Snowflakes: UNC vs. Duke defines ACC Hoops

Posted: Mar 12, 2008

* Is there any better theater in college basketball than North Carolina at Duke? It was another great scene at Cameron Indoor Stadium last Saturday night with former players like Christian Laettner, Jason Williams, and Chris Duhon in the house for Senior Night. Heck, new Duke football coach David Cutcliffe even took the opportunity to host his two most famous students-Peyton and Eli Manning (the last two Super Bowl MVPs) in front of the national TV audience. It was a very intense and emotional game as each one in this rivalry tends to be. North Carolina won at Duke for the third year in a row and captured the conference title in the process. Tyler Hansbrough led the way with another double-double, and it was later announced that he would have his jersey retired when he leaves Chapel Hill.

Duke and North Carolina continue to carry the hoops banner of the conference. Even though the Maryland’s or N.C. State’s of the world have had some success over the years, the first thing you think of when you hear “ACC basketball” is Carolina-Duke. It’s the best rivalry in college sports, and the two lead programs and their heated contests have seemingly become the entire identity of the conference.

* As far as the Big Dance goes, Virginia Tech and Maryland still have a lot of work to do if they want to get in the field. Both lost critical games on Sunday and need to make a statement in the ACC Tourney. It would probably help Miami’s resume to win their first round game against N.C. State in the conference tourney as well. With UNC, Duke, and Clemson having done enough already, it looks like the Hurricanes may be the only other ACC team that gets a berth. With smaller conference teams like Gonzaga, St. Mary’s, and South Alabama looking like they may get at-large bids, the Hokies and Terrapins must make a solid run in the conference tourney to have any chance on Selection Sunday.

- Patrick Snow