Coach K: "If that damn shoe doesn’t break, maybe it’s a little bit different at the end"

Coach Mike Krzyzewski is impressed with the play of senior forward Javin DeLaurier.

“I think you’ll be really pleasantly surprised by how much he’s improved,” he said. “He’s been sensational, really relentless. He and Jack (White) have been the two hardest workers.”

DeLaurier entered the NBA Draft process and got feedback from teams before returning to school.

“I think testing the waters helped him,” Krzyzewski said. “People can dream of things, and then people can have goals. You can dream of playing in the NBA, or you can have the goal. If it’s a goal, you should have a plan on how to achieve it.”

Coach K praised DeLaurier’s “maturity, work ethic and commitment to the game” as well as the veteran leadership he and White provide.

“Our freshmen need it,” he said. “This freshmen class needs it even a little bit more. They’re a little bit younger. They’re good, but not as savvy as RJ (Barrett) and Zion (Williamson) were.”

Krzyzewski also discussed Joey Baker, praising his shooting.

“He can carve out playing time by how hard he works and if he can put that ball in,” he said.

The playing time should be available, because K promised, “We’re going to play more guys.”

Krzyzewski also visited one of the themes of media day—the lack of separation between players.

“There’s not a Zion or even an RJ, but this has produced a closer group. Again, we were a close group last year. If that damn shoe doesn’t break, maybe it’s a little bit different at the end. Our team was close but it wasn’t close as far as talent. It makes it a more balanced team.”