NCAA Basketball: Top 10 historical rivalries up through 2018-19
By Zac Voynow
1. North Carolina vs. Duke
When you think of NCAA basketball, you think of North Carolina vs. Duke. They’re two of the all-time best programs in the nation. They play each other twice per year, and both games are must watch. Every time UNC beats Duke, Franklin Street in Chapel Hill becomes a block party that’s much bigger than just a block. Every time Duke beats UNC, the old church-like school in Durham because a wild outdoor party that doesn’t stop for days.
There’s too many great players that have been involved in this rivalry to name them all. Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, James Worthy, Sam Perkins, Tylers Hansborough, and Antawn Jamison are just a few to name for the Tar Heels. Christian Laettner, Bobby Hurley, Nolan Smith, JJ Redick, Carlos Boozer, Grant Hill, and Elton Brand are a few all-time collegiate greats to name for Duke.
Tobacco Road is the best place in the country for college basketball hands down. Only on Tobacco Road does a team with two national titles not even get a chance to enter the conversation of best team in the area. From Art Heyman punching Larry Brown to Tyler Hansborough’s bloody nose courtesy of Gerald Henderson’s elbow, this rivalry has literally has blood shed on multiple occasions. It started way back with coaching great Dean Smith, but really enhanced with Coach K joined Duke’s sidelines.
On March 4th, 2006, #13 UNC came into Cameron Indoor to take on #1 Duke on Senior night. Duke was honoring JJ Redick and Sheldon Williams pregame, but the celebration didn’t last long. Carolina beat Duke by double-digits in the most watched college basketball game in ESPN history. Did I mention it was a regular season game? It had more viewers than any postseason game ESPN has ever broadcast.
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North Carolina has six national titles, Duke has five. North Carolina has been to 20 final fours, Duke has been to 16. North Carolina has 137 games in the series, while Duke has won 111. The comparisons can go on and on, with each statistic becoming more and more incredible. Without a doubt, the Tobacco Road rivalry will and always be the greatest rivalry in college sports.