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Coach K passes Pat Summitt to set new record for most wins

By Chance Collins

PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 17: Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils shouts against the Rhode Island Rams during the second half in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 17, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 17: Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils shouts against the Rhode Island Rams during the second half in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 17, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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The Duke Blue Devils punched their ticket to the Sweet 16 beating Rhode Island 87-62 on Saturday and Mike Krzyzewski made some history as well.

Coach K is the G.O.A.T of college basketball, he’s the savant, the guru, the whisperer. And with five National Championships to his name and 12 Final Four appearances, we all understand why he is on the Mount Rushmore of coaching. On Saturday in Pittsburgh, he took one more giant step.

With win No. 1,099, Krzyzewski passed the late Pat Summitt for the most wins of all time for a college basketball coach in Division I, men’s or women’s. Summitt, diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease at age 59, decided to retire in April 2012 and later passed away June 2016. Coach K broke the legendary coach’s record after 43 years of service of his own, 38 coming at Duke and five years at Army.

The Blue Devils entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 2 seed and are poised as a favorite to win it all with standouts Grayson Allen, Marvin Bagley III and Wendell Carter leading the way. The three combined for 45 of the 87 points scored in the win over Rhode Island. Bagley and Carter also performed well from three going 1-for-2 and 3-for-4 respectively.

Duke will face the winner of Michigan State and Syracuse in the Sweet 16, a matchup that will pit either Coach K vs. Izzo/Boeheim for a chance at the Elite 8, the type of game that the tournament was made for. The Blue Devils will do so knowing that their coach is the All-Time leader in wins.

The Blue Devils have the fourth-best offense in the nation, finished second in the ACC after being named the AP Preseason No. 1 and if they can continue to roll behind the superior tutelage of Krzyzewski, the cutting of nets may be in their future. With the greatest coach in basketball leading the charge, the Blue Devils will always be in these discussions.

Next: The top 25 March Madness heroes of all time

We’ll have to wait till Friday to see if the legend of Krzyzewski can notch win No. 1100 of his storied career.

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