Ten Games That Epitomize Duke-Carolina

WRALSportsFan

Ten Games That Epitomize Duke-Carolina

Feb 6, 2008

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Mike Krzyzewski as a young coach. Gene Banks as a senior star. Walter Davis as the Carolina player with the most famous bank shot in Tar Heel history.

And, of course, Dean Smith, Michael Jordan, Christian Laettner and all the others who have made the Duke-Carolina rivalry special.

They all live in the WRAL archives. With Duke and Carolina set to play Wednesday night in Chapel Hill, the WRAL Sports staff picked 10 games that have epitomized this series.

And we pulled video highlights from those contests so you, too, can relive some of the classic games, and unforgetable memories, that makes this rivalry unique.

March 2, 1974, Chapel Hill

UNC 96-92 (OT)

Duke led No. 4 North Carolina by 86-78 with 17 seconds left. But Carolina rallied and after Duke's Pete Kramer missed two free throws, the Heels had their chance. Walter "Sweet D" Davis banked in a 30-foot shot to force overtime.

Feb. 28, 1981, Durham

Duke, 66-65 (OT)

Mike Krzyzewski's first game in Cameron Indoor Stadium against Carolina was a remarkable one. Duke senior forward Gene Banks hit a jumper in the last second of regulation to tie the score and then had an offensive rebound and score in overtime for the Duke win.

March 3, 1984, Chapel Hill

UNC, 96-83 (2 OT)

It was Michael Jordan's last game in Carmichael Auditorium, and he was terrific with 25 points. But Carolina still needed Matt Doherty's 15-foot shot with one second left to force overtime. The Heels won in double overtime by the game still showed that Duke, with Mike Krzyzewski, was on its way.

March 10, 1984, Greensboro

Duke, 77-75, ACC semifinals

Of all Duke's wins, perhaps none was more critical than its 77-75 win over Carolina in the 1984 in the ACC Tournament semifinals in Greensboro. The Devils had a brilliant sophomore class, and beating Michael Jordan and Sam Perkins showed Duke was a force in the making. Duke lost in the finals to Maryland, but had made a critical point.

Jan. 18, 1986, Chapel Hill

UNC, 95-92

Carolina was No. 1 and Duke No. 3 when the teams opened the $34 million Smith Center. The Heels won holding off a late Devils rally, but Duke's Mark Alarie scored the first basket in the arena.

March 12, 1989, Atlanta

UNC, 77-74, ACC final

Some of the most ferocious games between Duke and Carolina happened in the late 1980s, between Duke teams led by Danny Ferry and Carolina teams led by J.R. Reid. Duke won the ACC title in Greensboro in 1988, and the teams met again in Atlanta in 1989. The Heels won, 77-74, as a long Duke 3-pointer at the end bounded away.

Feb. 5, 1992, Chapel Hill

UNC, 75-73

Duke won the national title in 1991 and would go on to win it in 1992, but the Devils didn't win in Chapel Hill as a determined Carolina, with Eric Montross playing with blood dripping from his head, upset No. 1 Duke.

Feb. 2, 1995, Durham

UNC, 102-100 (2 OT)

This game epitomized the crazy nature of the series. With Duke trailing 95-92 at the end of the first overtime in Cameron, Duke's Jeff Capel hit a running 40-foot shot to tie the game. Second-ranked UNC won in the second overtime, 102-100. Duke finished 13-18 that season, and Carolina went 28-6 and made the Final Four.

Feb. 28, 1998, Durham

Duke, 77-75

Duke, ranked No. 1, beat UNC, ranked No. 3, in Mike Krzyzewski's 500th coaching victory and sealed the ACC regular-season title with a victory in Cameron Indoor Stadium. Roshown McLeod and Chris Carrawell scored vital baskets at the end and Ed Cota and Brendan Haywood missed free throws for UNC.

Feb. 9, 2005, Durham

Duke, 71-70

In a ferocious game that saw few easy baskets, No. 7 Duke beat No. 2 Carolina when David Noel dribbled the ball out of bounds just as the buzzer sounded. UNC won a rematch in Chapel Hill that was also a thriller (75-73) and went on to win the national title.

Most Recent Comments

any game where dook loses is a great game. I hope henderson is ready for payback tonight, go get him Q.

sound tech shouldn't you be over at the rbc covering the ice.

Rochester,
I disagree. I remember the big Duke/UNC rivalry in the 80's very well and I don't think it has a thing to do with ESPN. I do think, that because these teams have consistently been ranked higher, that much more emphasis has been placed on thier rivalry than some others.

Yeah, Tyler should have known better than to lead with his head, i bet Henderson's arm was in some serious pain, why don't they focus on Henderson's arm pain????? Oh the humanityyy!!!

Sound Tech~ Now thats what I call classy! GO HEELS

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