Duke Fans Could Learn a Lot from Axel Rose

Namely patience.

While driving home from work the other day I heard the Guns N' Roses ballad "Patience", and while listening to the lyrics,  I was hit by some similarities to Duke and its passionate fanbase.

If patience is a virtue then there are quite a few Duke fans out there these days who are less virtuous due to not having that characteristic.

It has gotten progressively worse in the last decade since the '01 National Title.

Duke fans are almost as anxious as the Kentucky fans to get back on top that they would just as soon fast forward through next year than think about it. Although UK isn't looking to fast forward anything right now.

I'll admit, next year's Duke team has a lot of question marks, but it is hardly worth overlooking.

Many fans are discussing 2010 as the dawn of a new day for Duke, to coin a phrase from the football team.

What doesn't make any sense to me is the fact that Duke is coming off a season where they won 30 games and appeared in the Sweet 16. That is a good year by my understanding.

They are also returning a strong and veteran nucleus, so what gives?

Unlike GNR fans who waited for more than a decade for the highly anticipated "Chinese Democracy" album, Duke fans haven't had to wait 10-plus years to see a good Duke team.

Granted there haven't been any National Title winners since '01, but there have been plenty of good teams.

Listen to some Duke fans these days and the talk is about Harrison Barnes, Brandon Knight, Kyrie Irving, and the rest of the recruits who have already signed on in 2010.

There has been little discussion of this coming year's Duke teams since the decision by Gerald Henderson to go pro and John Wall to follow seemingly every other recruit in this years class to Kentucky.

How many scholarships do they have again?

What we do know is Duke will be big, less athletic, and not very deep at the guard position, and with no real true point guard on the roster.

Duke is bringing in two seemingly solid players in Ryan Kelly and Mason Plumlee. Will they be All-Americans? Only time will tell.

They aren't expected be sure-fire superstars right away, but they don't have to be for Duke to be a good team—one at least worthy of noting.

They bring back John Scheyer, Nolan Smith, and Kyle Singler as potential big-time scorers. They also have sophomore Elliot Williams who is athletic and came on strong at the end of last season.

He can help fill the void left by Henderson, although not completely. Duke is lacking depth at the guard position, but will be able to experiment some with its size next year.

Coach K has had a lot of success experimenting with different lineups. Next year is no different. He will see it as a challenge and we all know he enjoys a good challenge.

He has admitted he will go big, probably having Singler play a lot more three and away from the basket.

I wouldn't at all be surprised to see him go small and quick given the right matchup.

I could envision, if only for a short time with a given pool of teams, Duke going small. I could see all three of their guards in the game at once with Singler at the four and Lance Thomas or one of the Plumlees at the 4/5.

But this plays into that wonderful game of Ifs. As fans we should enjoy looking forward to those possibilities regardless of how slim.

Yet, many are more worried about Krzyzewski signing up for another stint as Olympic Coach or what recruits are coming or not coming.

College basketball is changing, and along with it some of the old traditions, the patience of its fa bases are waining.

Coach K will adjust, Duke will adjust, now it is up to the fans to adjust and be a little patient.

In closing, I'm going to end with a few re-written lyrics to that old GNR song just for those Duke fans who are lamenting next season.

Shed a tear 'cause I'm missin' G
It's still alright to smile
Guys, We think about you every day now
Was a time when We weren't too sure
But K set our minds at ease
There is no doubt
You're in our hearts now

Said, Dukies, you'll be slow
But Coack K will be just fine
All you need is just a little patience
Said, Dukies, you'll be slow
But you'll come together fine
All you need is just a little patience
(patience)