By: Ben McCormick
October 21, 2022
There was a different energy this year at Countdown to Craziness. There were empty seats, only a handful of fans staying after for autographs, and a noticeably lower volume. It's the same program... but there's no Coach K. It's the first event since the team suffered one of its most heartbreaking losses ever to North Carolina in the Final Four. Jon Scheyer's team seemingly was not met with quite the same enthusiasm as usual. The thought racing through my brain was "you have to earn it", even at Duke.
In the first Countdown to Craziness post Coach K, the Blue Devils have eleven new players, a new head coach, new assistant coach, and only one player back who played meaningful minutes. The Crazies were still electric, don't get me wrong. But it seems like the everyday Duke fan is having a little trouble getting behind the new era.
In years past a sold out Cameron Indoor Stadium has erupted for popular players like Zion Williamson or Grayson Allen. Perhaps this team doesn't have a popular icon like that. And maybe that is why the enthusiasm seemed a little low at times. Or maybe it's a reflection of a changing of eras.
Having been to Countdown to Craziness every year since 2011, this year's was not the same. And maybe that's the biggest takeaway. It's still Duke. But Duke Basketball isn't quite the same as it was with Coach K at the head. For better or for worse. And nobody can say which yet.
Comments