Coach K invokes Bill Belichick's rough UNC debut when asked about Michael Malone's Tar Heels hire

NBA champion aliases not, legendary Duke Blue Devils caput hoops coach Mike Krzyzewski isn’t excessively worried astir Michael Malone, who was reportedly hired to switch Hubert Davis pinch nan UNC Tar heels, getting nan programme backmost connected track.

After all, Krzyzewski’s biggest rival during his illustrious Duke tenure was UNC. And he invoked Bill Belichick erstwhile asked astir nan Malone prosecute during his quality connected "The Pat McAfee Show" connected Monday.

"They had an NFL champion hired arsenic nan coach, and Duke hit Carolina shot this year," Krzyzewski told McAfee and A.J. Hawk pinch a smirk connected nan program. "That doesn’t mean coach Belichick isn’t a awesome coach, but location is clip for adjustments. It takes longer coming from nan pros to college."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of nan Duke Blue Devils looks connected during believe earlier nan 2022 men's hoops tourney Final Four astatine Caesars Superdome successful New Orleans, La., connected April 1, 2022. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Belichick learned that firsthand past season, his first successful assemblage shot pinch nan Tar Heels. While Duke vanished pinch a 9-5 wide record, and won nan ACC title, UNC was a paltry 4-8 pinch a 2-6 ACC record.

Also, arsenic Krzyzewski mentioned, Duke defeated Belichick’s UNC crew, 32-25, to extremity his first play pinch a loss.

FORMER DUKE PLAYER DESCRIBES COACH K'S WAY OF DUMBING DOWN MARCH MADNESS BRACKET INTO MICRO TOURNAMENTS

Of course, nan college game has wholly changed now, pinch name, image and likeness (NIL) deals paving ways for richer programs to salary for nan pick of nan harvest successful nan transportation portal arsenic good arsenic retired of precocious school.

Belichick and his unit will request to beryllium much creative, and possibly unfastened nan checkbooks more, arsenic this caller assemblage strategy continues to enactment successful place.

But shot isn’t king astatine Chapel Hill – hoops reigns supreme. Krzyzewski knows this, arsenic nan Blue Devils were usually pitted against nan Tar Heels arsenic apical teams successful nan state fighting for not conscionable bragging rights, but nationalist titles.

Head coach Michael Malone of nan Denver Nuggets watches nan crippled against nan Golden State Warriors during nan 2nd 4th astatine Chase Center successful San Francisco, Calif., connected April 4, 2025. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

Malone coached nan Denver Nuggets for 10 seasons, which included an NBA title successful 2023. However, he was fired successful April 2025, quickly taking a sports media domiciled pinch ESPN 1 period later.

The Tar Heels, who fired Davis pursuing UNC’s crushing nonaccomplishment to VCU successful nan first information of nan NCAA Tournament, are taking a akin way arsenic nan shot programme – a coach pinch a awesome way grounds successful nan pros, but nary caput coaching acquisition successful college.

Malone was an adjunct astatine Oakland, Providence and Manhattan earlier transitioning to nan NBA pinch nan New York Knicks successful 2001. His first NBA caput coaching gig came pinch nan Sacramento Kings earlier cementing his spot successful Denver.

Mike Krzyzewski hosted a Jimmy V Foundation arena successful his hometown of Chicago past month. (Fox News)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"Mike is simply a terrific coach and a terrific guy, there’s a learning curve," Krzyzewski added. "Whatever nan reasoning is, possibly they’re changing; they now person 2 pro coaches coaching successful college. The infrastructure of their diversion section is now going to go much of a pro-organization, which I deliberation everybody should beryllium doing that. He knows really to do that, and truthful does coach Belichick. Maybe it’s a motion that they’re moving successful that guidance organizationally."

Malone is hoping for a amended inaugural play successful Chapel Hill than Belichick, who returns for different shot play looking to move nan tides connected nan gridiron.