The Evil Empire of college basketball? I bet you’re thinking Duke University because the Blue Devils are the team everyone loves to hate. But if you take a closer look, you might see the aggressiveness, passion and successful results. Duke might be the most hated team in college basketball, but I hope I can change your mind.

Duke has won five NCAA championships and has appeared in 11 championship games and 16 Final Four appearances. There are also 18 former Blue Devils who have played in the National Basketball Association. Three Blue Devils coached by Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski have even won NBA championships including Kyrie Irving with the Cleveland Cavaliers last season (Danny Ferry with the Spurs in 2003 and Shane Battier with the Heat in 2012).

I think Duke’s program does a great job of getting their players ready for the NBA. Duke’s teams play with a lot of passion and aggression because they have been very successful, and that is because of Coach K and his will to win.

Krzyzewski’s love for Duke basketball started in 1980-81, his first season as the Duke coach. Since then he has led the Blue Devils to 970 wins and 262 losses in 36 seasons.

Coach K gets his team ready in the off-season by doing a lot of footwork drills, sand ladders, and sled-resisted back pedals. Those are just a few drills they do, in their three-hour practices from 1:30 to 4:35 each afternoon.

When the U.S. Olympic committee chose Coach K as the Olympic coach, they knew he could deal with all the NBA stars and win another gold medal as a team and not just famous individuals.

So even if you still hate Coach K, Duke’s basketball program, and the university, you have to admit they’re one of the elite teams in college baskeball. They are contenders for the NCAA championship almost every year. They have had many players go on to better things in their lives and have proven that they are a force to be reckoned with in college basketball. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, but you have to respect their legacy.