Coach K senses Urban Meyer’s renewal

Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski said he called Urban Meyer after the Florida football coach, citing health concerns, resigned abruptly in December. Meyer ultimately changed his mind and took a leave of absence and returned for spring practice.

Krzyzewski took a leave in 1995 following the stress caused by back surgery. Duke finished 13-18 that season.

“I think the main thing we talked about is that he wasn’t the only guy, who, you know, that kind of stuff can happen to,” Krzyzewski said. “I think it happens to a lot of people, whether you’re in sport or business, and you haven’t done anything wrong by feeling that way.”

Meyer later talked to Krzyzewski when he came to Duke for a physical.

Coach K said he didn’t speak with Meyer about dealing with the media. Meyer recently called out a reporter at a Gators’ spring practice.

“I didn’t call him to tell him about press relations,” Krzyzewski said. “… but he showed me he may have had his vigor back.”

Small but mighty

Butler is the fourth-smallest school to compete for the national title based on current enrollments. The less-is-more list is headed by Holy Cross (2,817 students), Jacksonville (3,173), Dartmouth (4,196), who all reached the title game. Dartmouth reached the title game in 1942 and 1944. Holy Cross won the title in 1947.

Hometown edge

Butler entered Monday’s title game trying to become the fourth team in NCAA history to win the title in its home city. City College of New York won in 1950 and UCLA won twice in Los Angeles, in 1968 and 1972.

Land of giants

Butler Coach Brad Stevens, only 33, has faced star coaches Jim Boeheim (Syracuse), Tom Izzo (Michigan State) and Mike Krzyzewski (Duke) in the NCAA tournament.

What’s it like going against that kind of lineup?

“Well, if it’s just me against them, we’re in trouble,” Stevens said. “… It has nothing — it has very little to do with me. It has a lot to do with these guys going out there and giving it everything they have.”

chris.dufresne@latimes.com