Coach K's Farewell Tour Will Get New Orleans Send Off in Final Four for the Ages

Some of you were aware that Mike Krzyzewski had to end his farewell tour this way when he decided to return for one final season at Duke.

His 13th trip to the Final Four puts him in first place on the all-time list, one ahead of John Wooden.

One more chance to win a national championship.

One more week at the center of attention in a sport that he has dominated for the past four decades.

New Orleans is a city famed for its elaborate funeral processions.

It seems fitting since we will all be ready for a parade down Bourbon Street next weekend, regardless of whether you are celebrating Coach K's legacy or the fact that the Wicked Witch of theACC is finally gone.

The Arkansas Razorbacks had a chance to stop the parade from happening two days after knocking off Gonzaga.

The fourth game in Duke's trip to the Final Four was one of the easiest thus far.

In the second round against Michigan State, the Blue Devil had to come back from a 70-65 deficit. They were in a similar situation late against Texas Tech in the Sweet 16 before finishing the game with a red-hot shooting percentage.

Duke never trailed in the final 34 minutes against Arkansas.

Jaylin Williams had 19 points, 10 rebound, and several charges. Stanley Umede hit a few big shots as well.

That trio was no match for Duke.

Mark Williams set the tone early with his strength and size. Duke was led by a man who made a big impact inside the arc. The three guards had a lot of scoring drives. Paolo Banchero overcame a slow start to carry the team through the second half.

Despite 15 turnovers, Duke was able to cruise to a 78-69 victory.

If there were still demons from when Arkansas defeated Duke in the 1994 national championship game, they might have been exorcised by this Blue Devil victory.

One of the biggest Final Four games of all time is on the horizon.

If North Carolina beats Saint Peter's on Sunday in Philadelphia, it will mean Duke vs. North Carolina in the NCAA tournament.

Ever.

It hardly seems possible that these arch-rival programs with a combined 333 games played in the NCAA tournament, 36 Final Fours and 11 national championships have never met. They met once in the NIT semifinals, but never in this tournament.

One of the most famous moments in the history of the Tobacco Road rivalry happened a few weeks ago when the Tar Heels ruined Coach K's final home game.

But a Final Four match up?

The hype surrounding it would make the Final Four game feel like a consolation game. Until the winners meet on Monday.

The other option is even more attractive.

The Duke-Saint Peter Final Four game could be the greatest David vs. Goliath moment in sports history.

We will let sports historians debate how it stacks up against Super Bowl III and the Miracle on Ice if it happens. If Saint Peter beats Duke in the Final Four, it will be the most unlikely thing to happen in the NCAA tournament.

The Peacocks had never won an NCAA tournament game. They had not played in the tournament in over a decade. They don't have a winning record in the history of the program.

If they can beat the Tar Heels, they will get a chance at the coach who has won over a thousand games.

Call me crazy, but I think Duke-Saint Peter's would generate more ratings than Duke-UNC would. The majority of college basketball fans would love Duke-UNC, but any sports fan could get behind Duke-Saint Peter's.

Regardless of what happens between the Tar Heels and the Peacocks, Coach K and one of his most star-laden rosters of all-time will be waiting for the winner.

He was hoping to avoid an embarrassing final loss in his career.

Kerry Miller covers college basketball for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on social media.