UNC-Duke Rivalry Throughout the Years

Photo: Sports Illustrated

Today is the big day.  For the first time this season, the basketball teams of the University of North Carolina and Duke University will meet up, renewing a rivalry that many consider the best rivalry in sports.  It is particularly important here in North Carolina, but folks from all around the country will be tuned in tonight to see these two schools that are ten miles apart battle it out on the basketball court.  In honor of it being gameday, and the magnitude of this rivalry, I wanted to take a look at the series history between the two rival schools.

The First Meeting

January 24, 1920: UNC 38, Duke 25

All-Time Series Record

UNC 137, Duke 111

Longest Win Streak

UNC: 16 games (1921-1928)

Largest Victory

UNC: 37 points (1921)

Photo: WRALSportsFan.com

Memorable Games

March 2, 1974:

Duke led by 8 points with 17 seconds life, when a steal and a turnover led to a couple of quick baskets.  After a missed Duke free throw, Carolina’s Walter Davis hit a 30-foot bank shot to force overtime.  Carolina would win 96-92 in overtime.

February 24, 1979:

After the first half, the score was 7-0 in favor of the Blue Devils.  In one of the strangest games in the history of college basketball, Carolina took just two shots in the half, as they resorted to Dean Smith’s famous four-corners offense.  The second half was played much faster and resulted in a 47-40 Duke victory, as senior Jim Spanarkel scored a game-high 17 points.  Duke coach Bill Foster was none too happy with Dean Smith, quoting, “I thought Naismith invented basketball, not Dean Smith.”

February 28, 1981:

This was the last game of Coach K’s first year at Duke.  Carolina got out to an early lead, before going cold and allowing Duke back into the game.  It then remained a close game for the remainder, as the two teams traded buckets back and forth.  Carolina led 58-56 with two seconds left to play, but it was enough time for Duke to inbound it and hit a shot to force overtime.  Once in overtime, Gene Banks hit a bank shot to give Duke the 66-65 victory.

March 3, 1984:

This one was the final home game for Tar Heel legends Michael Jordan and Sam Perkins.  It was nearly a UNC loss, but after a missed free throw and a full-court pass, Matt Doherty hit a last second shot to force overtime.  It would then go into a second overtime, where Jordan and Perkins took over to give Carolina a 96-83 victory.  Michael Jordan had 25 points.

February 5, 1992:

This game notably sums up the rivalry with blood and broken bones.  Carolina’s Eric Montross had taken a couple of vicious elbows to the face late in the game and had to sink a pair of free throws with blood running down his face.  Duke’s Bobby Hurley broke his foot during the game, but kept playing.  It was a back and forth, intense matchup that saw Carolina edge Duke 75-73.  It was Duke’s first loss of the season.

February 28, 1998:

Duke was down 64-47 with 12 minutes to play when freshman Elton Brand led the comeback.  They finally tied the game with two minutes remaining, leading Carolina to make bad decisions with the ball.  Duke would go on to win the game 77-75, giving them the ACC regular season title and Coach K his 500th career victory.

March 6, 2005:

Personally, this is my favorite game played between Carolina and Duke.  With the ACC regular season championship on the line, and in front of the largest crowd to see a college game on-campus in the history of the state, North Carolina had to fight back from a 73-64 deficit with just over three minutes remaining.  After a turnover and some misses from the Blue Devils, Carolina clawed their way back.  Raymond Felton was fouled attempting to tie the game with 19 seconds left, where he made the first free throw, but missed the second.  Marvin Williams got the offensive rebound, went back up with it, making the shot and getting fouled in the process, sending the historic crowd into pandemonium.  Duke’s JJ Redick missed a three pointer at the end and Carolina held on to preserve the victory 75-73.  (video below)

February 8, 2012:

Whereas the previous game was my fondest memory of the matchup, this one is my least favorite memory.  It looked like it was going to be a pretty sure win for the Tar Heels, as they led by double digits for most of the second half.  But with just over two minutes remaining, a couple of threes from Duke quickly put them right back in the game.  With 14 seconds left, a missed Duke three pointer led to an accidental Tyler Zeller tip-in, which gave Duke a free two points.  After Zeller missed a free throw that would have given Carolina a three-point lead, Duke guard Austin Rivers hit a last second three-pointer that gave the Blue Devils an 85-84 win.

There have been many more memorable matchups between these two teams throughout the years, and almost every time they play it is a very close game.  Tonight’s game should be no different.  Maybe tonight something special will happen that will make the game a lasting memory for college basketball fans everywhere.  Stay tuned, because Carolina-Duke rarely disappoints.

Garett