 game against Maryland when
center Carlos Boozer broke a foot. Many wrote Duke off then,
Krzyzewski said.
"There were a lot of people who were happy, they thought that
was it. It wasn't," he said. "It was the beginning of us becoming
a great basketball team."
The Blue Devils defeated Arizona 82-72 on Monday in Minneapolis
to claim the NCAA championship for the third time under Krzyzewski.
They also won the 1992 championship in Minneapolis.
"I'm just glad we brought the championship back where it
needs to be," said guard Jason Williams.
All-American Shane Battier said the team was tired but energized
by the crowd.
"You truly are the greatest fans in sports history," Battier
said, adding that he and his teammates were ready to celebrate with
the Duke campus.
The crowd responded with the chant, "Thank you, seniors!"
Boozer, who returned for the NCAA tournament, said the crowd was
amazing. "We couldn't have gotten it down without you guys," he
said.
Chris Duhon, who suffered a mild concussion in the Final Four
victory over Maryland, reassured the fans that he was fine.
"In case y'all were wondering, my head is OK," he said. "We
just have to thank you. This is a dream come true. You're the best
crowd in the world. Hopefully, we'll be here again next year." Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
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Duke returns to Durham to the ovation of their fans.
Shane Battier reminds the Duke fans of the unfinished business they needed to attend to.