Ghosts of NCAA Dunk Past: Dahntay Jones for Duke (w/ video)
By Daniel Tran
Duke. For 90% of the college basketball watching nation, that single word sends an angry shiver wrought with hate down the spine. Coincidentally, that same 90% of the population also hates pure entertainment.
Over the years, the Duke Blue Devils became arguably the best college basketball program ever and, as a result, have made themselves the most hated basketball program in all of college basketball. Success begets jealously.
Not that the Blue Devils have done themselves any favors. Christian Laettner stomping on Kentucky’s Aminu Timberlake, Steve Wojciechowski slapping the court incessantly on defense, and the Cameron Crazies doing their thing only scratches the surface of why a lot of the nation hates Duke. However, this begs the following question: how are you not entertained?
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For as cocky as they are, there should be no argument that they do not make college basketball better to follow. How many of you have turned on a Duke game for the sole purpose of maybe seeing them choke a lead away or even just to see them reaffirm your hate with a well-timed three or seeing head coach Mike Krzyzewski howl at the ear of an official? Yeah, that’s what I thought.
One of the games you may have tuned into was Duke vs. Virginia on February 15, 2003. Dahntay Jones would make a play that encompassed everything that people loved about the Blue Devils and other people hate about the Blue Devils.
Duke led 70-57 with 3:03 left in the second half. The Blue Devils were inbounding from the sideline with 5 seconds left. The ball was thrown to Jones on the wing where he was immediately triple teamed by the Cavaliers hoping to force turnover or bad shot. Neither happened.
Jones found a seam in between two of the Cavalier defenders, went in between them, and found himself with a basically a clear path to the basket. I say basically because Virginia center Nick Vander Laan came over to help. As you will see, it really didn’t matter.
Have you ever wondered why you never hear about Nick Vander Laan? It’s because Dahntay Jones erased him that year. When it comes to greatest facial dunks in college basketball history, Jones on Vander Laan is always mentioned not only because of the dunk itself, but also because of the very Duke celebration afterward by Jones.
It wasn’t enough for Jones to do pushups after the dunk. He had to do them on top of Vander Laan. If that’s not arrogance personified, I don’t know what is. To his credit, at least he didn’t try to injure anyone (that would come later).
All the Duke elements were there. A clever offensive move, great athleticism to complete the play, and a little showboating to really drive the point home that you just got clowned. Sounds like it’s just Duke being Duke. And people should embrace it.
Like with any movie or television, you need a villain. A common enemy you need in order to rally with others to root against. You might be afraid to admit it, but you need Duke. As much as you love a team to root for, you’re going to need a team to root against, the Empire to your Rebel Alliance.
Though you may hate them for their antics and sterling record of success, at least appreciate them for what they bring to college basketball: something to always look forward to. Your team may not be winning, but hey, at least Duke has a shot at losing too. Who knows, maybe you’ll witness another moment of athletic brilliance followed up by a show of typical Duke arrogance.
How classless, right? Wrong. It’s just plain entertaining and you know it.