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One of the most intense rivalries not only in college basketball, but in all of sports, the Duke Blue Devils and the University of North Carolina Tar Heels have never been short of dramatic storylines and intense battles.
Intensified by the fact that the two schools are located only an 8 mile drive apart, Duke and UNC are each among the top five most victorious teams in NCAA history with Duke ranking fourth and UNC second.
Since 1920, the two schools have fought out at least twice a year with the Tar Heels holding a 128-97 overall advantage over the Blue Devils. The two programs combined for 79% of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s regular season titles and 58% of the tournament titles in over 50 years of the conference’s history.
Year after year, both programs are consistently ranked amongst the tops in men’s college basketball. In fact, the last time the two teams played each other without at least one being ranked in the AP’s top 25 was in 1960.
Also called “The Battle of the Blues,” each school both consistently impressed —in the history of the NCAA tournament. However, with 17 final four appearances and 4 NCAA championships under their belt, UNC ranks just ahead of Duke who has participated in 14 final four, but earned only three championships.
Duke can claim players like Christian Laettner Blue Devils however, UNC can brag that they helped develop both James Worthy and Michael Jordan who actually played side by side. Both programs have legendary coaches, UNC has had Roy Williams and Dean Smith in charge both of whom can be considered amongst the best ever, since in 1980s Mike Krzyzewski or simply coach K transformed Duke’s program into a contender season after season and is also ranked amongst the best coach college basketball.
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