Duke Fan for the night

[Jarhead]

Well I disagree with some of you. There is a time when it is the Christian (Laettner?) thing to do just to wish a defeat on Kentucky no matter their opponent. This Saturday, on CBS at 12:30 PM, UNC visits Kentucky.

[loran16]

I'm perplexed. Being from KY, the plan was for UNC to lose to MSU last night and then turn around and beat UK. That way both UNC and UK lose in the same week. Well now that UNC beat MSU, its going to be pretty hard to root for UNC over UK, since I don't want UNC to win two games in the same week over top ten teams. But I still want UK to lose? What to do???

Above all though, I just want a Duke win tonight.

You root for Kentucky.

For god sakes people, KENTUCKY IS NOT OUR RIVAL. They're less of our rival than Maryland.

GO whoever faces the Tar Heels*.

*Though as a consolation i'll take an acc/big eleven win tonight.

[Reddevil]

I'm not rooting for UK, I'm rooting against UNC - not the same thing.

Now, if the challenge were tied 5-5, and the UNC/Mich St game was the last one played...
ACC pride would take a backseat, and I would have to pull against the heels. That way if they won, the ACC thing would be an okay consolation, but I know I'd feel better inside if the goats lost. I just know I would!

[Carolina_Blue]

Ehh... I feel like this would not be the case if Duke and UNC's last five years had been flipped.

Either way, out of curiousity, I have a an honest, non-tongue-in-cheek question if you'd be willing to oblige me - are you a lifelong, born and rasied in NC, tar heel fan, or did your affiliation come from something later in life? Nothing wrong with either way, but I have a theory that it is physically impossible for a Duke or UNC fan that was raised a fan from birth in NC to root for the other team in any circumstance, ever. I've tried to root for UNC multiple times in situations like this, but even during the 8-20 season, I just could not watch five players in baby blue uniforms compete in basketball against five others and will good things upon the players in baby blue. We're talking a deep-seeded issue here that I have no conscious control over.

You are spot-on if the last 5 years had been flipped. I am born and raised in a small town you may have heard of Sanford, North Carolina. My family was life-long tar heels and I was born into that. I hate Duke as much as anyone, but for some reason I want to win the challenge more than I want Duke to lose. I think talking with people on this site has a little something to do with it, because I have seen Duke from yalls perspective. I absolutely know the feeling because when Duke plays state I hope they both lose, even though thats not possible. I go to the University of Tennessee now and I love Tennessee football and root for tennessee basketball, but when it comes down to strictly basketball I am all tarheel. This will be the first time I have ever pulled for Duke in any capacity. However, rest assured the rivalry is not lost on me I still do hate your institution with a passion that only the tobacco road crowd can understand.

[eightyearoldsdude]

Personally, I couldn't care less about which conference wins this thing. It's not like conferences win championships. It's every man for himself out there. F that, I'm rooting for Wisky.

(and even if the big ten wins, which they will, it's almost as embarrassing for them since it will highlight the ACC's past dominance.)

[trinity92]

I wanted MSU to crush UNC-- not just beat, but humiliate them on their home floor. I mean 10 minutes of those head-hanging towel covering tears close-ups to end a laugher of a blowout.

Having said that, I was glad the ACC got the extra point in the showdown-- it was a no lose scenario for fans of the good guys

I remember all too well a car full of 'holes driving around north campus my freshman year after I watched them beat us in Cameron, talking mess. That was enough to set me in my ways.

[Wander]

Every ACC win helps our SoS and RPI.

So what? We're not a bubble team who needs the RPI boost to beat out Creighton and Providence for the final NCAA tournament at-large spots.

I mean, yes, I guess technically a UNC win helps us out a tiny bit on average... it might theoretically make the difference between being the last 1 seed or the first 2 seed. But that chance is so incredibly low, it's not even close to being worth rooting for UNC.

[Greg_Newton]

You are spot-on if the last 5 years had been flipped. I am born and raised in a small town you may have heard of Sanford, North Carolina. My family was life-long tar heels and I was born into that. I hate Duke as much as anyone, but for some reason I want to win the challenge more than I want Duke to lose. I think talking with people on this site has a little something to do with it, because I have seen Duke from yalls perspective. I absolutely know the feeling because when Duke plays state I hope they both lose, even though thats not possible. I go to the University of Tennessee now and I love Tennessee football and root for tennessee basketball, but when it comes down to strictly basketball I am all tarheel. This will be the first time I have ever pulled for Duke in any capacity. However, rest assured the rivalry is not lost on me I still do hate your institution with a passion that only the tobacco road crowd can understand.

Well good luck! Like I said, I've planned on pulling for UNC before and it just didn't work out. I'll be interested to see if you can will yourself to do it!

[Heelkiller1]

Any day The holes lose is a great day for me,I just can't help to smile.

[eightyearoldsdude]

So what? We're not a bubble team who needs the RPI boost to beat out Creighton and Providence for the final NCAA tournament at-large spots.

I mean, yes, I guess technically a UNC win helps us out a tiny bit on average... it might theoretically make the difference between being the last 1 seed or the first 2 seed. But that chance is so incredibly low, it's not even close to being worth rooting for UNC.

This is so true. Both schools are the bluebloods of college basketball. Worrying about petty things like strength of schedule and RPI is beneath us. Let Clemson and Maryland do that.

[Devil in the Blue Dress]

This is so true. Both schools are the bluebloods of college basketball. Worrying about petty things like strength of schedule and RPI is beneath us. Let Clemson and Maryland do that.

And maybe Wake?

[Hermy-own]

I worked very hard last night to get myself to root for UNC, but could not quite pull it off. I tried to give a little cheer when they scored, but I couldn't get anything louder than a whisper, and I kept thinking how ugly the UNC uniforms were. Still, I want the ACC to win the challenge, and mentally I am happy that UNC won, even if my heart rejects it.

As for the UNC fan who rooted for Duke - thanks, I have no problem with that. I know some UNC fans who pull for Duke every game that isn't against them, so that the rivalry games are that much more intense. I will pull for you guys against Kentucky, but it's a one time offer.

[Carolina_Blue]

I worked very hard last night to get myself to root for UNC, but could not quite pull it off. I tried to give a little cheer when they scored, but I couldn't get anything louder than a whisper, and I kept thinking how ugly the UNC uniforms were. Still, I want the ACC to win the challenge, and mentally I am happy that UNC won, even if my heart rejects it.

As for the UNC fan who rooted for Duke - thanks, I have no problem with that. I know some UNC fans who pull for Duke every game that isn't against them, so that the rivalry games are that much more intense. I will pull for you guys against Kentucky, but it's a one time offer.

ugly uniforms?...we were voted best uniform in college basketball by cbs and fox sports last year...who I believed used the word "iconic" when describing the north carolina and carolina blue

[juise]

ugly uniforms?...we were voted best uniform in college basketball by cbs and fox sports last year...who I believed used the word "iconic" when describing the north carolina and carolina blue

(1) Many of us have a gag reflex when we see large amounts of that shade of blue (or anything close to it), so take our opinions with a grain of salt. I almost ralphed on a guy at the gym last night who was wearing "Columbia blue" shorts with a green Oregon Ducks t-shirt. Blech.
(2) Being honored by the network that brought us "The Best Damn Sport Show Period" and the worst camera work in the history of college basketball is not something that I would put on a resume... but that's just me.

[Rudy]

I am one Duke fan who roots for any ACC team when it plays out of conference. The stronger the conference is the better is the team who wins it.

I do like Tom Izzo, though, so I was neutral last night. I love that his team never gave up. I was very impressed with UNC.

Wait, Sanford, NC. Was that named for Duke prez Terry?

[Carolina_Blue]

(1) Many of us have a gag reflex when we see large amounts of that shade of blue (or anything close to it), so take our opinions with a grain of salt. I almost ralphed on a guy at the gym last night who was wearing "Columbia blue" shorts with a green Oregon Ducks t-shirt. Blech.
(2) Being honored by the network that brought us "The Best Damn Sport Show Period" and the worst camera work in the history of college basketball is not something that I would put on a resume... but that's just me.

The New York Daily News ran a feature presenting the 28 best-looking uniforms in sports. The only college basketball program on the list is the University of North Carolina.
"This hoops jersey is so synonymous with college basketball - and legends like four-time All-American Tyler Hansbrough - it has become its own color: "Carolina blue." ...thats three non-bias entities

[Indoor66]

The New York Daily News ran a feature presenting the 28 best-looking uniforms in sports. The only college basketball program on the list is the University of North Carolina.
"This hoops jersey is so synonymous with college basketball - and legends like four-time All-American Tyler Hansbrough - it has become its own color: "Carolina blue." ...thats three non-bias entities

Those stats play better on ic. I still think it is an ugly shade that is wayyyyyyyyyyyy over used at the dump on the hump.

[RoyalBlue08]

I am one Duke fan who roots for any ACC team when it plays out of conference. The stronger the conference is the better is the team who wins it.

I have to say I agree. I'll root against Carolina in conference and in the NCAAs, but this time of year I just want the ACC to rack up the wins. Honestly, I wouldn't mind if Carolina was undefeated every year when we played them. The bigger they are, the harder they fall.

[should_be_working]

You root for Kentucky.

For god sakes people, KENTUCKY IS NOT OUR RIVAL. They're less of our rival than Maryland.

GO whoever faces the Tar Heels*.

*Though as a consolation i'll take an acc/big eleven win tonight.

While I completely understand that UNC is Duke's rival, the key for me is location. Unless you've grown up in KY, you don't know what its like to be around UK fans 24/7, and in my case growing up, in the same house as them. So while UNC is the natural rival for Duke, UK is a natural rival for me. Believe me, if there was a way both UK and UNC could lose, that's what I'd root for.

[elvis14]

While I completely understand that UNC is Duke's rival, the key for me is location. Unless you've grown up in KY, you don't know what its like to be around UK fans 24/7, and in my case growing up, in the same house as them. So while UNC is the natural rival for Duke, UK is a natural rival for me. Believe me, if there was a way both UK and UNC could lose, that's what I'd root for.

My best friend who is a Duke fan and lives in South Carolina moved to Ky for about 2 years. After he told me about how bad it is with all the Ky fans, I explained to him that he now knows what it's like to live in NC with all the UNC fans. He went on and on about their awful attitude and how college basketball revolves around Ky as far as they are concerned, etc. etc. I just smiled and told him that I understood 100%. As such, I can understand where should_be_working is coming from.

Having UNC play Ky is kinda like having the Cowboys play the Giants, you root for injuries