WRAL Sports Fan

North Carolina

State-Carolina: Let's rate this rivalry

By Dane Huffman

Feb 18, 2009

Look for the red jacket to come out for N.C. State and the North Carolina fans to pack the Smith Center  tonight when the Wolfpack plays at the Tar Heels.

But as rivalries go, is this one sizzling … or fizzling?

UNC coach Roy Williams has lost to State only once since returning from Kansas, and the Pack hasn’t been much of a threat to the Duke-Carolina hegemony in the ACC.

N.C. State hasn’t won the ACC title since 1987 and hasn’t been to the Final Four since 1983.

North Carolina has, well, you get the picture. … Overall, the Tar Heels lead this series 139-75 and pounded State 93-76 on Jan. 31 in Raleigh.

State’s last trip to the Smith Center was, depending on your point of view, one of the low points in the series. The Heels scored 25 straight points in one stretch and led 43-13 at halftime.

What do you think is the state of the rivalry at this point? It has had some spectacular moments, as WRAL-TV's Jason Jennings showed Monday.

But now, does this have all the excitement of Florida State at Virginia Tech? (Yawn).

Or is this a rivalry that only needs a spark to get it roaring again?

Weigh in with your thoughts here – and listen in this afternoon on 99.9 FM The Fan ESPN Radio as The Insiders break down the game, and the status of State-Carolina.

Coverage today on N.C. State at North Carolina:

4:25 p.m.: N.C. State guard Javi Gonzalez on The Insiders

5:25 p.m.: Former NCSU star Chris Corchiani on The Insiders

6:25 p.m: Bob Holliday compares Ty Lawson, Sidney Lowe on WRAL-TV

7:30 p.m.: Live Blog from the Smith Center begins

8 p.m.: Game live on WRAL-TV

11:00: Full coverage on WRAL-TV

Late tonight: Game stories, slideshows, Barry Jacobs column, coach and player interviews on WRALSportsFan