I’m a Duke-hater just like the next none-Dookie, especially since my alma mater, Virginia Tech is a member of the ACC. So, I took some considerable joy in watching the Virginia Commonwealth Rams upset the Blue Devils in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last night. However, it was a bittersweet (more sweet than bitter) because I want to cheer for other ACC teams. It was really a win-win for ACC Duke-haters – if they win, great for the ACC; if they lose, HAHAHAHA!! Seriously, though, when someone asks me why I hate Duke, I say with a laugh, “Because they’re good.”
Mike Freeman of CBSSportsline.com wrote in a column today, “VCU Exposes Duke’s Fall from the Top,” (linked above) that the Duke dynasty/dominations if officially over. He thoroughly ripped Duke calling them “gutless” and that they will no longer dominate as they have for so many years. I disagree.
The truth is, if you really think about it, what’s not to like about Duke? It’s a clean program that graduates a pretty high percentage of its players and the kids are, for the most part, quality student athletes. I think what turns us off to Duke is the constant media hype and how many All-Americans they recruit every year. And, of course, there’s the perception that Duke gets a ton of calls and that the players can be a bit whiney at times. Oh, and let’s not forget their obnoxious and often obscene fans – I think the Cameron Crazies also give the program a bad reputation, which isn’t fair, but it’s the whole Duke experience and the Duke Athletic Department isn’t exactly stepping forward to stem the history of bad behavior.
The whole country, even ACC fans, tend to root for anyone playing the Blue Devils … present company included. However, this season, the critics have been unusually harsh on Duke, especially in the media. People ripped on them for finishing 8-8 in the ACC and losing at home to Virginia Tech, Florida State, Maryland and North Carolina. This season, the home floor wasn’t as intimidating as it had been for so many years. And now, they lost to an lower seed in the first round of the Big Dance … fuel to the fire.
But here’s why people shouldn’t be ripping on Duke for their sub par season: Their team consists of six freshmen, six sophomores, one junior and one senior. The senior, Joe Pagliuca, is a non-factor (no disrespect). The junior, DeMarcus Nelson, on the other hand, has been a major contributor this season averaging 14.3 point a game. Other than that, the team is made up of freshmen and sophomores.
Of course, when you look at that lineup, you can understand why fans and critics are reveling in this year’s underachievements … it may be the only chance we get for the next few years.
Duke loses only ONE player next year – the non-factor senior. So, essentially they come back completely intact. Scary. Next year, unless these kids are complete busts (which they’ve proven they’re not), Duke could dominate the ACC with a vengence not seen in recent years. In fact, I guarantee that Duke will do better than 8-8 next season and I’ll even go out on a limb and say they will lose no more than one conference home game.
The Duke Dynasty – over? I don’t think so. I just think the rest of the ACC is catching up in terms of talent and recruiting, but Duke, and UNC for that matter, will continue to garner the lion’s share of All-American recruits in the ACC – but as Virginia Tech, Boston College and Virginia have proven this year, it doesn’t matter how many All-Americans you have on your roster – it’s what they do on the court.
