There are plenty of Duke basketball fans in the world. However, if you aren’t a Duke basketball fan, you really aren’t a Duke basketball fan. Mike Krzyzewski’s team has garnered a reputation for divisiveness among sports fans and, every time the Blue Devils lose on a national stage, the internet erupts with split reactions.
On Sunday, No. 2 seed Duke suffered a big-time upset at the hands of the No. 7 seed South Carolina Gamecocks and that provided their exit from the 2017 NCAA Tournament. As the game came to a close and it became clear that the favorites were going down, the takes flowed with haste and beauty.
An important thing to remember is that in these troubling, divided times we can still come together over Duke losing. Let the healing begin
— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) March 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/JasonKirkSBN/status/843660572797419520
When you're Duke. pic.twitter.com/Ij0uMflATz
— Yaya Dubin (@JADubin5) March 20, 2017
Every Duke fan rn pic.twitter.com/9xpuBAj05J
— dray⚡️ (@draytonsiegling) March 20, 2017
At least Duke fans have Cleveland Cavaliers basketball and New York Yankees baseball to look forward to
— Harry Lyles Jr. (@harrylylesjr) March 20, 2017
I was so unprepared for this I don't even have a Duke joke
— RCT (@rockchalktalk) March 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/Bro_Pair/status/843661147865792512
Everyone on Twitter waiting to give #Duke this L like..#marchmadness pic.twitter.com/Dphk2hLznH
— Mike (@mike_h1990) March 20, 2017
Duke slander on the TL pic.twitter.com/VTfzrMZkM3
— 156 nights crazy™ (@UnoCincoUno) March 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/Corey_BC/status/843661176831524864
While there were many more reactions to Duke’s unforeseen loss, a particular meme made the rounds and it stemmed from an incredulous reaction to a foul call from Luke Kennard. Kennard has enjoyed a fantastic season as one of the best players in the country but, in this case, he was an easy target.
https://twitter.com/MattSBN/status/843661327612698624
when the stupid pre-frosh doesn't know that the proper name for a casual shoe for yachting is a blucher pic.twitter.com/wdvMAU2TNP
— Dan Devine (@YourManDevine) March 20, 2017
"why are they ruining my favorite flute melody with rapping!?" pic.twitter.com/6fSHDYhWw5
— tim cato (@tim_cato) March 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/MattSBN/status/843662313957855232
"Who closes a Ralph Lauren store before 9pm???" pic.twitter.com/OW6XJziIAE
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) March 20, 2017
When Chris gets out of the sunken place and escapes in Get Out pic.twitter.com/uGUW9gUd6u
— Harry Lyles Jr. (@harrylylesjr) March 20, 2017
I WAS TOLD BY APPLE CARE pic.twitter.com/USTsbefRuw
— whitney medworth (@its_whitney) March 20, 2017
FEMALE ghostbusters?? pic.twitter.com/c538icYjLz
— Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC) March 20, 2017
And, finally, Crying Jordan appeared.
https://twitter.com/CowboyOnPatrol/status/843658289992925185
Duke’s exit from the NCAA Tournament is appointment viewing for many sports fans across the country and that wide swath of the basketball-watching community got a bunch of shots up in the immediate aftermath of the 2017 edition.
