Coach K: Alex O'Connell Was Too Hard On Himself

Junior learning not to let mistakes send him into tailspin

Junior Alex O’Connell is getting more playing time than in his first two seasons. O’Connell is averaging 22.3 minutes per game, up from 14.0 last year. His scoring is up—he’s averaging 11.0 ppg, up from 4.4, and his per-40 minute rate is 19.7, up from 12.6. His rebounding (4.0 per game, up from 1.9, and 7.2 per 40, up from 5.3), assists (2.0 up from 0.6 and 3.6 per 40, up from 1.7) and steals (2.0 up from 0.6 and 3.6 per 40, up from 1.6) are also way up, and his turnovers (1.2 per 40 minutes, compared to 2.3 last year) are down.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski credits a better on court attitude with helping O’Connell as he matures. He still makes mistakes from time to time. He just doesn’t let them affect him on the next play. That’s how tailspins begin.

“I just thought he got hard on himself,” Krzyzewski said. “In our game, you can’t get hard on yourself. After the game, if you feel like you didn’t play well, do extra and all that. But during the game, there’s no time to think about what you’ve just done. It’s a continuous game. It favors the continuous thinker. You can’t live in the last play. That’s all I was telling him. ‘Do not live in last play. Next play. Next play.’ And that’s how you become really good player. He is a good player. He has chance to be a real good player, and he’s doing a good job for us.”