The real truth is that Duke hasn't lost its luster. This was just a down year.

No one outside of Lexington, Kentucky talks about the demise of the Wildcats (although they might when they lose to Villanova later today). No one spoke this season about the demise of Connecticut. They all gave the excuse that they were a young team. No one spoke of the demise of Syracuse, although the Orange had trouble winning at home for the first time in my memory (I spoke of it, but did anyone listen?).

So why does one loss signal the end of a Duke dynasty which will likely be right back on top next season.

Let's not forget that over the past four years, Duke has seen an exodus of players to the NBA unlike any it has seen in the past. Last year, the team had to count on JJ Redick and Shelden Williams almost exclusively when they should have still had players like Luol Deng still roaming the floor as a third option. You don't think it would have been nice to have a senior Deng this year? Or if Eric Boateng hadn't transferred, maybe Duke would have had a more flexible inside game?

The core of this team is still young. They managed to win games with a majority of their core team being underclassmen. They have great size coming in next season to help shore up the middle. So why should we worry about this Duke team?

The truth is we shouldn't. And we shouldn't exaggerate a single loss like Freeman did.

Embarrassing was the word of the night as this was one of the worst losses in modern Blue Devils basketball history.

One of the worst losses? They lost by two to a very good team that didn't get any publicity at all. They didn't play well, but there is no shame in losing to this VCU team who was in the final top 25 of the MRI for this season. Should Duke be embarrassed? Maybe, considering some of the play on the court, but not because of this loss, a loss to a team which was primarily built from the sweat of a former Duke player, Jeff Capel, now the coach at Oklahoma.

Here was Mike Krzyzewski getting thoroughly out-coached by Anthony Grant

No one out-coaches Coach K. His players might have been outplayed, but no one coaches a game more fiercely and intelligently today than Coach K. Period.

Now, the Blue Devils dynasty is officially done after suffering its first opening-round loss in over a decade. Goodnight, Dukies. You're not much better than Rutgers.

Rutgers? Really? I think Duke deserves a little more credit than Rutgers. And the dynasty is not over. Every dynasty has an off year here and there. The Chicago Bulls, the Green Bay Packers, and the New York Yankees all did. But no one called the end of their dynasties in their off years. And they came back to rise from the "ashes" just like Duke will.

The old Duke is dead. The new Duke is just another team.

No, this Duke team will be in the Top 10 next season, just like this year. The new Duke team will make a Sweet 16 run again next season. The new Duke team will not see another first round exit.

However, Mike Freeman should make an exit from his sensationalist journalism.

Copyright 2007 by MRISports.com. Ben Miraski writes for MRISports.com and is a featured blogger on FanIQ. Readers can contact Ben at bmiraski@mrisports.com