Duke basketball: 15 programs who hate Coach K’s success

Ranking haters of Duke basketball greatness: No. 1 North Carolina

The remarkable comeback and epic dagger from Austin Rivers in 2012. The purposely missed free throw by Tre Jones in 2020. The game-tying shot at the buzzer from Tre Jones, again in 2020. The putback winner in overtime from Wendell Moore, again in 2020. The comeback victory from Tyus Jones & Co. in 2015. The comeback victories in 2016 and 2017. The game-winning Dean Dome layup from Chris Duhon.

ALSO READ: The 100 greatest Blue Devils under Coach K

Yes, I know I missed a few. But I’m just trying to be as nice as possible here. Besides, North Carolina fans deserve credit for maintaining their high level of trash talk toward Duke these days when considering the Tar Heels are coming off a 14-19 campaign.

Look, we all know Mike Krzyzewski claimed dominance over the rivalry years ago and has remained on the throne ever since. One look at his 34-18 record in the series since 1999 — not to mention the soul-stealing fashion in which so many of the wins have come to be — is proof of that.

To sum this up anecdotally, when I was a 10-year-old diehard Dukie in 1991, I had to acknowledge that the now-late UNC head coach, Dean Smith, was the decades-long ruler of the ACC and the most recognizable face in the college game. Now, as I recognize most current 10-year-old ACC fans don’t even know who that is, I grin while Tar Heels wince and resort to using the “ratface” slur for the all-time supreme ruler of the NCAA in pretty much every regard outside of total national titles (Krzyzewski’s five trails only John Wooden’s 10 at UCLA).

But congrats on this No. 1 ranking, Tar Heels. You’ve earned it — and then some. Unfortunately, I don’t have an award for you, so I’ll instead just leave you with this delightful recent video:

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