Hintz: The slapping the floor, what the...?

By Kacy Hintz

San Francisco, CA - “The slapping the floor, what the hell? Why not?”

That's how this ends. Let me get you caught up on how it began.

Over the last several weeks, the WRAL sports department has put together numerous stories taking a look back at the Hall of Fame coaching career of Mike Krzyzewksi. The highs, the lows and all the championships in between. One of my stories took me back to 1986 and Coach K's first trip to the Final Four.

Deep in our WRAL archives was a package done by the legendary Bob Holliday, focusing on Duke's defense that season and a gimmick the coaches used to keep the Blue Devils locked in in critical moments on defense. Touch the floor.

The tradition took off, and rallied Duke to many wins over the years and is burned in the minds of Blue Devil fans when you hear names like Tommy Amaker, Steve Wojciechowski, and Bobby Hurley.

Billy King, who was on the '86 team, can remember when it all started.

"We were having a meeting and he said 'in this game there will be no dunks, no layups and no second shots," King said. "Then he said, 'when there's a big possession we're going to all five on the curt reach down and slap the floor."

That's where the slapping of the floor came from.

Once this year's NCAA Tournament started, Coach K spoke a lot about this years team and the defense that needed to improve. The first two rounds saw a lot of improvement and would help send DUke to the Sweet Sixteen.

As I was getting ready for Krzyzewski's practice day presser in San Francisco, I started thinking about the floor slap and how I hadn't seen that in a long time. I guess I've got my question for Coach K, huh?

"Hi Mike, Kacy Hintz from WRAL. I was going through our WRAL archives and came across a 1986 clip of you talking about slapping the floor when your team is in critical moments on defense. I'm just wondering is that something you still preach or is there something else maybe we don't see that you use to get their attention in those moments?"

He started to head that direction mentioning "Wojo", but then it took a different turn and honestly I was unsure of what I even just asked.

Fast forward to the final minutes of Duke's Sweet 16 game against Texas Tech. Both sides going blow for blow, Blue Devils up 73-68 and needing a stop. That's when Krzyzewski got down on one knee and slapped the floor. In unison, his guys emphatically followed suit. Duke wouldn't trail from that moment on.

I couldn't believe I just witnessed the floor slap right in front of me. I know it's a long tradition, but its lost its luster in recent years. Let me believe I planted the seed HA!

The bigger takeaway from the 'floor slap', was what it symbolized. A young team who has taken heat this season for not being Duke tough and not being able to withstand the pressure of Coach K's last season. It was in that moment this team put their own hand prints on the court and were immediately connected to the past.

When Kzyzewski was asked about it after the game he said his guys really wanted it.

"It's kind of like a cross the bridge to the brotherhood. They can now say they did that," Krzyzewski said. "Hopefully they can say that again, at least on Saturday."

The floor slap is synonymous with the '86 team that sent Coach K to his first Final Four. But If this team can tap in to that spirit again, they'll send Krzyzewski to his last. If that happens, perhaps there will be a changin of the guard and floor slap will be synonymous with the 2022 team that sent Coach K out on top.