Spring Break
Big East trumps ACC in basketball
Kevin Meacham
Issue date: 1/22/09 Section: Sports
Why does Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski have to go and open his mouth? I'm perfectly fine hating the abstract concept that is Duke basketball, rather than targeting someone or something specific.
And yet Coach K, like a movie villain, simply cannot restrain himself from antagonizing those who live outside the ACC's bubble.
Over the weekend, Krzyzewski - the guru of goofy white guys, the chief of choking in March and the foreman of flops - expressed his displeasure with the local media's coverage of his team's rise to the No. 2 ranking in the latest AP poll.
If I had to guess, ESPN will respond to these outrageous charges by launching a three-hour investigation on "Outside the Lines" to pinpoint exactly how little media coverage Duke gets. At the same time, while ESPN Classic will show both a six-hour montage of classic Blue Devil games, and a 2:27 program entitled "Every Great Duke Moment In NBA History."
Now, knocking Coach K's comment is admittedly like picking low-hanging fruit. I just think it's worth noting that Duke has been a near-centerpiece for ESPN's coverage of college basketball. In recent years, I have seen more games on TV at Cameron Indoor Stadium than I have in person at Gampel Pavilion; not to mention the absurd Cameron Crazy Cam and the hilarious American Express commercials.
Duke is a draw. People are interested in their games. But let's be serious: saying Duke needs more media coverage is like saying the Yankees need another $20 million infielder.
In the end though, that doesn't really bother me. I guess when you are headed for another first-weekend NCAA Tournament loss, a poll ranking in January is more important than you would think.
What really gets under my skin is Coach K's recent pronouncement that the ACC is the best conference in the land.
It's not just the Duke coach, though. The Sporting News' college hoops writer, Mike DeCourcy, laid out the case in Wednesday's online edition of the paper.
And yet Coach K, like a movie villain, simply cannot restrain himself from antagonizing those who live outside the ACC's bubble.
Over the weekend, Krzyzewski - the guru of goofy white guys, the chief of choking in March and the foreman of flops - expressed his displeasure with the local media's coverage of his team's rise to the No. 2 ranking in the latest AP poll.
If I had to guess, ESPN will respond to these outrageous charges by launching a three-hour investigation on "Outside the Lines" to pinpoint exactly how little media coverage Duke gets. At the same time, while ESPN Classic will show both a six-hour montage of classic Blue Devil games, and a 2:27 program entitled "Every Great Duke Moment In NBA History."
Now, knocking Coach K's comment is admittedly like picking low-hanging fruit. I just think it's worth noting that Duke has been a near-centerpiece for ESPN's coverage of college basketball. In recent years, I have seen more games on TV at Cameron Indoor Stadium than I have in person at Gampel Pavilion; not to mention the absurd Cameron Crazy Cam and the hilarious American Express commercials.
Duke is a draw. People are interested in their games. But let's be serious: saying Duke needs more media coverage is like saying the Yankees need another $20 million infielder.
In the end though, that doesn't really bother me. I guess when you are headed for another first-weekend NCAA Tournament loss, a poll ranking in January is more important than you would think.
What really gets under my skin is Coach K's recent pronouncement that the ACC is the best conference in the land.
It's not just the Duke coach, though. The Sporting News' college hoops writer, Mike DeCourcy, laid out the case in Wednesday's online edition of the paper.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
Charlie
posted 1/22/09 @ 12:31 PM EST
What a K hater and loser. You must be from the small east.
James
posted 1/22/09 @ 6:25 PM EST
Who is Kevin Meacham? anyone?
Was he the coach who won 3 NCAA titles? I can't remember ...
Don
posted 1/22/09 @ 10:58 PM EST
Nothing is more annoying than someone writing a hateful, bitter story with their facts wrong. Coach K's comment about the media was in regard to the local Raleigh Media that was only reporting on UNC's success and completely ignored Duke's rise to number 2. (Continued…)
myance34
matt
posted 1/23/09 @ 9:50 AM EST
I honestly think that I know more about college basketball than whoever wrote this article and I am 15 years old. Like this is honestly the dumbest thing I have ever read in my life. (Continued…)
Brandon
posted 1/23/09 @ 10:02 AM EST
This is probably one of the worst articles that I've ever read in my life when it comes to Duke or college basketball. This guy really needs to get his facts straight before writing an article. (Continued…)
Anthony
posted 1/27/09 @ 8:09 PM EST
Jay Bilas, an ACC guy from UNC put it best last night on ESPN when he said - There is no debate. The Big East is the best Conference in basketball and it's not even close. (Continued…)
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