Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron

Episode: "Hour 3: Duke Hate Club"

Date: March 29, 2026
Hosts: Matt Jones & Myron Medcalf
Guest: Aaron Goldhammer
Network: ESPN Radio

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the persistent phenomenon of "Duke hate" in college basketball, centering on whether Duke University remains as reviled post-Coach K era as it was during his reign. The conversation—lively, irreverent, and tinged with rivalry—brings in callers from across the country to settle the debate. Along the way, the hosts detour through bachelorette party hotspots, touch on college basketball's blue blood hierarchy, react to NBA storylines (notably Luka Doncic's temperament), and lighten the vibe with their signature banter and a Supreme Court metaphor for fan polling.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Bachelorette Party Culture Observations (00:25–02:43)

• Topic kick-off: The hour starts with a lighthearted discussion about unusual bachelor/bachelorette party stories, particularly those taking place in Nashville and Savannah—now seen as America’s prime bachelorette party destinations.
• Myron Medcalf: “If your fiancée says she and the girls are going to Nashville for a last hurrah, just know that includes making out with a guy in a trucker hat at Kid Rock's bar.” (02:09)
• The hosts paint these rituals as new Americana, funny and slightly disconcerting.

2. Is Duke Still the Most Hated Program in College Basketball? (02:50–19:39)

The Debate

• Aaron Goldhammer launches the central debate by suggesting Duke isn't as hateable as in the Coach K days:

  "Well, I don't think there is hateable as they used to be because I think a lot of that was driven by Coach K... I just think over the course of the last five years with Coach K's retirement, with the way one and done and NIL have changed college basketball, I don't know that Duke is in the top five most hated brands in sports the way they used to be." (03:46)

• Myron Medcalf emphatically rebuts, arguing Duke is the enduring "Evil Empire":

  "Would you have hated the Empire less if Darth Vader retired?... Duke is the evil empire. The hatred should continue... Hating Duke basketball is as American as sliced bread and Lee Greenwood." (04:43)

The Call-In Poll ("Supreme Court-style")

• Myron opens the phone lines: "888-SAY-ESPN. Do you still hate Duke?" (06:03)
• The tally quickly piles up in favor of hate, with passionate responses from fans across the country:
  • "Oh, yeah. ...I will never forget growing up watching Coach K on the sidelines and thinking that he looked like the Duke mascot." — Zach, Kansas City (08:14)
  • "Even when I lived in southern California, I hated Duke and I still hate Duke and I hate their fans." — Woody, North Carolina (08:39)
  • "Duke is the absolute worst." — Kentucky caller (10:09)
  • Myron gleefully counts the votes live, using a faux Supreme Court metric.

    "With Alito and Thomas in dissent. Duke is hate. So Sotomayor has written the opinion. It is 7–2. Duke is hateable." (11:55)

Changing Duke Brand?

• Aaron argues the program's “brand” has shifted:

  "Now it's sons of NBA players and one and dones... it's nepotism." (13:08)

• Myron: "If there's one thing people like—it's nepo babies." (13:14)

Counter Calls and National Geographic Bias

• In a second round of calls, a few defend Duke (a rare breed), but the hate still wins the day—ending "14 to 7," which Myron declares as meaning 66% of America hates Duke. (19:46)
• Notably, one pro-Duke caller says, "They graduate men who are well spoken," which Myron ribs as a backhanded compliment. (11:13)
• Another: “I love Duke y’all tripping.” (11:50)
• Myron jokes about regional biases: “This is why we don't want Maine to be a state.” (14:41)

Memorable quote:

• Myron: “Duke is hated.” (19:39)

3. College Basketball Coaching Legends and the Carolina Job (21:42–27:40)

• Myron recounts attending the East Regional in D.C., sitting with Stanford Steve—a highlight for him (“Stanford Steve is exactly what you think... as nice and cool as you would think he is.” (21:10))
• The conversation pivots to the continued excellence of Rick Pitino and his place in college basketball’s pantheon:

  “You could make a strong argument that he's the best college basketball coach of all time.” (22:08)

• Discussion on challenges and intrigue surrounding the North Carolina head coaching vacancy:
  • Aaron notes outsiders have never led the program and it’s a loaded position to inherit.
  • Myron: “I actually think this is the first time the Carolina job has ever been open, like, ever.” (25:52)
  • Speculation about possible hires: Tommy Lloyd, Billy Donovan. “If you are Billy Donovan, would you take the job at Carolina? I would.” — Aaron (27:36)

4. NBA Segment: Luka’s Technicals & Lakers Playoff Prospects (27:40–31:19)

• Brief dive into Luka Doncic’s on-court demeanor and the Lakers’ playoff chances:
  • Aaron: “Luka is a very difficult player to root for because he is so petulant. He complains about everything at all times.” (28:29)
  • Myron: “There's something about the way Luka does it that makes me hate it a lot more than when Jokic does it. And I don’t know what that is.” (29:12)
  • Aaron believes Luka’s attitude directly impacts team culture and performance:

    “It affects the way he plays the next play in a way I've never seen any other athlete allow.” (29:48) “He does it in a very entitled way... because I'm me, I’m entitled to get every call.” (30:04)

• The segment closes humorously comparing Luka to a character from the musical "Book of Mormon."

5. "Take Your Pick": Picks and Predictions (33:31–39:54)

• The crew—after a mini-debacle over sharing a single ESPN iPad—runs through rapid predictions for NCAA men’s and women’s games, NBA matchups, and MLB games.
• Notable choices:
  • Men’s NCAA:
    • Matt: Michigan over Tennessee; Duke over UConn (with hesitation).
    • Aaron: Agrees on Michigan; UConn over Duke (“Predicting overtime.”)
  • Women’s NCAA:
    • UConn women to cruise, UCLA over Duke women.
  • NBA:
    • Both pick Celtics and Thunder over their respective opponents.
  • MLB:
    • Both favor Red Sox over Reds; split on Guardians vs. Mariners.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Duke is the evil empire. The hatred should continue... Hating Duke basketball is as American as sliced bread and Lee Greenwood.” — Myron Medcalf (04:43)
• “They think that they discovered basketball. They think basketball began when Christian Laettner met Grant Hill.” — Myron Medcalf (07:06)
• “If Mark Zuckerberg were to have a child to play basketball, what school is he going to? He's going to Duke.” — Myron Medcalf (13:30)
• “You talk about a guy that loves, loves, loves college basketball—[Stanford Steve] is exactly what you think.” — Matt Jones (21:10)
• “Luka is a very difficult player to root for—so petulant, complains about everything at all times.” — Aaron Goldhammer (28:29)
• “If you meet a woman and get married, she's going to Nashville or Savannah for her bachelorette party.” — Myron Medcalf (01:09)
• Supreme Court framing of caller poll: “The majority has ruled 7:2. With Alito and Thomas in dissent. Duke is hate. Sotomayor has written the opinion.” — Myron Medcalf (11:55)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Bachelorette party riff: 00:25–02:43
• Duke hate debate intro: 02:50
• Aaron’s pitch that Duke’s brand has changed: 03:46
• Myron’s “Evil Empire” analogy: 04:43
• Phone poll (first round): 06:03–11:55
• Debate over “nepo babies” in Duke’s new era: 13:08
• Phone poll (second round): 14:37–19:39
• Totals and Supreme Court joke: 19:46
• Stanford Steve & coaching legends: 21:10–25:00
• UNC job search discussion: 25:00–27:40
• NBA: Luka/Lakers chatter: 27:40–31:19
• Take Your Pick (game predictions): 33:31–39:54

Tone & Style

• Conversational, irreverent, and steeped in sports culture and Americana
• Heavy use of playful banter, rivalry jabs, and listener engagement
• Self-aware, with frequent fourth-wall breaking about radio production and sports talk cliches

Summary Takeaway

This episode is a quintessential showcase of sports radio at its best: fiery debates, deeply entrenched rivalries, participation from colorful listeners, and a hearty sense of humor. The thesis was clear—Duke hatred remains a foundational pillar of college basketball fandom, regardless of changes in the program or the passing of Coach K. And if you disagree, just let the Supreme Court-style poll decide.