Ellen Ozier / Reuters file

Who would of thought that Mike Krzyzewski and Duke could play the role of spoiler in the NCAA Tournament this year?

This is one of the NHL’s problems — it doesn’t have a team that everybody either loves or hates, a team that can gather and focus national attention.

The Rangers, Bruins, Canadiens and Maple Leafs could fill that role, but it’s been so long since any of those teams were powerful, it’s no fun beating them.

The NHL does have consistently great teams, led by the Red Wings and the Devils, but, while Detroit has a little national juice, the Devils have none. Even within the league they’re criticized and dismissed because they dare to play defense. When the power teams are Buffalo, Nashville, New Jersey and Anaheim, as they are this year, you’re not going to generate any interest among non-fans and casual fans. It may not be fair, but that’s the way it is.

So that’s another thing that Duke has going for – and against –it. It’s not just the premier program, it’s a premier school whose students can with justification view themselves as a cut above the rest. And everybody else’s students can view them as snobs who need to be taken down a notch.

Duke will be back. Of that there’s no question. But they’re down this year, occupying the same spot in brackets as Vanderbilt. In their place are Ohio State and Florida. We need that; need the Dukes of the world to have a down year now and then so that other teams can have the joy of beating them and the excitement of having an actual shot at the prize.

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