The rivalry continues: Past 100 UNC-Duke basketball point totals need OT

Combined results from the past 31 years plus a freshman star’s recent return this year suggest Duke basketball’s next meeting with North Carolina should be entertaining.

The UNC-Duke basketball rivalry never disappoints, as the last 100 meetings (dating back to 1979) are split 50-50 with both teams putting up the same number of points at 7,746.

Still think this isn’t the greatest rivalry of all time?

Saturday at 6 p.m. (ESPN) is the moment we’ve all been waiting for as the Duke Blue Devils travel to Chapel Hill for a much-anticipated matchup against the North Carolina Tar Heels. The Blue Devils are currently sitting at 9-2 in conference play and 19-3 overall while the Tar Heels are 3-8 in conference play and 10-12 overall.

However, as we all know, the rankings mean nothing when these two bluebloods face off.

ALSO READ: Duke’s top 10 game-winning shots of the Coach K era

Now that freshman point guard Cole Anthony is back on the floor for UNC, Duke fans are ready to see how well Tre Jones can lock him down, as the sophomore co-captain was able to hold Michigan State’s Cassius Winston to 4-for-14 earlier in the season and was able to cause problems for former Tar Heel Coby White last year.

With Duke coming off one of its worst shooting games of the year Tuesday against Boston College (the Blue Devils were 37.7 percent from the field), head coach Mike Krzyzewski knows the team has to perform a lot better if it wants to start off the rivalry with a win this season.

Although Carolina was able to sweep the regular season against Duke last season without Zion Williamson, the Blue Devils took down the Tar Heels when it mattered in the ACC tournament, eventually leading to Duke winning another tournament championship.

With this season already seeming like a bust for the Tar Heels, they will be looking to upset No. 7 Duke and regain a little dignity as this “ungifted” team hosts the Blue Devils.

Get your popcorn ready. Saturday night is gonna be good!

Stay tuned to Ball Durham for more updates, analyses, and opinions regarding all things Duke basketball — past, present, future, and in the NBA.