1K for Coach K? Can Mike Krzyzewski Reach 1,000 Career Victories?

First off, is 1,000-wins milestone even possible?  If the likes of Bob Knight fell short by almost 100 wins, who can reach 1K?

Coach K can.  With his 877th career win in December 2010, Coach K cut the gap to only 123 more, with over half of the season yet to be played.  Krzyzewski, at 63 years young, will probably only need to coach for five more years to break the 1,000-win plateau.

However, Krzyzewski will be 64 on February 13, 2011, and the all-time D-I wins leader Bob Knight retired at age 67.  The clock is ticking on Coach K, but he will probably coach later into his life than Bob Knight did; he will probably reach age 70 with the team barring any health-related issues.

Coach K has brought Duke to the promised land; however, he will need talent to continue to back him up.

The Dukies are hot right now, and their success will most likely lead to a few years of spectacular basketball (especially if the recruits keep pouring in).  The talent that Duke is bringing in is unbelievable, and it is coming in fast.

Take Marshall Plumlee (center) for example.  He is the third Plumlee brother and is rumored to be the best, and he's already committed to Duke.  Now pair him with shooting guard Austin Rivers, point guard Quinn Cook and small forward Michael Gbinije and Duke already has an amazing 2011 recruiting class.

With recruits like these guys keep pouring in, any program can be successful, and we know Coach K can bring in the recruits by the truckload.  It also helps to have a good program now because many recruits will know how good Duke is and try to win a few championships with them, and when these guys come in, look out.

30 wins a year is not out of the question for these guys, and that would mean that Coach K will break 1,000 wins in the 2014-2015 season—probably early in 2015, unless they really have a few great years, then it will be in 2014.

Knowing that Duke's recruits will be great leads to the conclusion that Duke will be able to average up to 30 wins a season, and help Coach K get 1,000 wins.  With a lifetime contract at Duke, it is hard to tell when he might retire, but when you see him coaching, he doesn't seem 63 at all.  We know he won't go to the NBA (thank God) because he has repeatedly turned down contract offers, including a five-year, $40 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Barring any early retirement decisions, or leaving college basketball, Coach K will reach 1,000 wins, and will keep adding to his Hall of Fame resume.