SAN JUAN (William Rosario's Somewhere in the Americas) - "Coach K, quickly, did you miss the game last night?", asked North American reporter Chris Sheridan after the USA's 96-68 second half obliteration of Lithuania in the FIBA Basketball World Cup. He was referring to Spain's Quarter-Final elimination at the hands of France, in one  of the biggest upsets in the history of the sport.

"I saw the last part of it," USA coach Mike Krzyzewski replied.

"A lot of people are saying this tournament has lost its luster because we are not going to have Spain versus USA in the Gold Medal match. How do you respond to that?" followed Sheridan.

"I'm not a promotions person," said the coach. "I graduated from the United States Military Academy with leadership, as an officer."

That last line was a breakthrough moment in a series of press conferences from the legendary coach in this FIBA Basketball World Cup that almost feel like written, heavily thought out crafted statements when you look at how perfect and politically correct they have been.

He always opened up by expressing his admiration and respect for (insert opposing team's name here) basketball, praising the coaching and finally the best performance from any facing player (Gustavo Ayon, Goran Dragic, Jonas Valanciunas). He never disrespected anyone, no matter how ignorant the question, but always went where he wanted to go and was never pressured into talking about something he did not want to talk about. It has been a master class in media management.

But that line, about his major in leadership, was in my opinion pretty telling and one of the few off-script moments from him in this championship. For a moment there, he let us peek behind the curtain to see the focus and no nonsense mentality that has elevated him to a now legendary coach beyond the college campuses in America.

Spain's elimination puts it even more in perspective. They say there's no bad coach with good players, but great coach with good players may be what separates you from being top-notch, to being the best, to dominating.

One through 12, Spain may still have the best talent in this World Cup. Sadly though, they won't be using it to compete for a podium finish on their home turf.

The main reason for this? When great talents got in their own way, there wasn't great coaching to steer the ship and get them safely to shore. Spain panicked, tightened up and did what teams do when they are lost on the court: give the ball to your best player and pray he gets you of the mess. Pau Gasol, no matter how great he has been in this tournament, could not do it this time...and that's that.

The USA has not allowed themselves to be in that place. There's a pattern to their domination so far in this World Cup. Teams compete with them for the first half, then as soon as they come out of that Coach K summer-long leadership half-time locker room chat, they take off. Adjustments are made, and what was a six-, maybe eight-point lead, turns to 20 in a matter of minutes.

It is impressive to watch, and this 2014 edition of the "Dream Team" may be the most impressive of them all during this Krzyzewski era.

One has to think back two months ago to when this team had a completely different make-up. This was supposed to be a USA team led by Kevin Durant, Paul George, Blake Griffin and Kevin Love. Then, when they withdrew from participating in this World Cup, this was supposed to be the team that crumbled under the Spain pressure...but they haven't.

How does he do it? How does he get "NBA millionaires, spoiled" players to adhere to this USA, team first mentality? Well, there's when that leadership major comes in handy.

First, he surrounds himself with talented specialist coaches. There's defensive mastermind Tom Thibbodeu, there's zone defense (that strategy overly used by teams against the USA) expert and fellow college basketball legend Jim Boeheim and there's player friendly coach and motivator Monty Williams. That's quite a foursome. You have to be some kind of leader to lead that four headed monstrous staff.

Then, there are those "feel-it moments", like he told Don Yeager of the Wall Street Journal: "When it's time to change the culture of a team, your players have to hear it, see it and understand what you're trying to do," said Krzyzewski, the coach of the USA national team since 2005. "But to really make change stick" - and when he describes this, he drags out the word really - "they have to feel it.

"To do that," he said, "you have to create moments."

What does he mean by moments? Well, as Yeager also details: "As part of a collaboration between USA Basketball and branches of the military, Krzyzewski's team stopped in Korea on its way to Japan for the 2006 FIBA World Championship. The team went to two military bases and held open practices, coming into the gym wearing fatigues instead of warm-ups. They met injured soldiers who shared a consistent theme: We have no regrets because we did what we did for our country.

"The relationship between team and military grew through a continuing program since dubbed Hoops for Troops. Then, on the way to the 2012 Olympics in London, the team went to Arlington National Cemetery."

You see why that line in the press conference was so important? Krzyzewski, above all, is still a military kid whose main skill is leading troops into battle. He has reminded these millionaires what they are here for: representing their flag, not their wallets. The success of that psychological spin is his major achievement on the international scene.

A colleague asked me if I bought into this "Coach K's greatness" aura that everybody seems to buy into. "Do you think he is as great as everybody says he is?"

I now have been there watching the team go through their routine and have been blessed with the opportunity of a fly on the wall in their post-game atmosphere right outside the locker room...and I have to say he's better than the "greatness" I was expecting.

I truly cannot respect more the culture he has created for the USA. The formula is very clear: great talent, pride for the country you represent and respect for your adversaries. Now look at your national team (if you are not from the United States): wouldn't you just love to have that beautiful combination?

International basketball is better because of Coach K. Enough said.

William Rosario

FIBA

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