Mar 21, 2014; Raleigh, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Jabari Parker (1) and Duke Blue Devils guard Andre Dawkins (34) react in the closing second of their game against the Mercer Bears of a men's college basketball game during the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at PNC Arena. (Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)
Get the Duke Blue Devils out of the friendly confines of that invitation for a fire marshal known as Cameron Indoor Stadium and they morph into a very beatable basketball team. Now, for the second time in three years, the over-seeded Blue Devils have been knocked out of the NCAA Tournament by a bottom three seed. This time the Mercer Bears of the Atlantic Sun conference did the honors as a 14-seed in a 78-71 victory last Friday in Raleigh.
So why so much angst against the Blue Devils? Well, this computer may not have enough memory to do that justice. It was very interesting how, even some 20 miles from their beautiful campus, the Blue Devils were the enemy of everyone in the PNC Center, but their own smattering of fans. It seemed most Dukies had better things to do than worry about a team most of them had never heard of.
One fan yelled, “the mafia is leaving town,” as Duke fans hit the exits before the upset could be completed. Another made note of the old Wizard of Oz adage, “Ding Dong, the witch is dead.”
NC State fans cheered, North Carolina fans cheered, and anyone wearing the logos of any other team cheered when the Bears completed Friday’s upset. You see, it was the second time in three years that Duke had been vanquished in its home state in the first round. Two years ago Lehigh, a 15-seed, left Duke in the wake of the athletic C.J. McCollum, in Greensboro.
This was anything but a home-court advantage. This had to affect the overhyped Blue Devils mentally with such a short ride to what was supposed to be another cruise into the Sweet 16, built by CBS, who wanted to cash in on the “love them or hate them” ratings.
Mike Krzyzewski’s arrogance turns the masses the wrong way when he goes out of his way to suggest that his conference, the ACC, is stronger than the Atlantic 10 and the Pac-12. The 66-year-old guru is a master at pointing fingers, whining on the sidelines in news conferences, and swearing at referees. The only difference is the NCAA and the administration at Duke look the other way because Krzyzewski has been allowed to grow bigger than Duke University by Dick Vitale, CBS, and other entities that push Duke out front to try to take advantage of TV ratings. No one has the power to suspend him as South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner did Frank Martin a couple of weeks ago.
Krzyzewski is his own entity. Cory Maggette actually took payments from an AAU coach before entering Duke and Lance Thomas ran up approximately a $90,000 bill in a New York jewelry store; of which $30,000 was paid. Both of these issues were swept neatly under the rug by the NCAA rhetoric and hyperbole that states, “There is not enough evidence to open an investigation at this time.”
Neither Thomas nor the jeweler would talk and the NCAA refused to proceed. The crack college law enforcement agency would rather police cook outs and throw coaches under the bus that might buy a hungry player a meal.
Duke’s fans have been spoiled. Very few of them, even the sidewalk alums who wear the cheap t-shirts, showed up for the Bear attack on Friday. It is a fan base that is national and international, but inside the state of North Carolina, it takes on the mantra of a group of overweight, tobacco-chewing characters, who look more the part of NASCAR or professional wrestling than of one of the most prestigious universities in the world.
The Blue Devils are always the recipient of a generous whistle as well. Check out the Syracuse game in Durham this year when C.J. Fair drove the baseline and was clearly fouled on his way to the basket as he scored. Referee Tony Greene erased the score and gave Duke the ball, as the Devils had the lead by two and won the game. It drew the ire of Orange Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim to the point where he ran on the floor and was ejected for the first time in his 38-year career.
For many years in the ACC, Duke had more makes from the free throw line than the other teams in the league had combined attempts. It made everyone-coaches, players, fans, or really anyone other than the Triangle media hoard, ask “What gives?”
The Blue Devils are definitely the most loved and hated team in the game. They have more haters than lovers. As long as Krzyzewski is there, he will continue to stir the pot with his elitist attitude. At the end of the day though, it will be interesting to see if the angst can continue once the legendary coach decides to step down when he has had enough
