Duke’s Final Four Collapse Sparks a Surge of White Lotus Memes
Duke’s men’s basketball team seemed set to secure a spot in the NCAA championship after establishing a commanding 14-point lead against Houston in the Final Four. However, in a surprising turn of events, the Blue Devils saw that advantage slip away — along with their dreams of a title. Houston executed a remarkable comeback, concluding Duke’s tournament journey in an agonizing manner.
While the defeat was devastating for Duke supporters, it ushered in a prime chance for online humor — particularly for fans of HBO’s The White Lotus.
In the current season of the acclaimed series, Timothy Ratliff (portrayed by Jason Isaacs) is a fallen financier unraveling in Thailand as his wrongdoings are revealed back in the U.S. One aspect that has caught attention? Ratliff is often depicted spiraling while donning a Duke t-shirt — a clear allusion to his alma mater.
Thus, when Duke’s basketball squad faltered on the court, the memes practically created themselves. Social media overflowed with White Lotus images and jokes linking Ratliff’s fictional collapse to Duke’s real-world misfortune. The meme phenomenon grew so prevalent that it even initiated gags about the jokes’ pervasiveness.
Although numerous viral tweets have since been deleted or are no longer accessible, their influence was widespread across platforms — a perfect blend of pop culture and athletic disappointment.
Not all found the humor entertaining, however. Duke University itself has voiced concerns regarding its depiction in The White Lotus. Frank Tramble, Duke’s Vice President for Communications, Marketing, and Public Affairs, stated to The New York Times:
“Duke values artistic expression and inventive storytelling. However, characters prominently displaying apparel featuring Duke’s federally registered trademarks creates confusion and mistakenly implies an endorsement or connection where none exists.”
Regardless of the university’s concerns, the internet has made its choice known — and the memes are here to stay.