UNC vs. NC State 13 Straight
By Matt Allred
With the upcoming throw down with North Carolina State University looming, I figured it was only right to do as Carolina fans should do and look back at our rich and outstandingly impressive history. First of all, our all time record against the pack is 147-75 and we even have a winning record when playing them on the road at 57-44. However, what I see as complete and utter domination is the way that this series has played out in the last couple of years.
The Heels have won 13 consecutive games against the Pack, and this includes 19 of the last 20. In fact, 14 games ago in Sidney Lowe’s first game against us (note that Lowe was the coach before the current Gottfried) he beat us. He wore a red blazer in that game and proceeded to wear the same jacket in every single game against the Heels after that. Needless to say, he never won another game against us and he may or may not have burned that accursed jacket.
Jan 20, 2013; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack forward T.J. Warren (24) and North Carolina State Wolfpack forward C.J. Leslie (5) talk during a break in the second half against the Clemson Tigers at PNC Arena. North Carolina State won 66-62. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
In more depth, the scores of the last 13 games (starting from the first of these games to the last) has been:
- 2/21/2007 – 83-64 (W)
- 3/11/2007 – 89-80 (W)
- 1/12/2008 – 93-62 (W)
- 2/20/2008 – 84-70 (W)
- 1/31/2009 – 93-76 (W)
- 2/18/2009 – 89-80 (W)
- And even in 2010 on 1/26/2010 – 77-63 (W)
- And again in 2010 on 2/13/2010 – 74-61 (W)
- 1/29/2011 – 84-64 (W)
- 2/23/2011 – 75-63 (W)
- 1/26/2012 – 74-55 (W)
- 2/21/2012 – 86-74 (W)
- 3/10/2012 – 69-67 (W)
That was 13 consecutive victories that I just recorded. Some state fans may argue that this is just ‘classic UNC fans looking at the past instead of the present’ but, George Santayana once said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Think about that guys and it may make sense to you how a team could beat its’ ‘rival’ 13 times in a row with no regard for human life.
To look back at some of these victories, one cannot forget the ACC tourney final in March of 2007 when Ty Lawson stole the ball with a couple of seconds left in a game that was already under control and dunked it at the buzzer. Sure it was kind of mean, but that doesn’t make it any less funny.
How did they not beat us in 2010? You know, that is a great question. This is of course the year that we made it all the way to the NIT final only to lose to the mighty Dayton Flyers. If there was gonna be a year that state would have beat us in the last 5 years, it would have been this game. But when the great Deon Thompson drops in 20 points on you and Larry “Turnover’ Drew adds 18, you will probably lose to that Carolina team. Later that year, when Larry Drew has 15 and 7 with Deon adding in 12 you will probably lose again to that lowly UNC squad.
In the biggest blowout of the series in January of 2008, Danny Green had 13 points to go along with 14 boards and 6 dimes. Hansbrough added in 13 and Lawson lead with 16. The Heels had 5 players score in double digits that game and state brought only 2 to the action.
The last 13 games against NC State have been hilarious. They have practically fired a coach because he couldn’t beat us, and their new coach has managed to reach the Sweet Sixteen and still not beat us. They have been close, though. For instance, the 2012 ACC tournament semi final game. Kendall Marshall makes a game winning bank shot, and I’ll let you decide whether or not this is a charge. (I don’t think it is but I’m no ref). You can start watching at the 2:30 mark if you don’t want to watch the whole thing.
You can have you own opinion, but I am not one to believe in calls in the last 10 seconds of a game anyway. It’s only a charge if it gets called. At the end of the day, a W is a W and an L is an L.
Honestly, writing this article may have been the most fun thing I have ever done (is that sad?!?!?!). To research all of this in preparation for what will hopefully be a hard fought game tonight at 7 on ESPN makes me happy. I love watching old youtube videos of Carolina dominating people with no shame, and most of all I love embarrassing the Wolf Pack to their very core. So cheer hard, Tar Heels, for tonight we can either make it 14 in a row or we can make it 1.