So That's Why Everyone Hates Duke

Duke basketball is quite good, but not like Tiger Woods or Lance Armstrong good. They haven't won the ACC conference since 2006, they haven't been to the Final Four since 2004, and they haven't won the title since 2001. So it's not like there aren't other squads that are equally deserving targets of the nation's collective basketball wrath. What's with all the hate, haters? Is it just because they beat up on tiny religious schools that have five Division I wins in their entire history and then complain that they had an off night? Yeah, that's probably it. Is it also because the Blue Devils always have guys with names like Miles Plumlee and Olek Czyz and have fans that are legendary for annoying the crap out of people and then they say things like this in the locker room after de-pantsing a bunch of helpless Presbyterians by 31 points.

"Tonight, (it) just wasn't there. That's on us," [Sophomore Kyle] Singler [19 pts., 10 boards] said. "Our standards weren't met tonight, and we've just got to come back tomorrow with a different attitude, a different mind-set. I know we will."

Did I mention they won? But cut them some slack people. They just want to do better. For you. By the way, this is the picture on the front page of the Presbyterian College website that, believe it or not, is actually used to entice impressionable young minds to attend their school.

Maybe you should be thanking the Blue Devils instead of criticizing them, huh? No. 8 Duke ‘just off' in blowout victory [AP/Yahoo] Blue Hose Drop Season Opener to #5 Duke [Go Blue Hose] P.S. I'm still taking links to individual team previews. There have been several submissions already and we're hoping to have a nice roundup later in the week. Send URLs to dashiell@deadspin.com