When you think of the greatest rivalries in sports, which matchups come to mind? Is it Yankees-Red Sox? Ohio State-Michigan? Celtics-Lakers? Canadiens-Bruins?
We might be a little biased here, but for good reason. The greatest rivalry in college basketball – and all of sports – is UNC-Duke.
The experts agree with us too, as analyst Andy Katz ranked UNC-Duke his top overall rivalry in college basketball.
From our side, last year was a pretty great chapter in the rivalry. North Carolina won 93-84 in the Dean Dome on Feb. 3, then again in Cameron Indoor on March 9, in what is unofficially known as a Cormac Ryan legacy game.
Tar Heel Nation would like to forget about 2023’s chapter in the rivalry, with UNC losing both matchups as part of its infamous campaign. North Carolina led late in in second matchup against Duke, which would’ve boosted their NCAA Tournament resumé in a big way, but gave up a late lead.
Big time foes ‼️@TheAndyKatz ranks his top 10 rivalries in MBB 👀
📰: https://t.co/m7YmubixOZ pic.twitter.com/akRFiCDG1O
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) August 28, 2024
There’s already some smoke building ahead of both 2025 matchups. In an interview amongst McDonalds All-Americans, highly-touted Duke freshmen Cooper Flagg and Isaiah Evans told UNC freshmen Ian Jackson and Drake Powell, that Duke would sweep UNC.
Regardless of what happens in the winter, there’s no doubt the Tar Heels and Blue Devils will deliver another instant classic.
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