If the standard is "compete well" and make a run once every 10-20 years, then sure...it can be done.
But to compare the state of Stanford or ND football with, say, Alabama, LSU, OSU, FSU, or the other football factories is simply not legit. There is a WORLD of separation between them.
As for Duke, they are benefiting from what IU had for so many years: a singular genius of a basketball coach. Because he is such an iconic brand, Krzyzewski transcends the normal rules of the game. Duke will struggle when he leaves, albeit not as much as IU has struggled since RMK was fired.
And let's not pretend that Duke is pure as the driven snow. Remember the $90,000 jewelry "loan" one of their players on the NC team got a few years ago? Remember how it got mysteriously repaid and the story just died. Yeah. Compliance.