• Treat everybody right.
Example: Before each season, Krzyzewski introduces his team to the crew that cleans Duke's basketball facilities.
"You need to treat these people like they're your family," he says.
• Give your team ownership.
The U.S. Olympic team was a spoiled-brat mess when Krzyzewski took over in 2005. Before the first practice, he told players there would be no team rules, but he wanted them to come up with "standards."
Players were given responsibility. They've responded by winning gold medals in 2008 and 2012.
• Adapt.
Krzyzewski won his first title 24 years ago, when players often stuck around four years. This year's Duke team will probably have three one-and-dones. Rent-a-player goes against Duke's brainy image, but clinging to the old way was a permanent ticket to the NIT.
"You have to be in a constant state of trying to learn," Krzyzewski said.
• There is no totem pole.
When players are treated equally, they gain confidence. Case in point: Grayson Allen.
He was the relative runt of Duke's freshman litter. But when the Blue Devils trailed Wisconsin by nine points with 13 minutes left, Allen slapped the ball away on defense, scrambled after it and dived to save it from going out of bounds.
"It was one of the greatest plays in the history of our program," Krzyzewski said.
Allen didn't get up and beat his chest. He looked at the Duke bench as he yelled, "Let's go! Let's go!"
Duke rallied to win 68-63 in Indianapolis. The emotion in Krzyzewki's voice was still crackling in Orlando.
