UNC Basketball: 7 reasons that North Carolina fans hate Duke

The “Brotherhood”

Duke’s recently adopted “brotherhood” moniker might be one of the most heinous misnomers in history. The program’s lofty claim of family and camaraderie is fundamentally undermined by its tendency to funnel players in and out faster than a Target on tax-free weekend.

Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski has been arguably the most successful college basketball coach at embracing and utilizing the “one-and-done” system since its inception in 2006. That’s reflected in his last seven recruiting hauls that have been ranked no worse than third in the nation. On four occasions, his freshman classes were ranked No. 1 overall, and were highlighted by a number of players that spent just one year in college before leaving Durham for the NBA.

Having said that, it’s really nothing against the likes of Jahlil Okafor, Jayson Tatum, Marvin Bagley, Zion Williamson or others. They were all great college basketball players that really had no business being under the NCAA facade of amateurism when there were millions to be made at the professional level. But just how much of a brotherhood can be built in nine or ten month’s time? I don’t know, and maybe that’s not for me to ponder. But the mere claim drives North Carolina fans crazy.

The Tar Heels have a long, proud history of promoting and upholding a family atmosphere — one that lasts well beyond a player’s days on campus. Former players are often heard lauding the program for years to come, or returning to campus for pick-up games between past, present and future Tar Heels. It certainly doesn’t seem the same way for the Duke basketball program and its alumni, but maybe that 10-month detour through college on the way to the NBA creates a bond that’s simply inconceivable to anyone outside of this so-called brotherhood.