North Carolina versus Duke: Who changed the game of basketball more?

I have to be honest. As much as I dislike the Duke Blue Devils, I cannot argue against their accomplishments. Duke’s basketball program is one of the premier programs in the country, if not the world for that matter. In addition, Coach K is a really, good coach. However, the same description applies to the North Carolina Tar Heels. Their basketball program has as many accomplishments as Duke’s program. In addition, there have been coaches from Carolina that accomplished a great deal similar to Duke.

This discussion focuses on which program changed the game of basketball more. Your perspective will be influenced by your knowledge of the college basketball (past and present), your age (if you were not around in the 60s, 70s, or 80s, then you probably do not realize what has changed about basketball), and which program you like. I am going to try to be an unbiased as I can be.

Let’s look at Duke’s basketball program. Prior to Coach K’s arrival, Duke went to a few Final Fours and had some good teams. However, when Coach K arrived in Durham, North Carolina, he became an overnight success; as did Duke. His ability to beat Dean Smith’s Tar Heels catapulted Duke’s program into the spotlight during the 1980’s. Coach K’s philosophy centers on simple math: 3>2. If a team makes more three-pointers than two-pointers compared to the next team, then they will probably win. In addition, have several shooters on the floor so teams will be unable to focus on one player. This doctrine works, and Duke has championships and many wins under Coach K to prove it. In my opinion, Duke’s style of basketball is boring, but I realize that many teams continue to have a difficult time beating (with the exception of Lehigh University and Virginia Commonwealth just to name a few). Centering an offense on the three-point shot makes sense. Keep in mind that the NCAA did not adopt a three-point line nationally until 1986, which is also the first year that Coach K’s Blue Devils made the Final Four, and played in the championship.

Let’s turn our discussion to North Carolina. The Tar Heels have had many stars and accomplished a great deal, similar to Duke. However, North Carolina’s influence on the game of basketball dates back to the 1970s. I was born in 1976, so some of my basketball knowledge is limited. However, I am a student of the game and I have the internet. Dean Smith used the infamous “Four Corners” offense prior to the existence of a shot clock. Talk about smart basketball! Rather than give the ball back to the opposition so they can score more points, Dean has his point guard to keep the ball in his hands and run the offense. The “Four Corners” was all about stalling time and running time off the clock. The opposition was forced to foul the Tar Heels to get the ball back; that is, once UNC was in the bonus. Either way, it was a win-win situation for Carolina. To add insult to injury, Dean Smith had a point guard by the name of Phil Ford, who ran the “Four Corners” to perfection. Some people credit John McLendon (former North Carolina Central University coach) with creating the “Four Corners,” while other people credit former Winston-Salem State University coach, Clarence “Big House” Gaines as the creator of the “Four Corners.” All I know is that the “Four Corners” strategy originated in the state of North Carolina, regardless of who created it, and the North Carolina Tar Heels under the coaching of Dean Smith popularized it. In fact, the NCAA did not use a shot until the 1985-1986 season. During this season, the shot clock was 45 seconds. During the 1993-1994 season, the NCAA reduced the shot clock to 35 seconds. There is wide speculation that Dean Smith’s excessive use of the “Four Corners” played a major role in the adoption of a shot clock.

Whether you choose North Carolina or Duke, we can agree that both programs have played instrumental roles in changing the game of basketball. These changes have also enhanced the game.