Krzyzewski Wins Fifth National Championship

     Duke University won their first national championship since 2010 on Monday night, beating the Wisconsin Badgers 68-63. The Blue Devils, led by outstanding freshmen Tyus Jones (23 points), outscored Wisconsin by 14 in the final 13 minutes of the second half to seal the victory. The match-up that everyone was focused on was Duke's Jahlil Okafor battling against Frank Kaminsky of Wisconsin. Both 7-footers are going to be lottery picks in the upcoming draft, but this was Kaminsky's definite last game as a Badger. Although Kaminsky had the better game scoring 21 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, it was Okafor who won the title. Grayson Allen provided the spark off the bench that the Blue Devils needed, scoring 16 points (he averaged 4 per game this season). Tyus Jones had a game high 23 and played like an experienced veteran throughout the tournament. Duke's roster is filled with potential one-and-done players Jahlil Okafor, Tyus Jones, and Justise Winslow, whose draft stock has risen greatly since the tournament began.

     This was the 5th national championship for Coach K, putting him in second place alone behind the legendary John Wooden for most all time. Duke's offensive talent was undeniable, but it was their willingness to put in the effort on the defensive end of the floor that made them a championship caliber team. They held Sam Dekker of Wisconsin to only 12 points when he averaged over 20 in the tournament. Stopping Kaminsky is impossible, but the combination of Okafor, Winslow, and Marshall Plumlee frustrated the Badger center all night long. The senior leadership of Quinn Cook and his versatility on both ends was a huge difference maker for Duke all year long. He was the only senior starter and was relied upon to guard the opposing team's best scorer. Krzyzewski said that this national championship team was one of if not his favorite team to coach because they did not carry themselves like freshmen. Every single one of them handled themselves like an upperclassmen, and that showed in the second half against Wisconsin the Allen, Jones, and Okafor took over to bring another championship back to Durham.