Who will replace Mike Krzyzewski at Duke?
It's the million-dollar question, one that has been hovering around the Durham campus for a few years now, as Coach K approaches his 70th birthday. There is no clear-cut choice, although several candidates has been bandied about within the Duke family.
The early leader was Johnny Dawkins, but he couldn't get enough done at Stanford and is now at UCF. Tommy Amaker has been mentioned often, but multiple sources indicate he has minimal interest in what is basically the ultimate unenviable coaching situation: succeeding Krzyzewski. Notre Dame's Mike Brey was an assistant at Duke but didn't play there, Brad Stevens' name was tossed around for a minute before he went to the NBA -- and both Steve Wojciechowski and Chris Collins haven't yet accomplished enough at their respective spots, Marquette and Northwestern.
So, somewhat by default, assistant Jeff Capel has picked up steam in the past year or so. He has done a tremendous job on the recruiting trail, helping to assemble elite classes. However, let's be clear: Just about anyone could help lure elite players to Durham or Lexington these days.
Now, with Krzyzewski out for what is expected to be a month because of back issues, Capel has an audition of sorts. No one quite knows exactly how long It will last, but it will certainly be lengthier than the one game he coached a year ago at Georgia Tech when Krzyzewski was taken to the hospital just prior to the game.
Capel is a Blue Devil through and through. He was a sophomore starter on the team the last time Coach K had to step away due to a back issue. Duke was 9-3 at the time, 0-1 in league play. The team went on to finish 13-18 and 2-14 in the ACC, marking the last time Duke was left out of the NCAA tournament.
Remember, Capel was fired at Oklahoma in 2011 amid an NCAA investigation that found one of his assistants was aware of payments from a financial planner to Oklahoma big man Keith "Tiny" Gallon. Capel's name was cleared, and the reason he was ultimately let go was the memory of the Elite Eight in 2009 had faded and the program was just 17-36 in the two seasons after Blake Griffin left for the NBA. Capel has largely been cleansed in the public eye by being on Coach K's staff the past six years.
Capel's name was connected to the Arizona State opening two seasons ago, and it was unclear whether he withdrew or the Sun Devils decided to go in a different direction. He tried to get involved at Georgia Tech, but former Yellow Jackets athletic director Mike Bobinski wound up hiring Josh Pastner.
This isn't just Capel's audition to succeed Kyzyzewski at Duke; it could also help him land another high-major gig if he doesn't feel as though he will be Coach K's hand-picked choice, or if he elects not to wait until Krzyzewski retires.
Capel was just 27 when he was hired at VCU in 2002, and 31 when he succeeded Kelvin Sampson at Oklahoma. He's 41 now, more seasoned and certainly more apt to run an elite program.
But there are concerns from some close to Capel as to whether he's cut out to succeed Krzyzewski.
"He's sensitive, and in order to be the Duke head coach, you need thick skin," one source told ESPN.
Capel takes over what could be that nation's most talented roster, but it's not without issues. It remains unclear whether Capel will have Grayson Allen at his disposal. This is a team that is no longer the heavy favorite to cut down the nets come April, not with the rash of injuries, a key suspension to Allen, and a loss to Virginia Tech to begin league play.
There are questions as to whether this team will ever be what many thought it would be: dominant.
It's also uncertain whether top-rated freshman Harry Giles will be able to contribute. He's still beyond rusty after logging just 23 total minutes in his first games since returning from a long injury layoff. Fellow freshman big man Marques Bolden, another potential one-and-done talent, has played just 39 total minutes and has been ineffective as well since returning from a foot injury.
But there is still no shortage of talent on this roster: Luke Kennard has emerged as an All-American candidate, Amile Jefferson is a fifth-year senior who is averaging a double-double and Jayson Tatum has looked the part of a high lottery pick after missing the first part of the season with a foot injury. There's also former McDonald's All Americans Frank Jackson and Chase Jeter, along with one of Coach K's favorite players -- senior Matt Jones.
Put Capel down for a 2-0 start. Sure, Georgia Tech just knocked off North Carolina and Boston College beat Syracuse, but there's just no way that the Yellow Jackets or the Eagles are coming to Durham and returning home with a victory. But then it gets formidable for Capel & Co., with road contests against Florida State and Louisville before home games against Miami and NC State.
The timetable for Coach K being out following Friday's back surgery is four weeks, but that's just an approximation.
"No one knows how long he'll be out," one source close to the Duke program said. "Obviously, he's in a ton of pain to have to do this in the middle of a season like this one. This isn't 1995. This is a team capable of winning it all."
And if Capel rights the ship and the Blue Devils wind up cutting down the nets on April 3 it certainly won't hinder his case to answer the question that will continue to be asked in Durham.