It is almost time for the regular season match up that ever college basketball fan waits to see. Even if you don’t like the these two storied programs, you know you are going to see one hell of a show.
This is the first time is a while that both teams come in being so highly ranked. Of course their is the “you have to throw the records and rankings out with this one”. I agree, no matter which team is better on paper these games are always a hard fought battle and whoever ends up with just a few more lucky bounces usually pulls it out in the end.
This years version of college basketballs greatest rivalry will take place with Duke ranked #2 and North Carolina ranked #3. You have to go back all the way to Duke’s 200-01 Championship season. The “Blue Bloods” played three times against each other. Those games were played with rankings of 2-4, 2-4, and 3-6. Duke holding the higher ranking in all of those, but losing the first match up at Cameron.
In the 2004-05 season, which was Carolina’s championship year, there were two games played. The rankings were 2-6 and 2-7. North Carolina held the higher rankings, and the teams split the games that year.
All other games played since 2000 has had one team with a top five ranking, and the other on the outside looking in at the top ten.
Which brings us to this year, where both teams are considered championship caliber teams. All eyes will be on Chapel Hill as two of the best programs in the nation will throw down to see who is the king of Tobacco Road. Well, until March that is.