The Dawn Treader

“We could impose our will certain years. The last two teams have not been that way.”

Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski

"So how come no Duke blogging? You yell at me when I don't blog about the Brewers"

Lean Left blogger Tom Girsch

I am afraid tgirsch has got me on this one.  I have watched a grand total of 10 minutes of Duke basketball this year.  It was the first 10 minutes of the second Duke Carolina game.  After cringing for 10 minutes straight, I was reminded why I have lost a passion for Duke basketball.  I shut off the T.V. and got back to my life.  Duke reminded me of the B league intramural team I used to play on at Covenant college ... except for worse.  I think the Jacobians (my team) might have been able to take Duke in head to head play.

I consider Duke's win over Belmont an upset.  Belmont outscored Duke in the lane 30 to 28.  Belmont deserved to win.  It appears we will give West Virginia the privilege of sending us home to Durham today in the second round.

Duke has lost the magic.  They have lost their mojo.  I cannot understand why or how they got a number two seed in the West.  I think it was cruel joke to rank them so high.  I continue to believe most of the world still hates Duke and giving Duke a lofty undeserved ranking is a cruel way to add insult to injury.  Now when Duke goes down, as they no doubt will, everyone gets to pretend it was a huge upset.

Now, how about those Brewers?

1991 was a glorious year.  One year had passed since I received my graduate degree from Duke.  I was loving my job.  My first child was born.  And the Duke basketball team was the darling underdog of the college basketball world.  People loved Duke after they stunned the world and beat UNLV for the Nat'l Championship in 1991.  UNLV, if you recall, looked like an NBA team in 1990 and 1991.  And the Running Rebs were cocky.  Until Duke took them out.

Times have changed.  Now, people hate Duke.  No.  They loathe Duke.  The hatred for Duke is a unique brand of hate.  It runs deep.  Not even the Democrats dislike for George W. Bush runs as deep as fan hatred for the team from Durham.  Where is the love?  I don't get it.  How can one detest a clean program that emphasizes team ball and where most players graduate and get their degrees?  Why hate a team that has a humble and self-effacing coach who is quick to lavish praise on the opposing team whether in victory or defeat? 

Frank Deford came to my aid to help me understand why they hate us in his NPR commentary.  This was taped in 2005.   It becomes obvious when Deford quotes a poll that has Duke #1 in both men's and women's basketball.  Still, his commentary is insightful.

It is official.

Roanoke County Board of Supervisors proclaim
J.J. Redick Day
April 19, 2006

I am going to miss seeing this jump shot.  I can't believe four years came and went so fast.  Congratulations to JJ Redick on a great ACC tournament and a story book college career.  All he lacks is one thing : the NCAA tournament championship.  I like Duke's regional.  I think North Carolina will have a tougher time.

On a side note, I sat with some of JJ's Duke friends on my flight to California out of Durham this past Friday.  They assured me that he was an ordinary humble guy.  I asked them what JJ was majoring in.  Nobody knew.  But the girl sitting next to me knew some important JJ information : who he was dating, and that he was homeschooled in Roanoke.

All I know is I am going to miss seeing those long 3 pointers and that picture perfect jump shot.  Four years of watching JJ went way too fast.

Another brilliant performance from Roanoke's J.J. Redick.  35 points.  22 points in the 2nd half.  A key 3 ptr late in the game to provide the necessary cushion to win a tumultous game in the Dean Dome.

I love Duke / Carolina games -- especially since Duke has taken 15 of the last 18 match ups.  I started following Duke in 1988 when I entered Duke as a graduate student.  Danny Ferry was a senior that year.  I was instantly hooked.

Carolina won nearly every Duke / Carolina game in those days.  Oh how times have changed.

Tonight's game was another classic.  We nearly gave it away with one minute to play.  Inexplicably, Carolina choked with some bricks from the free throw line and a strange shot selection at the end of the game.  J.J. put in another national player of the year kind of performance.

To Carolina's credit, they have amassed another talented team.  I thought this year was supposed to be a rebuilding year.  Looks like I was wrong.  Carolina will make a serious run in the big dance this year -- you watch.