College basketball: Before retirement, Duke's Mike Krzyzewski to face Army one final time

As Mike Krzyzewski heads into his 42nd and final season coaching at Duke, he has chosen to face his alma mater one more time.

Following its season-opening home game with SUNY New Paltz on Nov. 9, Army heads to Durham, North Carolina, to play in the Duke Veterans Day Weekend Showcase. The Black Knights will take on Duke on Nov. 12 and face the University of Hartford on Nov. 13.

Krzyzewski announced earlier this year that he plans on retiring after this season. The 74-year-old has compiled an overall record of 1,170 wins and 361 losses.

A 1969 West Point graduate, Krzyzewski played for coach Bobby Knight at West Point, averaging 6.2 points over 69 games with the Cadets. He took over as Army’s head coach in 1975 and guided the team to records of 11-14, 20-8, 19-9, 14-11 and 9-17 (an overall record of 73-59), then departed following the 1979-80 season to coach at Duke. He has since led the Blue Devils to 1,097 wins and five national championships.

This will mark the eighth time Krzyzewski has faced Army, all since 1996. He beat Dino Gaudio in 1996. Pat Harris, who played for Coach K, then went 0-3 coaching against his mentor, highlighted by a Nov. 1997 game (a 78-45 Army loss) marking the only time Duke visited West Point in the Coach K era.

Jim Crews (2002), Zach Spiker (2014) and current coach Jimmy Allen (2018) all met the same fate.

Duke beat Army four times in seven meetings in the 1930s.

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"I think we have a terrific non-conference schedule this season," said Army head coach Jimmy Allen. "We are excited to be able to return to a full schedule as we continue to build on the success of the past two seasons. Certainly, the highlight will be the opportunity to play at Duke in Coach K's final season." 

Krzyzewski has remained active with West Point. He annually presents the Mike Krzyzewski Award for Excellence in Teaching Character Through Sport.

Oddly enough given Duke’s history of success, Hartford is the only 2021 NCAA tournament team that Army will face this season. The Hawks lost to Baylor in the opening round after winning the America East as a No. 4 seed.

Wagner (Nov. 24), Marist (Nov. 27) and Siena (Nov. 30) are the only other foes that posted winning records in a 2020-21 season that saw many schools missing numerous contests over COVID shutdowns. All three of these games are at Christl Arena. Wagner won the Northeast Conference regular season but was upset by Mount Saint Mary’s in the semifinals. Siena won the Metro Atlantic regular season but was upset by a resurgent Iona in the quarterfinals. Marist placed fifth in the MAAC and lost to Niagara in the MAAC quarters.

Army also hosts Merrimack (Nov. 17) and Division III Purchase (Dec. 7). The Black Knights visit La Salle (Nov. 20), Air Force (Dec. 4), New Jersey Tech (Dec. 10), Long Island (Dec. 19) and South Carolina (Dec. 22).

The Patriot League portion of the schedule should be announced soon.

Last season, Army went 7-7 in Patriot League play, finished second in the Central Division and was a No. 4 playoff seed. The Black Knights beat American in the quarterfinals and were upset by Loyola (Md.) in the semifinals. Army lost to Bellarmine, 77-67, in the College Basketball Invitation quarterfinals.

More:Tough second half dooms Army in CBI quarterfinal loss to Bellarmine

Army returns 11 letter winners, including starters Josh Caldwell and Jalen Rucker.

Army women open Nov. 9

First-year coach Missy Traversi makes her debut on Nov. 9 against Division III Immaculata. The Black Knights will also host Quinnipiac (Nov. 18) and Rider (Dec. 4) of the Metro Atlantic. Air Force (Nov. 24) and America East regular-season champ Maine (Nov. 26).

More:New Army coach Missy Traversi says women's basketball job is perfect fit

Army will visit Manhattan (Nov. 13) of the Metro Atlantic, the Northeast Conference’s Sacred Heart (Nov. 21), Long Island (Dec. 1) and Bryant (Dec. 8) and the Ivy League’s Yale (Dec. 28).

"My staff and I are thrilled to roll out this new style of play for Army West Point women's basketball against some strong non-conference opponents," Traversi said. "This season we have two opportunities to earn stars and sing second against Air Force on November 24, and Navy during conference play. We have multiple scoring weapons returning to the roster for the 2021-22 season, led by six experienced Firsties (seniors)."

Army returns eight of its top nine scorers, from a team that did struggle to score. Alisa Fallon, Kate Murray and Lauren Lithgow are the lead scoring returnees.

kmcmillan@th-record.com

Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR

Coach K vs. Army

Dec. 1996 – Duke, 100-38 (Dino Gaudio)

Nov. 1997 – Duke, 78-45* (Pat Harris)

Nov. 1999 – Duke, 100-42 (Pat Harris)

Nov. 2000 – Duke, 91-48 (Pat Harris)

Nov. 2002 – Duke, 101-53 (Jim Crews)

Nov. 2014 – Duke, 93-73 (Zach Spiker)

Nov. 2018 – Duke, 94-72 (Jimmy Allen) 

* - only game held at West Point

Army men

November

Tues. 9 – vs. SUNY New Paltz (DNP in 2020-21), 7:30 p.m.; Fri. 12 – at Duke (13-11), TBD; Sat. 13 – vs. Hartford (15-9), at Duke, TBD; Wed. 17 – vs. Merrimack (9-9), TBD; Sat. 20 – at La Salle (9-16), TBD; Wed. 24 – vs. Wagner (13-7), 5 p.m.; Sat. 27 – vs. Marist (12-9), 1 p.m.; Tues. 30 – vs. Siena (12-5), 6 p.m.

December

Sat. 4 – at Air Force (5-20), TBD; Tues. 7 – vs. Purchase (DNP in 2020-21), TBD; Fri. 10 – at New Jersey Tech (7-12), TBD; Sun. 19 – at Long Island (9-9), TBD; Wed. 22 – at South Carolina (6-15), TBD

Army women

November

Tues. 9 – vs. Immaculata (0-2), 5 p.m.; Sat. 13 – at Manhattan (11-9), TBD; Thur. 18 – vs. Quinnipiac (13-8), 6 p.m.; Sun. 21 – at Sacred Heart (8-10), 2 p.m.; Wed. 24 – vs. Air Force (8-18), 6:30 p.m.; Fri. 26 – vs. Maine (17-3), 3 p.m.

December

Wed. 1 – at Long Island (7-11), 7 p.m.; Sat. 4 – vs. Rider (8-18), 1 p.m.; Wed. 8 – at Bryant (7-14), 5 p.m.; Tues. 28 – at Yale (DNP 2020-21), TBD