The 10 Most-Hated Dukies of All-Time

They’re whiny, prep school-bred, white boys with All-American good looks that belong in a Ralph Lauren catalog more than on a basketball court. Here are your top-ten most-hated Dukies…

The most hated teams in American sports history can be separated into three tiers: Tier I features those that are loathed mainly due to their success (Yankees, Lakers, Patriots, Celtics, Alabama football, Notre Dame football, and Kentucky basketball); Tier II is made up of teams that ascended to a higher level of hate because their winning was accompanied by arrogance (Cowboys, Bad Boy Pistons, Miami football, and Georgetown basketball); while Tier III is occupied by one team — Duke.

As much as certain teams are despised for winning, usually this initial hate transforms into respect, which has been the case in recent years as New England, Alabama, and Golden State have dominated their respective fields. Duke, meanwhile, isn’t given the benefit of the doubt.

The vitriol directed at Duke is rooted in their success; over the last 30 years under Coach K, they’ve been the best college basketball team in the country, winning five championships and 12 ACC titles, earning trips to 12 Final Fours. Their occupancy atop the Mount Rushmore…