UNC Basketball: 11 Historical Games and Moments against Duke
The 1984 season: The Heels and Blue Devils might of played its best series of games in the 1984 season, Carolina had what many called its best and most talented team ever with Michael Jordan, Sam Perkins and freshman point guard Kenny “The Jet” Smith while Duke was in the second season with Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s signature class with sophomores Johnny Dawkins, Jay Bilas, Mark Alarie and David Henderson along with freshman point guard Tommy Amaker.
The top-ranked Heels beat the unranked Devils 78-73 in Durham giving Coach K his 5th straight loss to the Heels. The game is famous for Coach Smith banging on the scoreboard table after being unable to get his sub in and adding 20 points to the scoreboard for Carolina which led Krzyzewski to accused many of having a double standard for Smith and Carolina after the game.
The next two games were instant classics, in the final home for Jordan, Perkins and future Tar Heel coach Matt Doherty the top-ranked Heels defeated the 15th ranked Blue Devils 96-83 in double overtime extending Duke’s Carmichael losing streak to 19 games. Doherty made the marquee play of the game driving the length of the floor and hitting a 15-foot floater to the send game into a second overtime.
After the game Coach K told his team “we’re going to see them again and next time we’re going to beat them”. Duke got that shot the next weekend in the ACC Tournament semifinals upsetting the Heels 77-75.