March Madness is almost here. If there’s any indication that it’s coming, Duke and UNC play twice each year, with the second matchup frequently on the last game of the regular season. They’ll square up for the second time tonight and add another game to their storied rivalry. They’ve played hundreds of times, and one team’s had the edge in the 106-year rivalry.
Duke and UNC All-Time History of the Rivalry
The Blue Devils might be the No. 1 team in the country right now, but the Tar Heels remain in control of this heated rivalry. UNC leads the all-time series 146-120. Duke is going to have to figure out a way to control this rivalry for years to come if they’d like to come close to getting the all-time record in their favor. But the nature of the rivalry might make that difficult as anything can happen.
Each team circles the two regular-season meetings. While some games might have broader implications, there’s none that mean more than beating each other.
This rivalry has created heroes at both schools. Austin Rivers became a Duke legend, hitting a buzzer-beater three to take down the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill. Wendell Moore Jr.’s acrobatic put-back shot in 2020 placed his name forever in the history of the rivalry.
These schools want to beat the other badly; there’s no doubt about it. In this rivalry, there’s no time for heartwarming moments.
After Coach K spent 42 years at the helm of Duke basketball, the Tar Heels made sure to spoil his last home game at Cameron Indoor Stadium and even ended his career in the Final Four later that season, as the Tar Heels took down the Blue Devils to advance to the national championship game.
The most recent memorable moment in the rivalry was just one month ago. The Tar Heels looked uncharacteristic and struggled for most of the first half, entering halftime down 12 points. But this rivalry means more.
After star freshman Caleb Wilson kept them afloat in the first half, they clawed back to even the score, allowing Seth Trimble to knock down a game-winning three with less than one second left to defend home court.
The Tar Heels will search for their 147th win in the rivalry tonight without Wilson, who is out for the season, while the Blue Devils want revenge for blowing the last one as they aim to protect home court.
Entering tonight, the Blue Devils are on a rampage. They are decimating any team that steps on the court with them, and will have their eyes set on embarrassing the Tar Heels in this rivalry game.
