Ultimate Alpha Jim Boeheim Would Crush Coach K In A Shooting Contest And A Game Of Poker

Socrates Johnson7 years ago

Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim and Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski will no doubt shake hands and exchange pleasantries before and after their teams go head-to-head in this Friday’s Sweet Sixteen match-up, but during actual play, it’s hard to find two coaches more focused on their craft. When it comes to coaching, Boehim and Coach K are two of the fiercest competitors in college basketball.

Earlier this week, in separate interviews conducted by Dan Patrick, the coaches and pals delved a little bit into competitiveness of a different sort. And, at least when it comes to shooting a basketball and playing poker, Jim’s got Mike definitively beat.

From For The Win:

Boeheim, who is 73, said (around the 6:10 mark):

“No contest. Easy win for me. Easy win. He was a defensive player at (Army). Coach (Bob) Knight wouldn’t even let him shoot a foul. He actually was a good shooter in college, but Coach Knight didn’t let him shoot too much. He made him pass to the other guard. … I think I could still handle him in a shooting contest.”

—

Patrick played Boeheim’s interview audio and asked Krzyzewski to respond. He said (around the 6:50 mark):

“Yeah, I agree with him. It’s using your personnel right. He would have hit more, though, if I had passed it to him because I’d know the exact spot to hit him. But no, I’m OK with him being a better shooter. He’s a better poker player too. He’s pretty damn good, and the two of us together were a really good team for (the) U.S. Those were days that both the two of us will cherish.”

In the picture painted by both of these quotes, Boeheim definitely comes off as the alpha here. He’s out there sinking threes and racking up royal flush after royal flush like a boss, while Coach K is just smiling and shaking his head like “Damn it, Jim. You got me again. Wanna chest pass the ball around for a little bit?”

Not to say that Coach K doesn’t get the last laugh in this scenario. Because you know he will, once the Blue Devils completely dominate the Orange come Friday..

[via For The Win]

Image via Wikimedia Commons