I hate Duke but I Respect Them
I’m a Duke hater. I’ve never said anything different but my level of respect for that team, program and coach continues to increase. Don’t get me wrong, I still hope they lose every game but it’s more out of jealousy than anything else and I’m ok to admit that.
Where I am growing up is in my area of really understanding how great of a job Coach K really does and it hits me more every time I watch them play. Jon Scheyer isn’t a pro or close to it. Kyle Singler is a pro and Nolan Smith is questionable right now but those 3 kids play great together and have bought in 100% to the team philosophy. Lance Thomas would be an all conference player in the Big 10 but on Duke he’s bought into the role of rebounder and physical presence. I remember when Jon Scheyer chose Duke over Illinois and everyone was mad. Illinois was the home school and Scheyer played for Bruce Weber’s brother in high school. He was a high school legend in Illinois and everyone wanted him to come to Illinois. He chose Duke and at the time I ridiculed him and said that it wasn’t the best choice, that he would’ve been a legend in Illinois and never had to work again. He would have been like Dee Brown was to the school. Now, I must eat my words because Scheyer is playing for a national title tonight at his dream school. He’d always wanted to play for Duke and for once I get it. I actually get it. They don’t get better than Coach K.
Now, please BUTLER JUST WIN.
