Duke vs North Carolina: 25 best games ever in the Tobacco Road rivalry
By Bryan Mauro
25. 03/08/2014
This was the last game that Jabari Parker would ever play in the rivalry and his last game at Cameron Indoor. Parker was the catalyst for one of the better games in this rivalry. The star guard scored 30 points in a game in which Duke never trailed. Parker did something else that night he also passed the torch to another Duke guard named Quinn Cook. Cook was huge in this game down the stretch and his effort along with Parker would never let North Carolina get any closer. Duke wins 93-81.
24. 02/05/2004
The Matt Doherty era had come to an end and North Carolina. The new Tar Heel head coach Roy Williams got his first taste of the rivalry. This one would end in heartbreak for the Tar Heels. North Carolina blew a seven-point lead with just under six minutes to go. This was especially heartbreaking considering the game was in Chapel Hill. Sheldon Williams was exceptional for the Blue Devils. He had 22 points, 12 rebounds, and five blocks.
He was great the whole game, but he was at another level down the stretch. The big man was a huge reason the game was sent to Overtime. In the extra period, the big man had two of his five blocks and both came at a crucial time in the game to help propel Duke to a victory. The Blue Devils left the Tar Heels and new head coach Roy Williams with a sour taste after a come from behind 83-81 win in Overtime.
23. 02/20/2014
It isn’t often that both teams are not ranked when they play. That was the case for North Carolina. They were the unranked team and Duke was the ranked team with all the publicity. This game followed the script of so many other great games in this rivalry. North Carolina was down by double digits in the second half and ended up turning the tables to win the game by eight points.
Tar Heel point guard Marcus Paige scored 13 points, all in the second half. Nine of those points came in the final five minutes when North Carolina was making the final march to victory. North Carolina had to wait a week to extend their winning streak to eight games. This game was postponed a week due to a winter storm in the area. North Carolina wins this game 74-66.
22. 03/04/2006
Duke was ranked No. 1 in the country; the game was at Cameron and it was senior day. Everything set up for a perfect send-off off for the Duke seniors and some positive mojo heading into the ACC tournament. Tyler Hansbrough and the Tar Heels had other plans. The 27 points from the polarizing big man from North Carolina spoiled the Duke senior day. Hansbrough was so good Duke never led in the game. North Carolina won the game 83-76.
21. 01/22/1983
If you were alive during this time, then I envy you as you were able to witness the greatest player of all time grace the court in college. Michael Jordan had great games against everyone, but he always seemed to play his best against Duke. Jordan was all over the place in this game. This was not a fun game for the Duke fans as North Carolina whitewashed Duke.
The game is on the list because it was the first time Michael Jordan showed the country how good he was going to be. This was his sophomore year. When the game was over Jordan finished with 32 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. That is a dominating performance and it showed on the scoreboard as the Tar Heels won 102-83.