<p>
</p>
<p>I’d say it’s because they are a basketball powerhouse and therefore they are in “conflict” more often with the schools most people identify with – that is, the state U.
I think Duke’s reputation for preppiness/snobbiness was really cemented with their Christian Laettner-led championship team and their contrast with UNLV and Michigan’s Fab 5. You can’t look any more preppy than Laettner. </p>
<p>I think their arrogant reputation is overrated, though. Is the Duke student body more arrogant than the Harvard student body? Not in my experience.</p>