College Basketball Future Power Rankings
DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said the notion that coaching USA Basketball gives him a recruiting advantage is 'utterly ridiculous.'
In his first news conference since leading the U.S. men's national team to gold in the FIBA World Cup of Basketball, Krzyzewski pushed back against points raised by a Yahoo! Sports column published Monday.
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As the head coach of the national team, Krzyzewski has access to the high school players participating on every level of USA Basketball. But, he noted, so do a lot of other college coaches who make up the selection committee, as well as coach the actual teams.
Krzyzewski pointed out the participation of Florida's Billy Donovan and Virginia's Tony Bennett in coaching the under-19 team this year.
'No one is saying about him [Donovan] that he has an advantage and he's with those kids for three and a half weeks each summer,' Krzyzewski said.
Krzyzewski said in nine years as head coach of the senior national team, he's spoken to the under-19 team on two occasions, including once last year. Jahlil Okafor and Justice Winslow, who played on that under-19 team, are now Duke freshmen and are part of the Blue Devils' No. 1-ranked class by Recruiting Nation. It's the first No. 1 class Krzyzewski has had since becoming the Team USA coach.
'That that [access] gives you an advantage -- it's utterly ridiculous -- and anyone who comments on it without doing the research is really wanting to take that point of view,' Krzyzewski said. 'I don't get it. I don't get it. We've won four national championships.'
He's now won two Olympic gold medals and will be the favorites in 2016. Ironically that success is the reason why Krzyzewski said any advantages are being discussed.
'On Aug. 24, 2008 and the score is 91-89 in the gold-medal game against Spain, if Kobe Bryant doesn't hit a couple shots and Dwyane Wade, do you think I'd have an advantage? Because we would lose,' Krzyzewski said. 'The point I'm making is anybody who wins ... they have an advantage. But it's advantage through accomplishment.'
Krzyzewski said he would like veteran NBA players to continue to participate on the national team. He said the higher-ups in the NBA were '100 percent in favor of continuing' with an open-ended selection pool.
He understands after 2016 and changes to qualifying occur that the NBA will re-evaluate. But he doesn't see the need to limit the senior national team players to 22 and under.
'Younger players are involved with all the other competitions,' he said. 'There's 19 and under, University Games, 18, 17. There's a lot of competitions going on so I don't understand, really, the call for 22. What level is that?'
Krzyzewski ended his news conference after taking exception to the notion he somehow orchestrated a picture that went viral of him hugging Paul George in the hospital. The Indiana Pacers star suffered a broken leg while playing in a Team USA exhibition game.
Krzyzewski said he had to sneak in the back of the building to avoid cameras and joined a small group that included George's immediate family. Krzyzewski believed George's sister took the picture of the moment and posted it on social media.
'To say I orchestrated that is really wrong and if you want to think that then you are a bad person,' Krzyzewski said. 'That was done secretly. For someone to put it out that way, you're really reaching.'
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