Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 3, 1991 TAG: 9104030311
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: DURHAM, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
The homecoming reception at Cameron Indoor Stadium had a different tenor than ones in the past three years, when Duke was beaten in the Final Four. Coach Mike Krzyzewski recalled fighting back tears when confronting the Duke fans then.
Not now.
"Excuse me, but I can't stop smiling," he said. "It feels good, doesn't it?"
The crowd roared its approval.
Krzyzewski played to the crowd, saying the fans had helped Duke win all of its home games this year.
"As happy as we are about winning, this makes it complete, sharing it with our sixth man," he said.
Seniors Greg Koubek and Clay Buckley drew thunderous applause when they hoisted the tournament trophy above their heads and Koubek shouted, "We did it!"
Krzyzewski reminisced about the contributions of each member of the team, how guard Bobby Hurley brought them back from a five-point deficit against UNLV in the semifinals; how freshman Grant Hill drove for key buckets; how Koubek scored Duke's first five points, and Christian Laettner, "looking so nervous on the line," hit all 12 of his free throws in the 72-65 final victory over Kansas.
"My best memory, though, is of all these guys playing as tough a game of basketball for 80 minutes as any team has ever played to win a national championship," he said.
Krzyzewski and Duke players were generous with their time from the moment they returned to Raleigh-Durham International Airport, signing hundreds of autographs, slapping high fives and talking freely with fans.
The return was greeted with giant cakes in the shape of basketball courts and full page ads in local newspapers.
Gov. Jim Martin praised Duke and North Carolina, the state's other entry in the Final Four before losing to Kansas.
Perhaps the biggest cheers came after suggestions that Duke might repeat as champion.
Krzyzewski eyed the vaulted ceiling of the stadium speculatively, sizing it up for the NCAA championship banner.
"Where do you think we should hang it?" he said. "We don't want it to take up too much space because maybe it won't take 53 years to get another one."
by CNB