As November approaches us, so does the return of college basketball, specifically in the Triangle Area in North Carolina. 

In the Triangle Area–Raleigh, Durham, and Cary– college basketball holds a special place in the local culture. The region’s residents have a deep-rooted passion for the sport, largely due to the influence coming from three major teams: North Carolina State, Duke, and The University of North Carolina. 

All three of these team’s seasons premiered on November 4th, and they opened up their seasons with decisive wins against USC Upstate, Maine, and Elon. However, these initial matchups were straightforward and against easily beatable teams, the seasons for NC State, Duke, and UNC promise to be more intense and withhold greater competition. As team chemistry deepens, harsh practices are endured, and confidence grows, each of these teams are assured to grow stronger and more competitive. 

The basketball rivalry between the Duke Blue Devils and the North Carolina Tar Heels is one of the fiercest and most heavily anticipated in all of college basketball. The teams face off twice a year, once at UNC’s Dean Smith Center and the other at Duke’s Cameron Indoor Stadium.  

This rivalry creates a strong divide in the Triangle Area, where it’s often said you can’t be neutral; you’re either a Duke fan or a Carolina fan. This split is especially evident during their matchups, which are set to occur on February 1st, 2025, and March 8th, 2025. 

Student Anna Lee is one of the most devoted fans to watching this rivalry. Anna Lee is a huge Carolina basketball fan all year round, but her love for the game peaks during this matchup. Anna Lee says, “Although I’ve never seen Duke and UNC play in person, I watch it every year from my home, and I hope to get tickets one day to see this rivalry.” 

Another major matchup in the Triangle area is the twice-yearly face-off between NC State and UNC. While it doesn’t quite match the intensity of the Duke-UNC rivalry, it still has a tremendous impact on the local community, creating its own division among fans. The North Carolina State Wolfpack and the North Carolina Tar Heels will meet twice this season, first on January 11th, 2025, and again on February 19th, 2025.