Another chapter in the historic UNC-Duke basketball rivalry was written last Saturday. Separated by only 8 miles down the Tobacco Road, it has been named by many as “the biggest rivalry in sports.”
Many historic moments from this rivalry can be recalled, whether it’s Caleb Love’s top of the key three-pointer in the final four, Hansborough’s bloody nose, or the Wendell Moore/Tre Jones double buzzer beater comeback in Chapel Hill, each and every season a new moment is written in the history books.
Saturday did not disappoint, as this was one of the most intense and unpredictable games this season has offered. Coming in as a top-15 showdown, both teams are headlined by star freshman, both of which being the motors each respective team is ran by.
The Blue Devils are led by Cameron Boozer. The 5 star 3rd overall recruit in the freshman class from Miami, Florida has been phenomenal for the Blue Devils this season, leading the Blue Devils to a 21-1 record heading into Saturday. Boozer is averaging a double double with 23.3 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists per game. Boozer has consistently been in national player of the year talks since starting his collegiate career.
On the opposing side, the Tar Heels are led by Boozer’s former AAU teammate, Caleb Wilson. The 5 star 8th overall recruit in the freshman class from Atlanta, Georgia has become an elite shotmaker and motor for the Heels, leading them to an 18-4 record heading into Saturday. Wilson has scored 20+ points in 16/22 contests so far this season. Averaging 20.2 points and 9.6 rebounds, Wilson has been known to be giving out the “sparkled and bedazzled belt” to every team he faces.
As over 22,000 fans packed into the Dean Smith Center, the atmosphere was electric. The past season, a Cooper Flagg/Kon Knueppel led Duke team swept the Tar Heels in the season series 2-0, and added an ACC championship semifinal victory over their arch-rivals. This game was bookmarked on UNC’s calendar since the schedule release as redemption for last year’s struggles.
Duke silenced the hostile UNC crowd early, coming out the gates on an 18-5 run over the first 8 minutes. Duke finished out the 1st half with the same momentum, taking a 12 point lead into the half over the Heels.
“Being down by 13 early, the crowd and atmosphere was still electric,” said Sophomore Will Ocran, one of the 22,000 in attendance for the big game. ¨Knowing how much this game means to the fans really influenced them to try and rally the team to push for a comeback.¨
As the teams prepared for the final 20 minutes, the fan momentum may have gotten to the Blue Devils. UNC came out firing on all cylinders, looking like a different basketball team. Huge shot after huge shot grasped the Tar Heels within three with about 2 minutes left in regulation.
Down 6 with the ball, Tar Heel point guard Derek Dixon hit a huge pull-up jumper over the towering Cameron Boozer and shifted it into a one possession game. The Heels then got a quick stop and drove down the court trying to keep the momentum. 7-footer Henri Veesaar peeled off on a screen and knocked down his first 3-pointer of the game to net the Heels even with over a minute to go in the game.
Duke got the ball back with 30 seconds left in the game, drawing up a play for Cameron Boozer, the man who you want to have the ball in clutch moments. Boozer got the switch onto the 7-footer Veesaar, and drove hard to his right towards the basket. Unfortunately for the Blue Devils, Boozer got a decent chance at the basket, but the attempt rimmed in and out. Every person in the Smith Center rejoiced and had hope as the Tar Heels had one final chance to win the game and complete the comeback.
13 seconds to go, tied ballgame, biggest rivalry in sports. The Tar Heels inbounded the ball to the point guard Dixon, who dribbled the ball until 7 seconds left on the clock. Star freshman Caleb Wilson set Dixon a screen at the top of the key, allowing Dixon to drive at a full head of steam towards the basket. Boozer stepped up to defend, but Dixon managed to step through the star freshman into the paint, giving him an open lane to the basket with 3 seconds left.
Every member of Duke crashed into the paint to try and defend Dixon’s opportunity for an easy layup. Dixon, quickly getting closed down, throws the ball towards the right corner looking like he may have panicked from the pressure and threw the Heels opportunity away to win the game. But the pass was actually perfect. Senior guard Seth Trimble was waiting wide-open in the corner for the pass from Dixon, executing the play perfectly. Trimble caught and shot with 1 second on the clock, leading the arena to become dead silent with hopes and prayers from both sides.
As the shot swished into the bottom of the net, chaos ensued. The crowd went wild, the players went wild, the coaches went wild, and even better, the student section stormed the court. Fans and students flooded onto the court in celebration, as UNC took down their arch-rivals for the first time in two years.
“It was one of the most exciting moments I’ve ever experienced in the Smith Center,” said Sophomore Graham Hardison, one of the fans who stormed the court after the shot. “Being able to celebrate with other fans who were just as passionate as me about the team, on the court where all the action just happened, was such a surreal experience.”
UNC moved up to 19-4 on the season, while the Blue Devils moved to 21-2 on the season. Both these star-studded teams will meet again on March 7th in Cameron Indoor Stadium, which is sure to be another unforgettable game.
