This Thursday night, the Duke University basketball team is matching up against the Chinese Olympic team at the Mercedes-Benz Arena. We caught up with Duke University’s Mike Krzyzewski (aka Coach K) to find out more about the game and his first trip to China.

What are your team goals for this trip? What are you hoping your players will get out of it?
Specific to basketball, we hope to use the experience to get better as a team. We’re playing good competition and we’ll use the opportunity to improve. More broadly, this trip is an excellent way for our program to raise the level of awareness about the great things Duke University has going on in China, specifically in Kunshan.

You have a lot of young, relatively inexperienced players on this year's team. Does a trip like this help in building leadership and camaraderie?
This trip should help in the process of building leadership. As a young group, we’ll need to identify who are leaders are and are going to be. That is one of the most intriguing things about putting a team together each season. We’ll use our time together in China to assist in that process.

What sort of expectations do you have for your opponent, the Chinese U-23 team?
I am sure that the Chinese team will provide outstanding competition for us. China is so passionate about the sport of basketball. We’re looking forward to what should be a challenge for our team. It will be a good learning experience for us.

How do you feel about Duke Kunshan University, and how do you feel about Duke expanding globally?
We couldn’t be more excited about broadening Duke University’s reach throughout the world. Duke is a special place, and the fact that it is growing into a worldwide institution is terrific. There are so many talented students around the globe, and because of these expanded relationships in place, many more will have the opportunity to experience Duke University first-hand.

Are there any places, either in Beijing or Shanghai, that you are particularly looking forward to visiting?
The whole trip will be an amazing experience for us. I do know that I will get chills walking into Beijing’s MaserCard Center, where Team USA captured the Olympic gold medal in 2008. That venue will have a special place in my heart, just because so many great memories occurred there.

Has Duke ever seriously considered recruiting a Chinese player? Do you see a day where a Chinese player suits up for the Blue Devils?
Given the popularity and growth of the sport internationally, it would not surprise me to see more Chinese players attending American universities to play basketball. The NBA game is a global game already. At some point, we might see more and more international players in the college game as well.

Yao Ming recently announced his retirement from basketball, what will be your longest lasting impression of his career?
Yao Ming was a fierce competitor and was a great professional player. His size was intimidating. Aside from that, what I will remember most is how he carried himself with dignity and class at all times. Those involved in the game will miss him.

DETAILS

What: Duke Blue Devils play China’s National Team

When: Thursday, Aug. 18 | 8pm

Where: The Mercedes-Benz Arena

How much: Tickets range from RMB80-800

Tel: 400-610-3721