UNC Duke Rivalry: The Greatest in the History Of Sports

There is no question that UNC-Duke basketball is the greatest rivalry in all of sports.  More than Michigan-Ohio State football. More than Louisville-Kentucky basketball. And even more than Yankees-Red Sox baseball.

Many turn to the Yankees and Red Sox as the all-time greatest rivalry in sports. When you look at how one-sided the baseball series has been over the past several decades, it's hard to call the Yankees-Red Sox a legitimate rivalry (although I do acknowledge that the past decade has been a lot more competitive).

You either play for UNC or Duke. Loyalties last a lifetime on one side of Tobacco Road.  You either love Duke blue or Carolina blue. UNC and Duke have won a combined ten national championships (UNC 6 to Duke 4), most recently with UNC taking it all home in 2009 and Duke in 2010.  While UNC has reached 18 Final Fours, Duke has reached 15.  

Eight miles apart on Tobacco Road, the rivalry is real. Since 1920, UNC and Duke have played each other at least once every year. Wednesday will mark the 235th meeting of these two teams, with UNC leading the all-time series 132-102.

Here are some videos to get you psyched up for the big match on Wednesday at 9 p.m. For those of you with no allegiances, watch these videos for some great basketball.

For all you UNC fans:

1. UNC's PJ Hairston dunks off a missed 3-pointer by Harrison Barnes in UNC's March 2012 win over Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

2. James Michael McAdoo comes in for an amazing dunk in UNC's March 2012 win over Duke.

3. Dick Vitale's "America, are you serious?" as UNC's Jerry Stackhouse has an unbelievable dunk at Duke.

4. UNC's Danny Green posterizes Duke's Greg Paulus with an incredible dunk.

5. Down 8 points with 17 seconds, UNC's Walter Davis makes a 3-pointer to force overtime against Duke in 1974. UNC goes on to win 96-92.

For all you Duke fans:

1. Duke's Jeff Capel scored a buzzer-beating, game-tying 3-pointer in the 1995 showdown at Cameron Indoor.  UNC went on to win the game 102-100 in double OT.

2. Duke's Austin Rivers stunned Carolina with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to beat UNC 85-84 at the Dean Dome.

3. Duke's Coach K gets his 500th win on Senior Day in 1998 at Cameron Indoor after UNC misses four consecutive free throws.

4. Duke's biggest comeback since 1959, overcoming a 14-point deficit in the second half to win 79-73 at Cameron Indoor in February 2011.

5. Shane Battier lights up Duke with a great defensive play that turns into an offensive run at UNC's Dean Dome.

This is not just the battle for Tobacco Road. This is the greatest rivalry in all of sports.