Zion Williamson reveals nine-word rallying cry from Coach K that inspired Duke's UCF win
ZION WILLIAMSON has revealed the nine words Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski told the Blue Devils in the closing stages of their dramatic March Madness win over the UCF Knights.
Duke Blue Devils: Zion Williamson reveals how coach helped him
No 1 seed Duke are the outstanding favourites to win the national title but survived a late scare to make the sweet 16, winning 77-76.
A thrilling late-game sequence in the second-round showdown saw Aubrey Dawkins miss a tip-in at the final buzzer just after B.J. Taylor’s lay-up refused to drop.
Zion’s contributions were huge as the 18-year-old - tipped to be the No 1 seed in the upcoming NBA Draft - poured in 32 points on 12-for-24 shooting, adding 11 rebounds and four assists.
Williamson somehow managed to posterize 7ft 6ins UCF center Tacko Fall to foul him out and narrow UCF’s lead to just one point late on.
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The hulking teenager became the first freshman to score 25 points or more in his first two NCAA tournament games since Kevin Durant back in 2007, with Durant currently the back-to-back NBA Finals MVP having been pivotal for the Golden State Warriors.
And Zion has revealed that coach Krzyzewski - a five-time NCAA championship winner with Duke having been in charge since 1980 - told them one short line to inspire his team.
Discussing the dramatic end of the game, Zion told reporters in the locker room: “I had a lot of emotions but I was just glad we got the win even though it was very scary.
“At the 2:09 mark when they were reviewing the shot clock violation, ‘Coach K’ looked at the group and he was like, ‘I’m not worried, you guys live for these moments.’
It’s called March Madness for a reason. Every game, any game, any team can go home.
“When the greatest coach looks at you and tells you that, that’s all the confidence you need to go. I saw him but my will to win took over.
“My heart kinda stopped when Taylor took that first shot when Tre [Jones] was guarding him and it came out and then, that one pause, all you see is Dawkins come flying in with the one-handed tip-in.
“It was almost like time stopped when the ball was on the rim. In my head I’m thinking, ‘Man don’t go in.’ It came out, the ball kind of tipped over the place and the clock ran out.
“First guy I saw was Buck [Mike Buckmire], me and him shared a moment. It was exciting.
“It’s very special. I could be sitting right here telling y’all it was a great run, I’m very sad - but this group is special. I hope we can go even further.
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“It’s going to take a lot. It’s called March Madness for a reason. Every game, any game, any team can go home - it just takes one bad night, one bad shot. It just takes one play to change the outcome.”
And ‘Coach K’ himself acknowledged that Duke were somewhat fortunate to overcome the Knights, who exposed the Duke defense.
He said: “You can’t [describe that]. They played great, Johnny [Dawkins], Aubrey, holy mackerel. They were deserving of winning.
“We hung in there, made a couple of big plays and R.J. [Barrett] and Zion - they willed us. We were lucky.
“But I’ve been unlucky in the tournament and lucky and I feel bad for Johnny. I’m emotional about it because I love him and his son was magnificent, sensational.”