The first matchup between Carolina and Duke this season is finally here and the stage seems set for an exciting evening.
Both teams are ranked in the top 15 and feature top five NBA draft picks. On paper, this is a game that could very well be among the highlights of college basketball’s greatest rivalry.
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This brings me to today’s discussion question. I want to know what Carolina-Duke games are in your strong points. I’m asking for your top three because I have a feeling number 1 will either be unanimous or very close, and I want to see some variety here.
I’ll list mine below. Keep in mind I’m 27, so my memories only go back to the Tyler Hansbrough days.
#3: The Zion Shoe Game (February 20, 2019)
It was a top-10 game at Cameron Indoor between the No. 8 Tar Heels and the No. 1 Blue Devils, who were already being touted as the greatest college team of all time. The headliner was Zion Williamson, whose star power was such that Barack Obama and Spike Lee were among those who made the trip to Durham to see what he would do against UNC.
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It turned out that he had no chance of doing anything. In the first minute of the game, his left shoe exploded while he was dribbling inside the top of the key, causing him to sprain his right knee.
I was watching in my living room with my mom (a Carolina alum), and I remember we were both amazed at how lost the rest of the team looked without Zion. Duke had three other five-star freshmen on the court that night, so there should have been more than enough talent to pick up the slack.
Instead, the Tar Heels rolled, building a 10-point halftime lead that ballooned to as many as 22 in the second. I was as perplexed as I was happy.
#2: Crashing Coach K’s Party (March 5, 2022)
The man Carolina fans love to hate the most was wrapping up his season-long farewell tour with one final game at Cameron Indoor against the Tar Heels. Duke pulled out all the stops, bringing back nearly 100 former players and turning the entire evening into a made-for-TV production. There seemed to be no fear that the whole ceremony might distract from the match. Why should there have been, given that the No. 4 Blue Devils had beaten the unranked Tar Heels 87-67 in their own gym a month before?
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I also watched this game in my living room, and I’ll never forget seeing the photos of the crowd full of stunned faces as the game went completely away from Duke in the final five minutes – nor will I forget witnessing Coach K’s post-game meltdown live on ESPN. I always watch this clip whenever I need a pick-me-up.
#1: The Final Four (April 2, 2022)
Do I really have to say anything for this one?
I watched this game at my friend’s apartment on our college campus and I think I laid on the floor for about 15 minutes after it ended.
I screamed “NO!” when Caleb Love shot three, and that was the last negative thing I’ll say about him.
