Coack K alone atop Division I
<p>Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski gestures during the first half of Duke's NCAA college basketball game against Michigan State at Madison Square Garden in New York, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)</p>
Cheek to cheek, Mike Krzyzewski and Bob Knight hugged, a player and his coach celebrating a big win - one it's safe to say might never happen again in college basketball.
The man known simply as "Coach K" became Division I's winningest coach when No. 6 Duke beat Michigan State 74-69 on Tuesday night in the State Farm Champions Classic at New York.
The Blue Devils gave Krzyzewski his 903rd win, breaking the tie with Knight, Krzyzewski's college coach at Army and his mentor throughout his professional career.
With Knight sitting across the court at the ESPN broadcast table, and with several former players in the stands - many able to attend because of the ongoing NBA lockout - Krzyzewski moved to the top of the list in front of a sellout crowd of 19,979 at Madison Square Garden.
Krzyzewski went right across the court to hug Knight when the game ended. Krzyzewski, tears in his eyes, broke away, and Knight pulled him back, hands on his shoulders, then there was one final slap of the shoulder.
"I just told Coach I love him," Krzyzewski said. "I wouldn't be in this position without him. It's a moment shared. I know he's very proud, and I'm very proud to have been somebody who's worked under him and studied him and tried to be like him.
"I'm not sure how many people tell him they love him but I love him for what he's done for me and I thanked him. He said 'Boy, you've done pretty good for a kid who couldn't shoot.' I think that means he loves me too. At least that's how I'm taking that."
Junior guard Andre Dawkins had 26 points for Duke (3-0), which took control with a 20-1 run that gave the Blue Devils a 61-41 lead with 9:17 to play. Then it was just a matter of counting down the minutes - except for a late run by Michigan State (0-2) that made it a five-point game in the final minute - until the celebration could get under way.
No. 2 Kentucky 75, No. 12 Kansas 65: At New York, Doron Lamb scored 17 points, Terrence Jones had 15 and Kentucky (2-0) beat Kansas (1-1).
No. 3 Ohio State 81, No. 7 Florida 74: At Columbus, Ohio, William Buford scored 21 points and the Buckeyes (2-0) beat the Gators (1-1).
No. 5 Syracuse 98, Albany 74: At Syracuse, N.Y., Kris Joseph and James Southerland each scored 19 points, and Syracuse (3-0) beat Albany (1-2) in the NIT Season Tipoff.
No. 10 Memphis 97, Belmont 81: At Memphis, Tenn., Will Barton scored 23 points and Memphis (1-0) beat Belmont (0-2).
No. 11 Baylor 77, San Diego State 67: At Waco, Texas, Quincy Miller scored 20 points, leading Baylor (3-0) past the Aztecs (3-1).
No. 13 Xavier 86, IPFW 63: At Cincinnati, Tu Holloway scored 24 points and Xavier (2-0) beat IPFW (1-1).
No. 18 Vanderbilt 80, Bucknell 68: At Nashville, Tenn., Jeffery Taylor scored 14 points and Vanderbilt (2-1) beat Bucknell (0-2).
No. 20 Cincinnati 73, Jacksonville State 59: At Cincinnati, Dion Dixon scored 20 points, leading the Bearcats (2-0) past Jacksonville State (1-2).
No. 23 California 72, Austin Peay 55: At Berkeley, Calif., Jorge Gutierrez had 14 points, six rebounds and three assists and California (3-0) beat Austin Peay (0-2).