The Story of the 2010 National Champions
“When I hugged Coach, I didn’t want to let him go. Coach has always been there for me and I’m glad that we were able to share that moment.” LANCE THOMAS
ger scoring on the drive when he went left. Sure enough, Hayward got the ball and Kyle forced him right. However, the Butler star found a lane and was about to have an open look until Zoubek stepped out on him, reading the play perfectly. Hayward's shot was suddenly much more difficult, having to arc over the top of the outstretched arms of the towering 7'1" Zoubek. The ball hit the rim and Zoubek stayed in the play, corralling the board and getting fouled. The possession was a defensive masterpiece, and the Blue Devils were on their way to the program’s fourth national title.
GIVE BACK Coach K, after winning his fourth national championship: “This team didn't take stuff from you, this team filled you up. I'll miss it. I hope I have a team like this again. I really do. It was as good a group as I’ve ever had. They're a great team with really good talent, not off-the-chart talent, but really good talent that played great defense and rebounded. I feel so good to be a part of their moment.''
Minutes after winning the national championship, Duke's
team stood on the podium awaiting the trophy presentation and the traditional "One Shining Moment" video on the big screens. The initial euphoric rush was just wearing off, mak- ing way for a few pensive moments before the golden hard- ware was delivered. The nation's best backcourt of Scheyer and Smith stood together with arms around each other, ad- miring their new hats and grinning. Singler rested his hands on his head, peering into space contemplating if the moment was real. And Coach K had closed his eyes, shaking his head before embracing Thomas in a memorable hug. "When I hugged Coach, I didn’t want to let him go," reflects
Thomas. "Coach has always been there for me and I’m glad that we were able to share that moment." Through the toughest times and the best of times, Coach K and his group had stuck together, believing in one another when few others did. For this moment, prolific levels of sweat, pain and emotion had been invested. “Being at this point and being able to look back, I don’t
know if I would be here without those moments, especially my freshman year," said Jon. "I think that is one of the reasons, especially Lance, Brian and I, feel we are really tough players and tough-minded.” Added Zoubek, “I don’t think our seniors could have
predicted this, anywhere near this kind of success through our career, just based on how our freshman year went. It just proves that if you keep with it, you keep your head down, keep working at it, good things will come if you put in the work.’’ Later, Coach K sat proudly behind the elevated media table
after his team had celebrated on the court and shared a brief moment together in the locker room. The Duke head coach, a winner of four national titles and five of a possible five championships in 2009-10, smiled contentedly and shook his head again. "I still can't believe we won." And the champi- onship was so hard for Coach K to believe because his guys had believed so unbelievably.
149 WORTHY CHAMPS
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