Ultimately, North Carolina kept the tunes playing for just a little while longer than Duke, winning an 81-77 thriller in front of over 70,000 observers.
Let’s do this dance one more time. No. 2-seed Duke flew down to New Orleans to face off against No. 8-seed North Carolina Saturday in the Superdome for the first time in the NCAA tournament. We are through 20 minutes and so far, the Blue Devils lead 37-34.
As the Blue Devils prepare to compete for one trophy, the team captain has a new addition to his personal trophy case.
In the endless struggle to establish the better basketball team, a Final Four win is certainly an ace of spades, but there will always be more hands to be played.
For the first time ever, the two will face off in the NCAA tournament, with the elusive date coming in the Final Four. As exciting a matchup Kansas-Villanova will be, it takes a rightful backseat to what is arguably the most anticipated national semifinal ever.
The stakes have never been higher for No. 2-seed Duke and No. 8-seed North Carolina, with the two sides facing off Saturday in the Final Four in New Orleans for the first time in NCAA tournament history. With a spot in the national championship game on the line, here's who our beats predict will come out on top.
It’s finally here: Duke and North Carolina, in the Final Four, for all the marbles. The Blue Zone’s got you covered with some can’t-miss prop bets.
It’s Duke-North Carolina for the third time this season and for the first time in NCAA tournament history. Before the two blue-blood rivals face off in the actual final installment of the Coach K era, the Blue Zone brings a player from each team that can be the difference.
Each March brings a new breakout star for every college basketball team, and for Duke that player has undoubtedly been Jeremy Roach. The only problem is that he isn’t breaking out at all.
The Blue Zone looks back at the top Final Four games of Coach K's tenure.
Hubert Davis has proved that he is up to the quality of North Carolina’s championship pedigree and can push this rivalry to the ultimate spectacle it’s capable of being. As Scheyer finally receives the baton, he must do the same for Duke.
Though we already know that the Blue Devils have what it takes to score with any of their opponents, this game will be a test of how strong their defense is.
A key member of the Blue Devils’ coaching staff is headed elsewhere.
To this day, defense wins championships. For Duke, a program that cut its teeth as a menacing defensive unit under Krzyzewski, why should it be any different?
The recipients of these tickets were decided by a true lottery—no sleeping outside in the rain, no walk-up line, just pure luck.
Four of Duke's top incoming freshmen, Dereck Lively II, Dariq Whitehead and Mark Mitchell and Ashlon Jackson—competed among the nation’s best at the McDonald's All-American Games, and certainly held their own.
In San Francisco, the Blue Devils often looked not just like the most talented team in their region, but in the wider NCAA tournament. They were supposed to be on that stage, celebrating that win.
And then there were four.
The stage is set for a historic Final Four in New Orleans.
Only 700 people in this line would get their name picked out of the lottery for a chance to buy a $20 ticket to the Final Four that’s good for both the semifinal and national championship (conditional on Duke winning).
