The key to Duke's dominance? It's Coach K.(Chicago Tribune)

MINNEAPOLIS_He cannot be viewed simply as a basketball coach. He recalls, more, a charismatic preacher, the leader of a fawning flock that follows him and draws strength from his words and actions. His players, disciples all, can easily be seen as a church congregation, and as he encourages them from his place behind the pulpit, there they are out in the pews responding with hands raised and loud chants of "Amen!"

That is the hold Mike Krzyzewski has on the Duke basketball program, which he has infused with a culture of success, and it is a very large reason he has guided the Blue Devils to their ninth Final Four and seventh title game in 16 seasons. He has been the constant, the touchstone through that amazing run.

How do you explain Duke's dominance and the mystique around it?

Shane Battier, its erudite forward, responded simply: "Coach K."

"Everytime we see Coach, we see strength," point guard Jason Williams said. "We see a warrior on the sidelines, and that provides us a lot of strength."

Echoed fellow guard Chris Duhon: "You're always confident no matter what the situation is. We can look at the bench, we can look at Coach's eyes, we can look in our teammates' eyes, and know everything is going to be OK. That confidence, that arrogance that we've held all season, is what makes us the best team in the country."

That will be settled here Monday night when the Blue Devils meet Arizona, yet already it is indisputable that Krzyzewski has created a monster that stands astride its game and plays with the minds of many it meets.