Mike Krzyzewski has accepted the change in the landscape of college basketball, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s a fan of it. Krzyzewski has adapted to the changes and in the following interview explains how he would fix the game he has coached in since 1974.

Mike Krzyzewski joined The Sports Animal in Oklahoma City with Jim and Al to discuss fixing the game of college basketball, the difficulty in recruiting one-and-done superstar players, Austin Rivers not fitting in with the Duke system, the development of Austin Rivers and college basketball players in our modern day staying with their schools for more than one season.

What do we have to do to fix the game of college basketball?

“First of all college basketball doesn’t control college basketball. The NBA controls college basketball. They are the ones along with the players union that sets the rule. College basketball just reacts to what the NBA does to include the early entry date. College basketball put out April 10th. Well that date doesn’t mean anything. April 29th is when guys have a chance to put their names in the NBA draft. I think one of the main things that has to happen is college basketball has to have a relationship with the NBA. There should be someone in charge of college basketball who on a day-to-day basis sets an agenda for our great sport. We don’t have anything like that. As a resolve we don’t have a voice with the NBA or the players union and that’s just kind of sad.”

Do you continue to go after superstar players who could be one-and-done players? Do you go harder after players that may stay 2-3 years as oppose to the superstar?

“Yeah we can’t go after every one-and-done guy because a lot of the guys and they are great players and great kids, but school isn’t as important. A lot of those guys a number of years ago didn’t have to go to college. Dwight Howard. Kobe Bryant. LeBron James. Kids are…it’s not even going one year. They are going to spend maybe six-seven months. Sometimes…we have a great school, but it’s not as attractive as going someplace else, so we have to be careful with who we get involved with because it could be a monumental waste of time for us.”

It seemed like to me that Austin Rivers style of play didn’t fit on your team? Did you feel the same way?

“Well we tried to fit his style of game because he is a heck of a player. He improved throughout and a kid right now doesn’t have to go into the pro’s because he’s ready. It’s if they are going to pick him. If they..it’s the future picks…I think that sometimes the NBA draft is like venture capital. You think a company is going to be really good. They don’t have to be really good yet. Austin is going to be really good. He was very good for us.”

It took Austin Rivers some time to be good though?

“Yeah it takes adjusting. I loved the kid. I think he is a great kid. He had confidence in us. It was a good time for him to go because he’ll be picked fairly high right now.”

That’s why it would be really cool if Austin Rivers was coming back for another year. Wouldn’t it?

“Those kids like in the 1990′s: Bobby Hurley could have gone [to the NBA early], Grant Hill or Christian Laettner, but they stayed and then they became legendary. Now there is less chance of doing that unless you are like this Kentucky team that won as freshmen. The guys who didn’t win like John Wall or [DeMarcus] Cousins or [Brandon] Knight. Those kids were great college players for one year. A kid like [Anthony] Davis will become legendary because he actually won the NCAA tournament.”

Listen to Mike Krzyzewski on The Sports Animal in Oklahoma City here

Rivers sees those comments and says he’s using them as motivation. He also sees plenty of mock drafts that have him as a lottery pick and says he’s out to prove those people right. The son of Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers believes he’s a guy who can help an NBA team right away.

Austin Rivers joined The Dan Patrick Show to discuss getting NBA advice from his father and Mike Krzyzewski, if anyone told him to reconsider, being a one-and-done player, if he’d like to play for his dad in the NBA, reading about the mock drafts and who will win between Ohio State and Kansas.

When was the first time you beat your dad one-on-one?:

“I think it was ninth grade. That’s when he stopped being able to move that well.” Did you dunk on him?: “No, not yet. I would have. I could dunk in ninth grade but my dad wouldn’t let me dunk on him. He’d foul me.”

Who gave you better NBA advice, Coach Krzyzewski or your dad?:

“They both really gave me great advice and that is just to follow your heart. They both feel like it was a good decision. They both had pros and cons. Staying was something that was also on my heart. I love Duke and Coach knew that. He was very glad to have me back. But they both feel like it was a good decision.”

Did anybody tell you that you should reconsider?:

“No, not really. You hear it, but just from random people. Not anybody close to me. Nobody was saying no. It was more just, ‘Make a decision; follow your heart.’”

What do you think of the one-and-done player?:

“I just think for certain people, it’s one of those things where if you’re ready, you’re ready. People can have their opinions, but you really don’t know. People said things about certain players, ‘Oh, they shouldn’t leave.’ And then they end up being really good. People thought Jrue Holiday and certain players like that shouldn’t leave, and they could perform. Some people are ready. Then you do have those sad cases where I think kids get bad advice and leave when they shouldn’t. At the end of the day, that’s their decision. … I think if kids are ready to leave, they should be able to leave.”

Do you want to play for your dad in the NBA?:

“That’d be interesting. It’d be a different situation. I wouldn’t mind, because just playing in the NBA, period, is so exciting to me. Do I think it will happen? Probably not. But you never know.”

Do you think that would be an advantage or a disadvantage with maybe how much playing time you’d get and how other players might look at you?:

“I’ve never been in that situation, so I don’t know. But it would have to be one of those things that when you’re away from the court, it’s father-son, but when it’s on the court, it’s strictly business. … If I was playing the best and doing things right, then I’d be able to play a lot of minutes. If I wasn’t, then I wouldn’t play. We’d both have to be ready to accept that and not let the relationship of father-son come in the way.”

How hard is it to read about yourself in these mock drafts what you do well and what you don’t do well?:

“When I look at those, those are just stuff that gives you motivation. I think I can really do well there. I have a good skill set and I work really hard. That’s from being here, one, and from growing up in a family with my dad. Most of them have me going top 10 or a good pick. Those are things that I want to prove people right. I think I really can play at that level. I really think I can help an organization right away.”

You played Ohio State and Kansas this year. Who wins that game?:

“That’s tough, just because both teams are really good. Right now, Kansas is playing well. They just beat Carolina. They’re really athletic. It’s going to cause a problem. It’s going to be interesting to see Sullinger go against Robinson. … If I had to choose a winner, I think maybe Ohio State because they really lock down and play good defense.”

Listen to Austin Rivers on The Dan Patrick Show here

That was certainly the case when Lehigh ousted the Blue Devils on Friday. Much of the world rejoiced at a pair of 15 seeds advancing, especially if it didn’t kill your bracket. For Duke fans, however, it was time to question everything. Relax, former Duke player and current Miami Heat forward Shane Battier says, the Blue Devils simply ran into the wrong team at the wrong time.

Shane Battier joined WFNZ in Charlotte with the Mac Attack to discuss what happened to Duke, how good this Blue Devils team really was, one-and-done players, what he’d do if he could change the rule and playing for a Miami team that has no shortage of haters.

What happened to Duke against Lehigh and what do you say to fans who are panicking?:

“I would tell my Duke nation faithful to stay the course. The formula that has worked for a couple years now is a pretty good formula. The fact of the matter is we ran into a team in Lehigh that deserves a lot of credit. They played their tail off. … Duke had a heckuva year and they had wins against Kansas and Michigan State and North Carolina — three teams that could possibly win it this year and we just ran into a tough game. That’s the beauty of March.”

How good do you really think this Duke group was?:

“I think Coach K did a heckuva job, one of his better coaching jobs. I don’t think the talent, across the board, was what it usually was, especially in the frontcourt. … I thought Coach K did the best he could to squeeze out some pretty big wins against some good teams and compete for an ACC title against a much, much more talented Carolina team. I’d cut Duke a little slack. Those kids played hard and deserve a lot of credit for having a great year despite all the distractions and a lot of injuries.”

On the influx of one-and-done players and their place at Duke:

“It’s a different generation. Even when I was coming out, I was probably one of the last of the Mohicans. I graduated in 1997 in high school and there were a few guys talking about going to the pros … but for the most part guys were talking about playing a couple years in college — three or four — and getting better and, when they’re ready, going to the NBA. Nowadays, the kid in high school who is a junior is talking about, ‘OK, where can I go for a pit stop on my way to the NBA?’ The mentality is entirely changed. I blame the AAU culture. The value of playing college basketball has greatly been diminished in the eyes of the kids coming up through the ranks now. It’s sad. You can see the quality of college basketball way down from where it used to be. It’s still exciting, especially now in March, but for the most part it was very tough to watch a lot of the regular-season games just because the talent isn’t there and there isn’t the chemistry and the camaraderie that you develop by staying three or four years.”

Do you have a problem with the rule as it stands now?:

“I’m in favor of the baseball rule. If you want to come out of high school, great, come out of high school and try to make it as a pro. No one should be denied a chance to earn a living. But if not, I think that the kid would be better served and the NBA would be better served by having a crop of more mature players coming in after two years of college. … For every young guy who comes in the league every year, that’s a veteran job, a guy who’s been there the year before, who’s out. To make this league as strong as possible, let’s make this a league of guys who are NBA-ready.”

What do you feel about the reaction to your Miami team and people who kind of root against you guys?:

“It really doesn’t matter. Obviously it’s nice to be cheered, but our goal is to win an NBA Championship. Whether people like us or not or cheer for us or not, it’s not going to make the ball go through the hoop any easier. … What I will say is people like to watch our team. We have exciting players. And if you like basketball, it’s hard not to like a LeBron James or Dwyane Wade. … The funny part is a lot of people say, ‘I don’t like LeBron or I don’t like Dwyane.’ Well, guess what? People watch because they want to see what they can do.”

Listen to Shane Battier on WFNZ in Charlotte here

Irving, who was playing high school ball just two years ago, says it was his one season at Duke that really prepared him for the quick transition to the NBA thanks to a first-rate program, and a coach in Mike Krzyzewski who demands plenty out of his players.

Kyrie Irving joined 92.3 The Ticket in Cleveland with Baskin & Phelps to discuss if LeBron’s history with the Cavaliers still affects the franchise, his basketball education process at Duke, what it’s like to be the center of a new era as the franchise’s fourth No. 1 overall pick, playing for Byron Scott, his knack of driving to the hoop, and his “Welcome to the NBA” moment.

Do you think the fact that LeBron James played in Cleveland still has an affect on the franchise or you personally?:

“No, personally, no, and as a team, definitely not. It’s 14 guys and we’re worried about our own team. What happened last year was last year and we’re just trying to move forward.”

Being just two years removed from high school, what’s the basketball education process been like for you?:

“Well, I would just say that I’ve been blessed enough to have a great and fast learning curve and adjustment period. I would definitely say that coming into my senior of of high school, my freshman year at Duke and my rookie year here, it takes a while to get adjusted to the pace of the game. That’s kind of what Coach taught me coming into Duke, which helped accelerate that process coming into the NBA. Three-hour practices at Duke, first-class travelling, we had it all at Duke. I was more prepared, I’d say, than other rookies coming into the NBA game.”

The Cavs had three No. 1 overall picks before you and they all worked out really well. Now you’re the fourth and bring a new era. How fun has that been for you?:

“It’s definitely a great opportunity, especially to build something from ground up and we’ll see how it goes five or 10 years from now. It’ll be really interesting. It’s good to know this is just the beginning and we have a long way to go and the only way we can go is up. So it’s a good feeling and I’m just ready to get this thing going.”

What is it like to play for Byron Scott?:

“It’s fun to play for him. He’s one of the best coaches that I’ve ever had. Him and Coach K are at the top. They basically just give you the ball and tell you to go out there and make sure you play great defense and runs the offense. When you have a coach that just gives you the opportunity to go out there and if you make mistakes, he’s not going to take you out right away. He gives you that learning period that you need. Me, coming in as the No. 1 pick, all that pressure, he’s kind of deviated away from that and told me to remain calm out there and play my game. Him allowing me to play my game has allowed my transition to the NBA to be that much easier.”

You seem to have a knack for knowing when to drive in through the big men and take the ball to the rim. How do you know when to do that?:

“I would say it’s all gut. Nothing I do out there is planned. If I see a big man or something like that, I get a joy out of attacking big men at the rim and finishing. I’ve been doing that practically my whole life.”

It really hasn’t appeared this way, but has there been at least one moment where, at 19 years old, you’ve been a bit fazed by the whole situation?:

“I mean, probably something that really overwhelmed me was probably when we played the Lakers in L.A. and we were playing against Kobe Bryant the first time. Sometimes I just caught myself watching because a year ago I was watching him go throughout the season and play on TV all the time. I was finally playing against the Lakers and Kobe Bryant. That was probably my ‘Welcome to the NBA’ moment.”

Listen to Kyrie Irving on 92.3 The  Ticket in Cleveland here

Austin Rivers joined ESPN Radio with Scott Van Pelt and Ryen Russillo to talk about the feeling of hitting the game-winning shot over North Carolina, on the idea that his shot was one of the greatest in the history of the two teams, what the play was designed to do, on the expectations placed on him, and what it’s like to have a father coaching in the NBA.

How it feels to hit the game-winning shot over North Carolina:

“It was just an amazing feeling. It was a big team win. I think everybody contributed to the win and just to get the win at North Carolina, versus a great team, meant a lot. Everybody stepped up and when that ball went through the net I couldn’t even tell you what I was thinking man. Everything went so fast.”

On the idea that his shot was one of the greatest in the history of the rivalry between Duke and North Carolina:

“I don’t even know what to think just because I’m just a freshman so in your first year in college to do something like that is amazing. It was a good moment for our team but we’re really focused for Saturday and that’s what we’re looking forward to now.”

What the play was designed to do:

“It was kind of like a dual option where the play started. Dre (Andre Dawkins) kind of just ran off a screen and I could kind of choose what I saw and just read the play. I saw a pick and roll option and I went off it. Once I saw Zeller on me I think the guys were telling me to go for the two. If you look at the play you see Seth (Curry) like ‘go, go, go,’ but Zeller was kind of backing off me a bit and I just kept stepping toward him a little bit and he kept backing off and kept backing off and then I just kind of got in rhythm and I just shot the shot. It felt good when it left my hands but your heart drops because you just don’t know. Then when it goes through the net it felt amazing.”

On people’s expectations:

“You can’t ever worry about people’s expectations because if you do that you’re just going to drive yourself crazy because you can never please everybody. You just have to worry about your own expectations and most importantly your team’s expectations. If you can fulfill those then that should make you happy. I’ve just come in here and worked really hard. Coach K and them never give up on anyone here and they challenge me every day to get better and be a leader. That’s one thing I’m trying to do right now and I think I’ve gotten a lot better here at Duke and the team has gotten a lot better. Every day you have to fight. That’s the way here at Duke. Every single day you have to fight here in practice. Every game you play people want to beat Duke so you have to fight. I think that makes you into a better player and why so many players come out of here successful. That’s one thing I’m learning to do now and one thing I have learned to do and we have to continue that habit.”

What it is like to have a father coaching in the NBA:

“I think it’s unique because my dad, he knows what he’s talking about as far as basketball goes and he’s always there for me. He always helps me out with things and he’s been there for me. It’s not all basketball with him. People like to think on the outside I bet you know Austin and his dad talk about basketball but at the end of the day he’s a normal guy to me. He’s a father. He has always been for me. It’s unique to have someone who is a father but at the same time someone who can really help you in the game you love the most and I think that’s the most unique aspect of it.”

Listen to Austin Rivers on ESPN Radio here (Audio begins 10:00 into the podcast)

The Blue Devils have played one of the toughest schedules in the country and have just four losses, but they’ve come against some strange opponents like Temple and an overtime loss to Miami over the weekend. Krzyzewski says the team simply hasn’t learned to play with consistency.

Mike Krzyzewski joined 1070 The Fan in Indianapolis with Dan Dakich to discuss overcoming tough early seasons in his career, this season in general, giving teams that beat Duke credit, how he’s fighting a team that’s battling inconsistency and Duke having the same problems as every other team in the country.

How did you persevere through three tough seasons to start your career?:

“First of all, I always felt we were going to win. But I also felt that I was on a team here at Duke, with my president and the administration. … They were always behind me. Not publicly, necessarily, but privately, I knew they had their support and backing. It was a total team effort, and I’m not sure that that’s done as much anymore in college athletics for high level, not even high level, basketball and football.”

How do you feel about this year’s team?:

“I like the fact that we’ve won 19 out of 23 games against an extremely difficult schedule, one of the top schedules in the country. I’m not happy with the way we’ve developed. Based on that schedule, we should’ve learned more, so that we wouldn’t be inconsistent from game-to-game and within a game. We can play really good basketball at times, or for a game, and then all of the sudden not play well.”

Isn’t it weird that when Duke loses, nobody gives the other team credit?:

“I agree with that. Jim Larranaga is a heckuva coach. [Miami] has really good talent. They have as much talent as we do, and other coaches know how to use their talent. So much for us is like what we’ve done in the past. We were ranked in the top five or six or seven in the preseason, but none of our guys were ranked in the top 50 in the country. Usually we have one or two of those guys. … This year’s team has gotten a lot from what we’ve done in the past, and then lived up to it. We beat Kansas and Washington and Michigan and Michigan State and those teams, but still not the dependable, consistent group that you need to have to get into the tournament and advance far.”

What are you fighting every day with that?:

“Just consistency. When you played and when you coached at Indiana, you were a good player. You were like Jon Scheyer for me. You weren’t going to be a lottery pick or first-round pick, but you could be a really good college player. You came to practice wanting to be that. But then you had a couple, one or two, other guys who could be pros, really good players. To me, that’s the type of combination. We don’t have guys who, you were on a mission to be good every day, and when you have guys that have been role players before, and then freshmen coming in, that’s something you have to learn. I don’t think our guys have learned that yet. As a result, we get some inconsistent play against good teams.”

That seems surprising because people realize that’s a problem for programs around the country, but it doesn’t seem like something that happens at Duke:

“To me, it’s the biggest insult a player can give a coach, is not to listen and not to really listen to what a coach says. When I played for Coach Knight, I heard one voice, his. I didn’t hear mine. I didn’t hear my parents, AAU coach, friends, Twitter. I heard one voice. When the guys here have been really good, they’ve heard one voice. … That doesn’t make our kids bad kids. They’re good kids and they’ve played real well. They’re 19-4 and have played some outstanding basketball, but in order to be really good, you have to listen to that one teacher.”

Listen to Mike Krzyzewski on 1070 The Fan in Indianapolis here

Battier, who was traded from Houston back to Memphis most recently, says he’s at peace knowing that if the NBA never settles their labor dispute, he would be able to use his education to go find gainful employment.

Shane Battier joined KILT in Houston with The Odd Couple to discuss being in attendance for Mike Krzyzewski’s record-setting night, why Coach K is so special in general, the Penn State scandal, how involved he has been in the lockout, what it’s like to be going through it as a free agent and fans who are losing interest in the NBA.

On being in attendance for Mike Krzyzewski’s record-setting victory:

“It was an unbelievable night, a special night. There were about 25 or 30 former players, managers and support staff all at Madison Square Garden. … We were nervous the first half, but once the game was in hand, it was a pretty big celebration and a special night to be there.”

What is it that’s so special about him, not just with sports, but life in general?:

“He’s an unbelievable leader. He happens to just be a basketball coach. But if he was in charge of a corporation or in a government position or a school teacher, he’d be successful because he knows how to unite his group. His biggest asset is getting talented people to worker harder and more together than anybody else. That’s his trademark. There are other coaches who probably know Xs and Os, could probably draw up a better play than Coach K, but I don’t think there’s anybody that can get five people to work together on a court than he can.”

On the Penn State scandal:

“I think I was as shocked as everybody else. It’s a disturbing story and obviously it’s early in the investigation and the trial. It’s premature to really indict anybody, but the initial details and story you hear are shocking and appalling. … Let’s hope something like this never occurs again in athletics or in the world.”

What’s the offseason been like? Have you been involved with the lockout?:

“I’ve been a conscientious observer of the process. I really haven’t been too involved with the mediators, but I’ve been talking to different representatives and guys in the know in the inner circle and given my two cents. Obviously, it stinks. There’s no way around it. The players feel terrible and it’s a no-win situation. There’s not going to be a winner out of this scenario. Unfortunately it’s the ugly business side  of what we do. It’s the side that normally never creeps up, but in times of collective bargaining negotiation, and I’m sure that you guys are sick of reading antitrust law … but it’s the reality of our business.”

What’s it been like to go through the lockout process as a free agent?:

“Life goes on, it really goes on. I’m fortunate to have played 10 years in the league. I’m secure in who I am. At this point, I’m confident that if the NBA were to never settle, I could go out and get a job and use my brain to provide for my family. That’s allowed me amazing piece of mind to just start thinking about post-basketball, but at the same time be ready for when we do settle, if we settle, to be ready to go.”

What do you say to fans who say they’ve grown disinterested in the NBA due to the lockout and say they won’t come back?:

“I feel for them. I can’t deny their feelings, but I know that when we do settle, the players will do their best to win back our fans. We have unbelievable fans. Anyone who’s an NBA fan or has been to an NBA game … knows that we share a bond and a passion over basketball. In the end, the game always wins. You can talk about the litigation and the arguments, but basketball is basketball and it’s never going away. We’re hopeful that people don’t lose sight of that.”

Listen to Shane Battier on KILT in Houston here

It’s truly refreshing to find a head coach out there in college sports who stuck by the fundamentals of his program. Krzyzewski’s coaching career has been marked by consistency on-and-off the court for his students. Although Duke University basketball may be one of the most despised programs out there it sure wasn’t this way when Coach K took over the reins in 1980. In fact he was almost fired three years into his coaching career. In an modern era where the public has seen coaching legends such as Jim Tressel and now Joe Paterno embroiled in scandal, Krzyzewski’s legacy and image as one of the greatest coaches and teachers in collegiate sports history carries on.

Mike Krzyzewski joined Fox Sports Radio with The Dan Patrick Show to discuss the loss that haunts him the most as Duke head coach, almost being fired in 1983, the win that stands out the most in his coaching career, when he finally will retire, having a head coach in-waiting lined up for when he does decided to retire, and why he doesn’t think he’ll be a part of the selection process for his successor.

Give me the loss that still haunts you? The one that stays with you occasionally?

“Probably the worst lose was at the end of my third year. We lost 109-66 to Ralph Sampson and Virginia in the ACC tournament. He played the whole game. There were a lot of people who wanted me fired and a lot of our money givers. That could have been the breaking point.”

How close do you think you were to getting fired?

“With my administration I don’t think close at all. I think they knew when they hired me it was going to be a rebuilding process and they were going to stick with me. I never felt that from president [Terry] Sanford, the former Governor of North Carolina, from our president or Tom Butters our A.D. It may been close. I never felt the pressure of maybe being fired. I was probably naive. I was probably very naive.”

903 wins. Which is the one that stands out the most or you are most proud about?

“I think the very first championship. The championships are what you remember. I’m not talking about national championships or first – any championship – regular season and the ACC tournament. It really use to be just a regional championship to get to the final four. In 1986 when we won our first regular season championship at the Cameron [Arena] on senior day with the class of kids that were really the model for our program with Johnny Dawkins, Mark Alarie, Jay Bilas and David Henderson and then Tommy Amaker came the next year. Those kids won the ACC regular season on senior night and it showed we could win championships and not just win games.”

Don’t you have to throw your assistant coaches a bone like Steve Wojciechowski and say you’ll be coaching here in 2013?

“Well I have three guys who I think are head coaches in Steve Wojciechowski and Chris Collins and Jeff Capel. I let them do – not let them – I want them to do a whole bunch and they do in our program. This time next year all three of them may be having head coaching jobs.”

You have to have a head coach in waiting?

“I don’t think you have a coach in-waiting. I don’t like that scenario, where you say someone is going to take over for you.”

You won’t hand pick your successor?

“I don’t think that will happen. I think I will have a lot to do with it, but I don’t feel that is right where you as a coach are bigger than what the institution would think that it needs. The institution should listen to you and I should have a lot of input, but it should be the person who the new coach would work for is the person who should make that decision. Right now that is Kevin White our athletic director.”

Listen to Mike Krzyzewski on Fox Sports Radio here

The Cavs have the No. 1 and the No. 4 overall picks, which makes a draft which many feel lacks a lot of superstar power pretty intriguing. The Cavs and Irving will likely make it official tonight, then he’ll have to wait and see who joins him as Cleveland tries to pick up the pieces after LeBron James’ departure.

Kyrie Irving joined The Dan Patrick Show to discuss what he thinks will happen in tonight’s draft, what he’s heard from Mike Krzyzewski, why he’s not concerned about a foot injury that kept him from playing most of his freshman year at Duke, his strengths and if there will be any pressure to be the next LeBron.

Are you going to Cleveland?:

“I’m not sure yet.”

They haven’t told you?:

“Nope.”

Have you shopped for housing in Cleveland yet?:

“No, I have not shopped for housing in Cleveland yet.”

What did Mike Krzyzewski say to you?:

“He just told me to enjoy this process, honestly, just take my time with it. He’s really supportive of me during this process and is going to continue to offer me wisdom.”

What’s more concerning to you, that you didn’t get to play a lot of college games or the toe injury that kept you from playing in those games?:

“I’m not even concerned about either one of those. More or less I’m concerned about the time management at the next level. I’ve heard there’s a lot of down time. Just getting used to playing back-to-backs and flying and taking care of your body and playing again. I just think that’s a transition that I’m going to have to experience myself.”

What is it that you do better than everyone else?:

“I just think my basketball IQ and the way I play the game. I’m an up-tempo kind of guy and I really excel on the fastbreak. Also, I can run a half-court offense. I just think I try to be the most complete point guard in general.”

How much pressure will there be to be the next LeBron James?:

“I’m not really looking to be the next LeBron James unless I grow about six inches in the next two hours or the next week or so. Right now, I’m just really looking forward to contributing to any team that wants to take me.”

Do you have a Cleveland Cavaliers colored tie for the draft?:

“No, no Dan, I’m not having a Cleveland Cavalier-colored tie on.”

Do you own one that you’ll be able to wear at your first press conference?:

“No, I don’t have a Cleveland Cavalier tie prepared.”

What’s your number in Cleveland?:

“In the NBA, Dan, I think hopefully my number will either be number 1 or number 11.”

Who are you most looking forward to guarding?:

“I really don’t have a specific player I want to play against, I just want to play against everybody. This is a dream come true for me so I’m going to take advantage of every chance I get to play against a great point guard.”

Listen to Kyrie Irving on The Dan Patrick Show here

Mike Krzyzewski joined WFNZ in Charlotte on The Drive to discuss his time working with LeBron James during his head coaching stint with Team USA, his thoughts on the incredible amount of criticism and critique LeBron has faced all season and particularly more recently during and after this year’s NBA Playoffs, why he thinks superstar players are interested in playing for him in international competition, how long a season-ending loss wears on him as the head coach at Duke, and being honored with the Naismith Sportsmanship Award with Dean Smith and Kay Yow.

Going back to “The Redeem Team,” how were you able to get so many big personalities to co-exist?:

“First of all, I had an incredible advantage, two incredible advantages. One, working for Jerry Colangelo, who heads USA basketball, former owner of the Phoenix Suns and really one of the top men in our country. He basically put it out there to each of the players what was expected of them and I followed up with that. Second, we said they were playing for their country, not for the Lakers or Cleveland or Miami or the Knicks or Denver. They understood that this was something bigger than any one individual. … They were marvelous. All of them, to a man, said to me, ‘Coach, whatever you want me to do, I’ll do.’ If you have players that say that, at any level, you’ve got a better chance of being successful.”

What do you see in LeBron James’ game right now and does he need more leadership?:

“I think everybody needs leadership from the bench, so he’s not alone in that. I love LeBron. LeBron and I are really good friends and I pull for him. I think he has great leadership potential himself. He has a great leadership voice, he’s really smart and obviously he has an immense amount of talent. But he just went through, I think, as crazy a year as I think anybody in any sport ever has gone through. People can say, certainly some of it is of its own making, and it is. … But a lot of it wasn’t. To come out where you were two games shy of winning the whole thing, I think you have to keep it in perspective how close you were. … He learned a lot; he’s a good learner. He just needs to take some time away, work on his game and I think he’ll be fine.”

What is it about you that makes the superstar players want to play for you?:

“I’m not the only coach who has been able to do something like that and you can’t do it with everybody. There’s guys who do that with other coaches. … In Kobe’s case, and the guys that I’ve been with with the Olympic team, we never asked them to check their egos at the door. I told them to bring their egos in because when we play against Spain, Pau Gasol and Marc Gasol and all of those guys are going to have big egos. Just don’t ever let your individual ego get outside of our team ego umbrella. … When you start thinking about it that way, you have to be a bad guy not to put your ego under that ego umbrella. … You just talk to them like that.”

How long does it take for you to overcome a season-ending loss like this year’s with Duke?:

“I’m OK the next day. For me, I’ve always felt that if you’re going to have an outstanding program or franchise in the pros, you’re on a continuum. The next thing you do has to be in a direction that will help you win and if you keep looking at things in the rear view mirror then you’re going to stay in the rear view mirror whether you’ve won or lost. I take responsibility for our actions and try to figure out what went right and what didn’t go right and then you move on.”

On why he didn’t want to accept the James Naismith Sportsmanship Award unless Dean Smith was present and honored as well:

“I think that was just the right thing to do. I don’t see how you can come into this area and accept an honor when one of the greatest coaches of any sport of all time is a neighbor. … I have a few more wins now than Dean did, although if he kept coaching he’d have a zillion. I thought that night when I got one more was really a neat night because you could share it with him and I just thought it would be a really neat thing for this area, for the ACC and for college basketball to have a night like that under the name of Naismith. And then they brought in also the idea of honoring Kay Yow and I thought that was even better. … It would have been a good night, but this will make it a fabulous night.”

Listen to Mike Krzyzewski on WFNZ in Charlotte here