This year's NCAA tournament is really going to miss Duke

This is the Morning Win, by Andy Nesbitt.

The 2021 men’s college basketball tournament field became official Sunday night with the release of the bracket on CBS and things just felt good knowing we’re going to have a tournament this year.

But you know what? This tournament is going to feel a bit weird because of one of the teams that isn’t there.

I’m talking about Duke, of course, as the Blue Devils didn’t make the cut after a mediocre season came to an abrupt end due to COVID-19 precautions at the ACC Tournament.

This is the first time that either Duke or Kentucky are not in the tournament for the first time since 1976!

When it comes to Duke I know what you’re thinking – lots of bad words followed by the world Duke. Lots of people hate Duke’s guts and love nothing more than seeing Coach K’s team lose, especially in March. I totally get that.

And that is exactly why this year’s tournament is going to miss Duke. This tournament needs a villain and Duke has always been happy to play that role.

Just think – we’re not going to have that Sunday afternoon/early evening Duke second-round game where they are trailing late and Twitter is just going off with Duke jokes.

We’re not going to have those moments of fans of different schools coming together for a few hours in March to root against the Blue Devils.

We’re not going to see a sad Coach K looking sad on the sideline as his team falls short.

And that stinks.

Sports are always better when there is a villain involved. Just look at this year’s Super Bowl when Tom Brady played that role yet again. It added so much more that game and that experience.

Duke does that just by taking the court in March. It’s fun keeping an eye on their score and tuning over to their game for the last 5 minutes of a close game because you want to be a part of an experience (and many of you want to see a team a lose). That’s powerful and it’s something no other team in college basketball can make you feel.

We’re going to miss seeing Duke play in the next couple of days. We’re going to feel a bit empty while we watch this year’s tournament. But we’re still going to have fun because there’s nothing like March Madness.

I just think it’s better for all of us when Duke is involved.

Quick hits: 3 NCAA upsets to watch… 7 teams that could win the tournament… 7 things you should know before filling out your bracket… And more. 

– Steven Ruiz has three upsets that you should pick in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

– Bryan Kalbrosky has the seven teams that could win it all.

– Steven Ruiz also has seven very important things you should know before picking your bracket.

– Drew Brees and his kids found a great way to announce his retirement from the NFL on Sunday.

– Tom Brady and other NFL stars paid tributes to Drew Brees after his retirement.

– Bryson DeChambeau topped a drive into the water on Sunday and golf fans had lots of jokes.

– One golfer could only laugh at how bad of a shot he hit on the 17th hole Sunday at TPC Sawgrass.