Is This Saturday’s Matchup the Most Unwatchable UNC-Duke Matchup Ever?

It’s that time of year again. February is here which means the ACC basketball schedule is right in the thick of things and it’s time for the most anticipated matchup on everyone’s calendar…North Carolina versus Duke. It’s a game that fans from both sides, along with college basketball fans around the country, make sure they don’t miss. And for Tar Heel and Blue Devil fans, the magnitude is equivalent to the Super Bowl. A Super Bowl that happens twice a year, and sometimes if we’re lucky, three times. But this year is different and I don’t think anyone will disagree. The first matchup between these rival schools will take place this Saturday evening, but instead of feeling like a Super Bowl, it feels more like the Belk Bowl that takes place between two very mediocre college football teams in Charlotte every December.

For starters, this game won’t be the same because of Covid. Let’s just go ahead and get that out of the way so we can move on to other reasons this game won’t be as good. But because of Covid not allowing crowd attendance basically at any event, the game will be played at an empty Cameron Indoor Stadium this Saturday. And while that is an advantage to Carolina (and I’m a Carolina fan), I don’t want to see that. I hate Duke and their annoying “Cameron Crazies,” but that’s part of what makes the rivalry great. I like to hate them. That’s how it’s supposed to be from fanbases of both sides. So, taking away the crowd takes away from the atmosphere of the entire game and rivalry. It just won’t feel the same watching it. It won’t feel as intense or as important.

Additionally, and strangely, both teams aren’t any good. I don’t think I’ve ever been able to say that in my lifetime, and if I have then I don’t remember when. But both teams are unranked and at risk of not even making the NCAA Tournament in March. Carolina is in a better position than Duke, but if they lose too many more games, especially in ugly fashion like last night’s game to Clemson, then it will be NIT for them. They are 11-6 overall and 6-4 in the ACC. Duke is just one game over .500 with a 7-6 overall record and a 5-4 ACC record. It’s so strange that both of these teams are this bad.

Lastly, both of these teams lack star power. If you ask the average college basketball fan (not a UNC or Duke fan) to name players from both of these teams, then the response would be a short one. There’s not many players from either school that are worth remembering. Pretty much every year both schools, or at least one, has a few big time players that are very exciting to watch. These players make this matchup even more fun to watch. But not this year. There’s not one single player from either team that is a must-watch.

As a Carolina fan, I’ll watch the game because that’s just what you do. I try to watch as many games as I can throughout the season because it’s still Carolina basketball. And the Duke game is always a special one, no matter the circumstance. But this year it will be significantly less special and that is such a shame. I’ve been treated to so many good matchups over the years between these two teams, some heartbreaks and some exhilarating wins, to last a lifetime for the average college basketball fan of another team. I guess we can’t get the most exciting matchups every year.

Garett