UNC Basketball: 11 Historical Games and Moments against Duke
March 2nd, 1974: #4 UNC 96, Duke: (8 Points in 17 Seconds): It was Senior Day for Bobby Jones however the Heels were outplayed much of the day by a motivated Duke team trying to save their coach Neill McGeachy’s job. The Tar Heels were down 86-78 with 17 seconds when Coach Smith called a timeout told his team were going to win the game and this how we’re going to do it.
After Jones hit two free throws the Blue Devils failed to successfully inbound the ball twice resulting in layups for Jones and John Kuester cutting the lead to 86-84. Next time Duke was able to get the inbound pass in to Pete Kramer who was immediately fouled by Kuester, Kramer was a 77% career shooter from the line but was only shooting 58 % that season, he missed and Ed Stahl grabbed the rebound calling the team’s final timeout.
In the huddle Coach Smith called “513, skip the 1” this meant center Mitch Kupchak had to skip the pass to the point guard and throw a long pass to freshman Walter Davis. Davis instead of driving to the basket like Coach Smith told him, took two long dribbles to the corner and launch a 28-footer banking it in off the glass sending the game into overtime and Carmichael into euphoria. Carolina went on to win 96-92 giving Duke one of its worst loss ever. Adding insult to injury literally was Duke SID at the the time Richard Giannini breaking his foot kicking a bleacher after learning his wife had separated her shoulder after being knocked over during the celebration of Davis’s shot.
Duke’s coach Neill McGeachy refuse to discuss or acknowledge the game publicly for over 10 years. Two days later in practice Coach Smith had Davis attempt the shot from the same spot almost 10 times, Davis never hit one. This comeback is still considered by many to be the greatest in college baskestball history.