Oh so many Duke-UNC classics
Feb 11, 2009
My most memorable Duke-Carolina game is the famous 1961 game highlighted by “The Fight” that featured Art Heyman, Larry Brown and Donnie Walsh. But there are many more – actually too many to choose from! But here are some that stick out in my mind as classic Duke-UNC matchups.
March 4,1960
Carolina had destroyed Duke three times already during the regular season, with the closest margin of victory being 23 points. But in the semi-finals of the ACC Tournament, Duke pulled off a 71-69 upset. The next night Duke would upset Billy Packer and Wake Forest to win the ACC for Vic Bubas in his first year.
March 4,1966
In the ACC Tournament semi-finals, Carolina coach Dean Smith starts the game in the Four Corners Offense against the heavily favored Blue Devils. Duke is on the ropes most of the game before rallying for the 21-20 win. Duke would make it to the Final Four.
March 2, 1968
Seldom-used junior reserve Fred Lind comes off the bench for 16 points and nine rebounds as Duke upsets Carolina. The Tar Heels would later make it to the NCAA championship game, losing to UCLA.
March 8, 1969
The great Charlie Scott scored 40 points, 28 of them in the second half, as the Tar Heels overcame an 11-point second-half Duke lead to beat the Blue Devils 85-74 to win the ACC Tournament. Scott would lead Carolina to its third consecutive Final Four.
Jan. 22, 1972
On the day that Duke Indoor Stadium is renamed Cameron Indoor Stadium, a journeyman guard named Robby West hits the winner as Duke shocks third-ranked Carolina 76-74.
Jan. 19, 1974
A much superior UNC team found itself tied with Duke at 71-71with seconds left. Duke had the ball, but Paul Fox's inbounds pass was picked off by Bobby Jones, who raced in and scored at the buzzer as Carolina survived.
March 2,1974
Maybe the most famous comeback in college history. Carolina was down by eight points to a Duke team that would finish 10-16, and there were 17 seconds left. A miracle shot by Walter Davis tied it at the end of regulation. The Tar Heels would win it in overtime 96-92.
Feb. 25,1978
UNC All-American Phil Ford, playing his final home game, blisters Duke for 34 points and single-handedly leads Carolina to an 87-83 win. Duke would later win the ACC Tournament and make it all the way to the NCAA Tournament final before losing to Kentucky.
Feb. 24,1979
Carolina enters Cameron Indoor Stadium with a one-game lead in the ACC standings. The Tar Heels elect to start the game in their Four Corners Offense. Duke leads 7-0 at half and wins it 47-40. Carolina would win the ACC Tournament the following week, beating Duke in the final, but both would lose the week after that in the NCAA Tournament in the infamous Black Sunday at Reynolds Coliseum.
Feb. 28,1981
Duke's Gene Banks hits one at the buzzer to send it to overtime, and Duke upsets Carolina 66-65 to give a young Mike Krzyzewski his first win over UNC. The Tar Heels would end up making it all the way to the NCAA championship game before losing to Indiana.
March 3, 1984
A young Duke team has Michael Jordan and the Heels on the ropes at Carmichael, but Matt Doherty's jumper at the buzzer sends the game to overtime. Carolina will prevail 96-83 in double overtime.
March 10,1984
A week after the loss, Duke would upset UNC in the ACC Tournament semi-finals 77-75. Duke's sophomore class credited this game as a cornerstone that would eventually lead them to the NCAA Tournament championship game in 1986.
Jan. 19,1986
The first game ever at the Dean Smith Center. Carolina and Duke both came in undefeated. Tar Heel senior Steve Hale poured in a career high 28 points as UNC held off the Devils down the stretch, 95-92.
March 2,1986
Before a wild crowd at Cameron, Duke beats Carolina 82-74 to clinch its first outright ACC regular season title in 20 years. The Blue Devils would make it all the way to the NCAA title game before losing to Louisville.
March 13, 1988
Duke had already beaten Carolina twice during the regular season. Dean Smith used to always say, it's hard to beat a good team three times in one year. But Duke did, taking out the Tar Heels 65-61 to win the ACC Tournament. Duke would end up making it to the Final Four while Carolina would lose in the Elite Eight.
March 12,1989
In a brutal, tough basketball game in Atlanta marked by an angry confrontation between Dean Smith and Mike Krzyzewski, Carolina beat Duke 77-74 to win its first ACC Tournament title since 1982. Carolina would eventually lose in the Sweet 16 while Duke made it to the Final Four.
Feb. 5,1992
This was the bloody Eric Montross game as Carolina, in Chapel Hill, held off the defending national champion Blue Devils 75-73. Duke would later win two other games from UNC and win its second straight National Championship.
Feb. 2,1995
A Duke team that would finish 13-18 took Carolina into double overtime. Duke's Jeff Capel's miracle half-court shot at the buzzer sent it to a second overtime. Carolina, though, would win it 102-100. The Heels would make it to the Final Four.
Jan. 31,1996.
Neither team was great this season, but Carolina staged a late rally to beat Duke 73-72. The Devils’ Ricky Price had a shot at the buzzer, but missed as the Tar Heels prevailed. Both would be early round NCAA Tournament exits.
Feb. 28, 1998
Duke, which had already clinched the ACC regular season title, trailed Carolina at Cameron by as many as 17 points in the second half before coming back behind Elton Brand to win it 77-75. Carolina a week later would beat Duke to win the ACC Tournament. The Tar Heels would make it to their second straight Final Four, while Duke would lose in the Elite Eight.
Feb. 1, 2001
New UNC head coach Matt Doherty takes his first Tar Heel team to Cameron Indoor Stadium and stuns the Blue Devils 85-83 as Brendan Haywood hits two free throws to win it.
March 4, 2001
With Carlos Boozer out with an injury, not many gave Duke a chance, going to Carolina on the last day of the regular season. A win by the Heels would clinched the regular season. A Duke win would force a tie. Duke came out firing 3’s, shooting 38 of them and making 14 and winning 95-81. A week later, Duke crushed Carolina 79-53 to win the ACC Tournament on its way to the eventual National Championship.
Feb. 9, 2005
Duke was up by a point in the last seconds, but Carolina had the ball with the chance to win it. They couldn't even get off a shot, however, as Raymond Felton and Rashad McCants glared at each other in disbelief. 71-70 Duke.
March 6, 2005
Carolina, on Senior Day, was trailing Duke 73-64 with three minutes to play, but the Blue Devils would not score again as Carolina went on an 11-0 run to win it 75-73 on Marvin Williams’ three-point play off a missed free throw. The next week, Duke would win the ACC title, but Carolina would go on to be crowned National Champions.
March 4, 2006
A young North Carolina team sweeps into Cameron and ruins senior night for J.J. Redick and Sheldon Williams, 83-76. Freshman Tyler Hansbrough hit a key three-pointer down the stretch. Going into this Wednesday's game. Hansbrough is 3-0 at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
There are so many and I know that others have their favorites, but those are just a few that bring back memories for me.
And, of course, there are more to be made Wednesday, when the Devils and Heels go at it one more time.
