Will Duke vs Carolina Ever Regain It’s Luster?

By: Mike Guerriere

Eight miles is all that separates the historic college basketball rivalry between the UNC Tar Heel and the Duke Blue Devils. 

Duke and North Carolina have battled one another for over 120 years. The fight for dominance stretches all the way back to the first meeting on Jan 24. 1920 (UNC 36-25), however the rivalry reached its highest point in the year of 1980 with the hiring of a new Head Coach, one that will change the course of Duke’s history. 

Mike Krzyzewski shot onto the scene for the Blue Devils to help spark years of national triumph, giving Duke fans plenty to boost over the years, but when it comes to this intense rivalry, the memories replay like live action. 

All Time Coach K moments:

• His victory in the Semi Finals of the ACC tournament over Michael Jordan and the Tar Heels in 1984
• Coach K’s first career win vs UNC and Gene Banks Buzzer beater to win the game in 1981 (66-65)
• Defeating #3 UNC to cap off the 1998 season on senior night (77-75)
• Duke handing UNLV their first loss ruining their perfect season in 1991 and then going on to win the entire thing
• Duke captured its fourth NCAA title under Coach K with a narrow two-point win over the upstart Butler Bulldogs. When Gordon Hayward’s mid-court prayer bounced off of the rim, Duke had a 61-59 win, and their first title since 2001

Coach K found tremendous success in his long tenured position as the head coach of the Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball team. He ended his career as the winningest coach with 1,202 wins, which places him up with the best coaches of all time. He was a large part in why this rivalry was so big and nationally followed. 

With almost two years removed from Coach K’s exit at the helm of Duke men’s basketball, fans have begun to speculate whether or not the power behind the rivalry is still there. With the chapter closed on the fairytale that was Mike Kryzewskis coaching career, a new one opens with even more excitement. It’s hard not to think about Duke and UNC when college basketball is brought up. I think no matter what happens, the impact that both of these schools have had on college basketball will never be forgotten and the rivalry will continue to make headlines year after year.