NCAA Tournament 2022: 5 storylines for Duke vs North Carolina in Final Four
By Bryan Mauro
End of the road for Coach K?
I’m going to get the obvious out of the way. Be prepared to hear about the last game for Coach K a lot against North Carolina. If Duke wins that will be one of the best 30 for 30 episodes that ESPN will have ever done. I love stories like that where the team rallies together to win one for their legendary coach and win a title.
The Blue Devils were never not expected to make a run in the tournament but very few saw them making the Final Four or winning the title. Here they are playing their best basketball of the season and won two tough games over the second weekend to get here.
North Carolina is playing even better basketball, as they are averaging a little over 82 points per game in their first tournament game. The Tar Heels already ruined the final home game for Coach K by winning in Cameron in the last game of the regular season and now they have a date with destiny. North Carolina could end the legendary career of Coach K one game short of the National Championship. That is going to be the extra motivation the team may need to get over the hump. They are already playing with a ton of confidence and can absolutely win this game.
Anyone at this point that is unfamiliar with Coach K, if there are any of those out there, should read up on his legendary career. When he arrived at Duke they were nowhere near the program they are today. He has 13 individual Final Fours; he is responsible for all five of the Blue Devils’ championships and he has the most wins of all time. He is also the most hated coach in America.
This isn’t going to be a game that just diehard fans will enjoy, obviously it will be a treat for all Basketball fans, but the game has so many storylines and is between two of the game’s bests that even the Casual basketball fan with zero allegiances is going to be entertained. Can North Carolina play spoiler again?