One of the most storied rivalries in college history is set to write a new chapter Saturday night, as the Duke Blue Devils will travel to Chapel Hill to play the UNC Tar Heels. Arguably the greatest in-state and overall rivalry of college basketball, both storied programs have battled it out with each other long before it was noticed. Even though players have gone in and out, coaches have changed, and circumstances have factored, nothing can hide from the fact that this rivalry has such a rich history, which is what we will be looking at today. 

It all began in 1920, when Duke and UNC played against each other for the first time, and since then, twice every single year. UNC won the first contest, and has parlayed that into a current series win by about 25 games over Duke. While UNC holds the edge, it has been very close, and from 1949 up through 2019, the point differential was only 22 points in over 100 games. This goes to show the intensity that each team plays with against each other and all the close games over the years.

Through the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, the teams had many memorable matchups, especially in the ACC tournament. UNC’s 2OT win in 1995 over Duke, 102-100, is the highest scoring affair between the two sides, with future NBA stars such as Jerry Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace taking the floor for these storied programs. The late 1900s section of the rivalry is defined as gritty, hard-nosed play, with occasional fights and chippiness, but with the overall respect that these two programs have for each other. 

In the 2000s, it was more of the same. Both schools were perennial top-10 powerhouses during the time, which made for some huge high-stakes matchups recently. J.J. Redick, Raymond Felton, and Shelden Williams were key figures of these 2000s teams, and guys like Zion Williamson, Marcus Paige, and RJ Barrett are all remembered by younger generations and have gone onto bigger things as pros. 

Overall, many players, coaches, and time periods have shaped the prestigious rivalry of Duke and UNC, and Saturday will bring yet another edition of the greatest rivalry in college sports.