THOUGHTS FROM COACH K

Team USA will play Turkey later today for the gold medal at the World Championships. Here are some thoughts from Coach K:

"This is what I do. I determine how good our kids can be by watching them, by getting to know them, by building relationships with them. I constantly try to take a realistic look at our team and try not to let the final outcome of any game spike emotions too high or too low. And then I also work with the guys over the course of the entire season to help raise them to their highest potential."

EVERY SEASON IS A JOURNEY:

During the season, your team should be led with exuberance and excitement.

You should live the journey.

You should live it right.

You should live it shared.

You should try to make one another better.

You should get on one another if somebody's not doing their part.

You should hug one another when they need it.

You should be disappointed in a loss and exhilarated in a win.

It's all about the journey.

It should be honest and it should be real.

It's not about winning games or what other people's expectations of us may be. We're not going to fall into traps that so many people fall into. That's not why we are going to play. We are going to play for innocence.

ON BEING A GREAT TEAM:

"When everyone on our team believes that our own personal signature is on everything our team does - then we have a chance to be as great basketball team. And not until we believe that every ball we play with says "DUKE" on it, will we be proud of our performance."

ON MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS:

"Playing hard together, being the best defensive team and players building strong bonds with one another are shared goals that involve working together as a group over the entire year. If a team consistently concentrates on goals like that, major achievements happen."