UNC Basketball: Tar Heels’ best home performances vs. the Duke Blue Devils

No. 9: March 7, 1993

The storylines surrounding this game will blow your mind. The Duke Blue Devils were the two-time defending champions in 1993.

When this game took place, the Tar Heels were the number one ranked team in the nation. Duke was ranked sixth in the country.

One month prior to this game, Duke defeated North Carolina 81-67 at home. At that time, UNC was ranked sixth in the country and Duke was ranked fifth.

This game was set up beautifully. Defending champs versus the best team in the nation. UNC prevailed in this game. They avenged their loss to the Blue Devils with an 83-69 victory.

UNC was led by Donald Williams, Eric Montross and George Lynch. Williams scored 27 points (5-of-8 from three-point range), grabbed one rebound and had one steal. Montross had 18 points, seven rebounds, three blocks and one assist. Lynch finished the game with 12 points, 11 rebounds, two blocks, one assist, one steal. When Lynch graduated from UNC, he was the all-time leader in steals.

Duke’s star forward Grant Hill did not play in this game, although he played in the first matchup in 1993. The Tar Heels held Duke point guard Bobby Hurley to six points (2-of-12 from the field, 1-of-7 from three-point range) in this game.

The Tar Heels won their final nine games during the regular season. The rest is history. UNC won the national championship in 1993.

The national title lived on Tobacco Road for three consecutive years.