Duke Basketball Hatred Unwarranted

Duke Basketball… It boggles my mind how many people hate Duke basketball with a passion.  If you have not noticed, Duke is one of the most hated teams in NCAA basketball, if not all of sports (the Oakland Raiders might win this one). Even once players leave for the pros, they are still hated, just ask J.J. Redick of the Orlando Magic and how often he gets booed when he walks onto the court.

Since winning the National Championship last year, all I’ve heard from people is how much they hate Duke, how much Duke is over-rated, how people are sick of hearing about Duke, how much people hate Coach K, blah blah blah.  But in reality, is there anything to hate about Duke?

Let’s take a look at some facts:

Coaching

– Mike Krzyzewski has been coaching Duke Basketball for 30 years. (For current active coaches, he is only second to Jim Boeheim of Syracuse).

– Coach K is 4th on the list of all time winning coaches, 1st in the last 10 years. 888 wins 281 loses.

– Loyalty:  In all 30 years, Coach K has been offered numerous jobs in the NBA for high profile teams and top dollar. In all cases, Coach K has declined NBA jobs to stay loyal to Duke.

– Tapped to restore United States pride for USA Olympic basketball after a dismal and embarrassing performance with a bunch of “know it all individuals” from the NBA. (Coaching and earning a Gold medal in 2008 with the Redeem Team).

– Pure Class:  When is the last time Coach K has made the news about NCAA violations, scandal or any other bad press?

– Coach K Has led Duke Basketball to 26 tournament appearances. Probably would have been 27 and 27 in a row if he didn’t have back surgery in 1995 and had to leave the team.

Team

– 26 total NCAA tournament appearances

– 14 final four appearances

– 4 National Titles

– 9 players of the year, 11 if you count all the years (Jason Williams and J.J. Redick have won this honor twice)

– 11 ACC player of the year, 13 if you count all the years (Danny Ferry and J.J. Redick have won this honor twice)

– 18 ACC Championships

– 71 players drafted into the NBA

– 89 percent graduation rate (players leaving early for NBA counts towards this ratio, school has a 97% graduation rate)

– 55 All Americans

– 14 Academic All Americans

So let me get this straight, people hate Duke Basketball because they win, have a loyal coach, have a strong history of class and discipline in academics and athletics, as well as develop phenomenal/well-rounded individuals when they leave college (when is the last time a Duke basketball player in the NBA has gotten arrested)?  This makes absolute sense…. *cue sarcasm*

I understand that there is an “elitist” mentality when it comes to Duke, but can you blame them?  Duke only expects the best from their athletes, coaches and students; is that so wrong?  (I blame Christian Laetnner for this reputation, but everyone deserves a gimme, great winning shot though).  Also, let’s be real, North Carolina is Tar Heel country; there are obviously more Tar Heel fans than Duke fans and they loathe each other.  Weird coincidence, but do you ever hear any hatred towards Roy Williams?

So go ahead, hate Duke, encourage the scandal, the shady coaching/recruiting, the academic mediocrity; discourage excellence, loyalty and class– That’s America for you, Land of Frauds, Home of the Bullshit.

— Matt Nguyen (aka Nuge)

Disagree?  Email me at matt@fansmanship.com

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1. - Fansmanship says:

   03/06/2011 at 4:17 am

   […] San Jose native, Nuge had a strong rooting interest in the game. Of the group, he was the only one, which is probably why […]