Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski wants to apologize.
He wants to apologize to his players for not coaching them to a victory yesterday: "We as coaches don't give them enough stuff that they can do, then we as a program are acceptant of the responsibility of that loss."
He wants to apologize to the Duke students who camped out for three weeks in numbered tents just to get a spot in the best possible part of the bleachers for the Blue Devils' biggest non-conference game, against their biggest non-conference rival.
"I want to thank the kids who camped out," he said. "I'm sorry we didn't close the deal. I apologize for that."
And Krzyzewski also wants to say: "To Michigan's credit, they did execute - especially down the stretch."
And that's really what it came down to - execution down the stretch. Krzyzewski may apologize all he wants, but he can't apologize for what the Wolverines were able to do at the end of the game.
He can't apologize for their clutch play down the stretch.
It was Michigan's offense and defense in the final minutes that were responsible for yesterday's outcome, and for that the Wolverines are not sorry.
The last few minutes consisted of defense and clutch shots to seal the come-from-behind, 62-61, victory over the Blue Devils.
The talk going into the game was about Duke's powerful defense and transition game - the main elements that have anchored the Duke program for so many years.
Those same elements were supposed to hurt the Wolverines because they have struggled on the boards, with turnovers and with their defense.
And for a while, that's exactly what happened. The Blue Devils' defense created havoc for the Wolverines, forcing a total of 17 turnovers which led to nine transition points.
Michigan did not handle the half-court press well, and looked flustered in the paint, hitting just six of 15 from short range and 12 of 30 total field goals in the first half.
But the Blue Devils also had their own shooting troubles, especially down the stretch, despite a 12-point lead with 10:32 left in the second stanza.
"I think the difference in the game was that we are a better team now than we were a year ago," said Michigan's Robert Traylor, who hit the winning basket with 6.2 seconds remaining in the game.
"They're a great team. Their defense is great, their offense is great. But like I said, we just hung in there as long as we could."
After the 10:32 mark, the Wolverines transformed their defense into a force, holding the Devils scoreless for the remainder of the contest. Duke's only points in that stretch came on three Trajan Langdon free throws. At the same time, the Wolverines were able to hit key shots and free throws to cut Duke's lead almost each time down the floor.
Michigan's defense forced a shot-clock violation with 1:05 remaining. On the next possession, Baston dunked to bring the Wolverines to within a single point. And a Langdon turnover led to Traylor's deciding basket.
"Our defense was great the second half," Traylor said. "Everybody on (Michigan) played great defense."
If Krzyzewski wants to apologize for something, he might apologize to his coaching staff for scheduling Big Ten teams in Cameron Indoor Stadium. Prior to yesterday's contest, the Devils had won 103 of 104 games against non-conference opponents in Cameron. Their other non-conference loss came against Illinois, 75-65, last Dec. 2.
MARK FRIEDMAN/Daily
Though stuffed here by Greg Newton and Roshown McLeod, Michigan guard Travis Conlan had his best game as a Wolverine, nailing three crucial 3-pointers and leading a ferocious defense in the second half.