infosstation

Basketball

"The Glory Years of Mike Krzyzewski and College Basketball"

2024-12-16

In the spring of 1995, I had a remarkable encounter with Ed O’Bannon’s calf muscle. O’Bannon was the star of a UCLA team that was either about to win or had just won the national championship. He and his teammates were in an ice cream shop in Venice Beach, California, wearing their UCLA jerseys. The mood was festive and goofy, with these guys in their uniforms getting ice cream cones. I stood in line behind O’Bannon, staring at him with a fascination for elite athletes. His slender shins and sharply articulated calf muscle left a vivid memory. It was strange that such an obscure memory would come back to me while reading a book about Duke University’s basketball program. ( 1)

UCLA and the National Championship

O’Bannon and his UCLA teammates were at the center of the college basketball world. They were wearing their jerseys as if they had just come from a game or a photo shoot. This moment captured the essence of college basketball, with the players enjoying the fruits of their success. ( 2)

The Quad: Your Weekly Guide to N.C.’s Universities

Five Banners is filled with basketball lore. It focuses on the Atlantic Coast Conference and Duke University under Coach Mike Krzyzewski. Feinstein’s prose is a river of basketball minutiae, toggling between games and history. ( 3)

Feinstein’s Prose and College Basketball Details

Feinstein’s writing style is detailed and immersive. He recounts games, players, and coaches with a precision that makes the reader feel like they are part of the action. His access and trust with the players and coaches give the book an insider’s perspective. ( 4)

Bob Knight and the Wrathful Barbarian

Five Banners evokes the old world of college basketball before the money became gigantic. Bob Knight is the wrathful barbarian, while Krzyzewski is the more controlled disciple. Their relationship and coaching styles are a central part of the book. ( 5)

The 2 a.m. Denny’s Epiphany

After a terrible Duke loss in 1983, Coach K and his friends went to a Denny’s for a 2:00 a.m. breakfast/venting session. This moment offers a window into the grind of college basketball coaching. ( 6)

Christian Laettner’s Game-winning Shot

Coach K’s intervention with Christian Laettner after his game-winning shot is a memorable moment. It shows the coach’s ability to motivate and instill confidence in his players. ( 7)

The College Coach at the Center

The college game and the NBA differ in many ways. The college coach is at the center of the emotional architecture of the game. Feinstein’s reverence for the coaches and their “programs” is a central theme of the book. ( 8)

New Around Here: The Assembly

The Assembly is a digital-first magazine covering power and place in North Carolina. It offers a variety of stories and perspectives. ( 9)

The Process of Duke Recruiting

Feinstein is thorough in his synopsis of games and tournaments, but he rarely addresses the process of Duke recruiting. Laettner’s account gives some insight into Coach K’s approach. ( 10)

Ed O’Bannon and the NIL Landscape

Ed O’Bannon’s lawsuit over the use of his likeness brought about a cascade of other lawsuits and changed the landscape of college sports. The one-and-done era has given way to the transfer era, and the money in college sports is now more visible. ( 11)

Feinstein and Krzyzewski at Duke

Feinstein and Krzyzewski did an event at Duke in October. They discussed NIL and the changes in college sports. Krzyzewski’s views on NIL and the NCAA were thought-provoking. ( 12)