While practicing how to properly pronounce the name Larry Krystkowiak for an entire day (it actually only took me four hours to nail it), I realized this Coach K may not be in line for quite the same success as the original Coach K. In fact, the only thing Krzyzewski and Krystkowiak have in common is that nobody can spell their last names.
Utah's Coach K comes into an extremely difficult situation. His first job was to convince a mediocre Mountain West Conference team to stay in school and believe they could win in the Pac-12 Conference. That didn't go well. Leading scorer and rebounder Will Clyburn, by far the most talented player on the team, wanted out. Now we'll see if Jiggy Watkins and J.J. O'Brien follow Clyburn out the door, leaving the cupboard even more bare than it already is.
I have nothing against Krystkowiak, I just don't envy him. OK, I envy his $950,000 salary. But I don't envy the huge challenge he now faces head on. His 42-20 record and two NCAA tournament appearances at Montana are impressive. His leap into the NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks wasn't. I'm hoping his stay at Utah is more Grizzly-like than Buck-like. But it may take a while.
The question is, does Chris Hill or do Ute fans have the patience? I sincerely doubt it. Unless Coach K can bring in players worthy of the other Coach K soon, it could be another long and painfully silent year at the Huntsman Center. This team with Clyburn barely got by in the Mountain West. Without Clyburn, and even with a few new solid freshman Krystkowiak brings in, this team will probably have a very rough time in a deeper and ultimately more talented conference like the Pac-12.
If there's one thing Ute fans have proven is they love a winner. A mediocre team? Not so much. Just check the attendance figures at the Huntsman Center the last few years. But there's no doubt Krystkowiak loves a challenge. If he can turn the program into a consistent winner and restore pride back into Utah basketball, he'll definitely earn the title of Coach K.
