Report: Coach K Has A Big Request For His Final March Madness

All eyes will be on Coach K in this year’s March Madness tournament.

The NCAA’s all-time winningest coach announced prior to the season that this year will be his final as the head coach of the Duke Blue Devils, turning the program over to assistant coach and former player, John Scheyer.

Normally, teams don’t get to choose which region they play in. But apparently, Coach K has asked the NCAA if the Blue Devils can be placed in the Midwest Region this year because the Sweet Sixteen for that region is to take place in Chicago — his home town.

Per Seth Davis:

“Duke has requested to be placed in Midwest Regional (Chicago) instead of East (Philly). Chicago is Coach K’s hometown. Higher seed normally goes to closest region but school decides preference,” Davis reports.

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Source confirms to @TheAthleticCBB what ESPN's Wright Thompson first reported: Duke has requested to be placed in Midwest Regional (Chicago) instead of East (Philly). Chicago is Coach K's hometown. Higher seed normally goes to closest region but school decides preference.

— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) March 3, 2022

ESPN’s Wright Thompson was first to report the Coach K news.

This weekend, the decorated coach will take the floor at Duke one last time as the Blue Devils are set to take on their bitter rival, North Carolina Tar Heels. It’s bound to be an emotional day for the coach and his entire family.

Sure, asking for a specific region as a joke might be unprecedented. But this is Coach K we’re talking about. I say just let the guy have his moment in his hometown.

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