As the No. 2 Blue Devils (12-1, 2-0) begin their long quest in defending its Atlantic Coast Conference title this week, it is important for Duke basketball fans to remind themselves to take a step back and appreciate the trials and tribulations of each season, for it is generally in those moments where young teams "grow up" the most.
Duke's loss to Stephen F. Austin on Nov. 26 in Cameron Indoor Stadium, which ended a 150-game non-conference home winning streak, had a Thanos-like-snap effect on the college basketball world.
As the doubters poured in from every corner of the country, and they are no doubt still there, all Duke did was go out and remedy its faults and take care of business.