This match up is a rivalry for the ages, especially in the last 20 years. No matter what rank each team is during the season, you can always bet these two will go for each other's throats.
This Saturday at 9pm Eastern two of the most storied college basketball programs will meet up in what will prove to be a clash of titans. The North Carolina Tar Heels will take on the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor stadium in a game that is sure to put up huge ratings for ESPN.
Why is the game so big this year? For starters, both Duke and UNC have been ranked in the top ten all year long. They play in the same conference that is the toughest of all college basketball conferences: The Atlantic Coast Conference. You know it's tough when only one team is below .500 and about 75% of the losses are within the conference.
Also, these two teams met up earlier this year and Duke managed to defeat the Tar Heels 89 to 78. The Tar Heels were ranked #2 and Duke was #3 at the time.
Some say Carolina would have had a better game had their starting point guard, Ty Lawson, been in the line up. There isn't a guarantee that he will be in the line up this Saturday, either.
Others say that it doesn't matter WHO is starting because great teams always manage to step up. This may have been what started the controversy between coach K and Roy Williams. Coach Mike Krzyzewski alluded that Tar Heels coach Roy Williams airs out his players' injuries to the public so that they can serve as a crutch for a bad game or a loss. He was on a radio show and they asked about one of Duke's players, Nolan Smith, and a rumored injury. Coach K said that he didn't really discuss injuries.
Krzyzewski added, "unlike other schools we don't release our injuries," according to the Web site for radio station WRBZ-AM in Raleigh.
Roy Williams took offense to it.
"Regardless of what somebody else says about they have injuries too, which is a bunch of bunk, so I don't give a crap what somebody else says, but coach their own damn team, I'll coach my team -- in case anybody has heard some statements about that."
There are also players on the team that have interesting dynamics among each other. Last year, Gerald Henderson gave a hard foul to Tyler Hansborough, UNC's top scorer and rebounder. The foul ended up breaking Hansborough's nose and costing Henderson a one-game suspension during the Conference tournament. Also, Henderson's best friend- Wayne Ellington- happens to play for the Tar Heels.
In the conference, The Tar Heels have a one game advantage over Duke. A win by Duke would put Duke on top and in better position for the ACC tournament.
So if you are a basketball fan or want to see a really good match up, look for this Saturday's game between #1 Carolina and #6 Duke. You won't be disappointed.
College Basketball's Biggest Rivalry Preview: Duke Vs. North Carolina
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