Coach K: Iowa’s Ben McCollum’s Coaching Style is ‘REAL!’

Coach K Lauds Iowa’s Ben McCollum: “The Way He Coaches Is REAL!”

Legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, a five-time national champion, recently joined The Pat McAfee Show and didn’t hold back his admiration for Iowa’s head basketball coach, Ben McCollum. Coach K, as he’s widely known, spoke highly of McCollum’s coaching philosophy, calling it “real” and urging coaches at all levels to take note.

Krzyzewski recalled his past encounters with McCollum’s teams when they faced off twice during his tenure at Duke against Northwest Missouri State, a Division II powerhouse. He even mentioned a tradition where the Division II champions would visit Cameron Indoor Stadium after winning their title. “Heck, he almost beat us one time,” Krzyzewski admitted, highlighting McCollum’s coaching prowess even then.

“I really admire what all the stuff he’s talking about,” Coach K continued. “Every coach in the country should hear that, you know, at all levels.” He specifically pointed to McCollum’s emphasis on accountability and building genuine relationships as the foundation of coaching. “The establishment of a relationship is the start of it,” he explained.

Building Trust Through Truth

Krzyzewski elaborated on this, sharing his own recruiting philosophy. “The very first thing I’d tell you is look, I’m going to be one of the only people in your life that will always tell you the truth. Always.” He stressed the importance of looking each other in the eye and being honest immediately, stating that this builds trust and the speed at which trust is established. “It’s not just the way the message is put across, it’s how quickly will you trust the message,” he said.

When asked about McCollum’s passionate sideline demeanor, which included a fiery moment where he called his players “sleepwalking,” Coach K agreed that such intensity is part of great coaching. However, he cautioned against labeling it as merely “old school.” “I wish that we would stop calling it old school and say should be how it should be,” he stated emphatically.

“Be honest and in the moment,” Krzyzewski advised. “To me, the way he coaches is real, you know, and we should like real more and not fake.” He also touched on the importance of players listening to one voice – the coach’s or the program’s – rather than outside influences, a key factor in McCollum’s success.

NCAA Tournament Takes: Big Ten Dominance and Coaching Adjustments

The conversation then shifted to the ongoing NCAA Tournament. Coach K noted the significant presence of Big Ten teams, with five out of twelve teams remaining in contention. He highlighted the strategic adjustments made at halftime, specifically praising Iowa’s ability to increase their intensity and focus after the break.

Arizona was also singled out as the most impressive team, with Coach K acknowledging their massive win. He emphasized that coaching, teaching, and understanding a team’s current needs – whether they are satisfied, content, or hungry – are critical, especially in the tournament’s later stages. “It’s not just coach X’s and O’s, but coach the feel of the team right now,” he remarked.

He drew a parallel between Purdue’s coach Matt Painter, whom he described as always in control, and Ben McCollum, suggesting that while personalities differ, the core mentality must be unified. “We don’t all have to have the same personality, but we all have to have the same mentality,” Krzyzewski said.

The Importance of Big Men and Tournament Chess

The discussion turned to the resurgence of dominant big men in college basketball. Coach K agreed that having good to great bigs, and ideally multiple of them, is crucial for tournament success. He pointed to Purdue and Michigan State as examples of teams with strong frontcourts.

Krzyzewski also offered insights into the strategic “chess” of tournament play, particularly concerning foul trouble. He described how coaches might strategically target an opponent’s key player early in the game to get them into foul trouble, effectively removing them from the court. “The best way to defend somebody is to get them in foul trouble,” he explained, adding that sometimes new plays are even introduced to isolate and draw fouls on a specific player.

He used the example of UConn’s Adama Sanogo, who had a massive scoring output in one game but was utilized differently in the next, showcasing how coaches make adjustments based on scouting and game flow. “Danny [Hurley] did something where he saw that going to him more than we normally do would benefit us. He hit the jackpot,” Krzyzewski noted.

UNC Coaching Job and Looking Ahead

Addressing the opening at the University of North Carolina, Krzyzewski stated he is “through with coaching” but expressed empathy for current coach Hubert Davis, especially after the loss of star player Caleb Wilson. He acknowledged UNC as one of the great programs in sports and believes they will find a worthy successor.

Looking ahead, he predicted intense matchups in the Eastern region, specifically mentioning St. John’s vs. Duke and potentially involving Rick Pitino and Dan Hurley. He also commented on the Alabama team and their shooting style, noting that if Iowa State’s player, Jefferson, plays, it’s a toss-up, but otherwise, Iowa State has an edge.

As the interview concluded, Coach K reflected on the tournament’s progression and the strategic decisions made by coaches, urging more media to highlight these aspects to engage fans. He also shared a lighthearted moment about his appearance, playfully deflecting a question about hair dye.

Source: Coach Krzyzewski praises Iowa’s HC Ben McCollum: The way he coaches is REAL! | The Pat McAfee Show (YouTube)