Would you want to see a Duke vs UNC National Championship game?

[bullettoothtony]

Lord no. Never.

[azzefkram]

If it could be guaranteed that Duke pantsed them in a truly epic fashion, then sure. Otherwise, heck no.

[sagegrouse]

I think not living where the rivalry exists in everyday conversations with neighbors, shop keepers and co-workers allows me to say that I would love to see them meet in a final. So few things in life have the potential to create that level of emotional drama. Sure, I could liquidate my retirement savings and bet it on a game and be really emotionally invested, but that is too high stakes for me. I guess everyone saying "No" feels that the stakes would be the equivalent of what I describe with my life savings analogy.

Duke has been playing college hoops for 115 years and, since the NCAA tournament started in the late 1930's, has had enormous success but been to the finals only 11 times -- five wins. I'd gladly watch another Duke NCAA final under almost any circumstances.

And I agree -- my only trips to NC are to visit Duke -- so I'm relatively immune to UNC fandom.

[Bay Area Duke Fan]

I would love to see it. It would raise this great rivalry to new heights.

Have same-state rivals ever played in the NCAA championship game?

Only times I can recall are the 1961 and 1962 games in which Cincinnati (post-Oscar) upset Ohio State (Lucas, Havlicek), which had won the 1960 championship. Although those schools are close geographically (100 miles), they have not played each other regularly (so clearly wasn’t a “rivalry” similar to Duke-unc).

[Bob Green]

Yes.

[weezie]

Makes my stomach hurt just thinking about it but I'd be there.

[chrishoke]

Duke and the heels are in the final 4. Heels play first, I pull like hell for them to lose but they win. Am I going to pull for Duke to lose the 2nd game. Of course not. I take any option that has Duke in the final game, including 1991 against Vegas.

I have lived my entire life living behind enemy lines in NC. Their fans are insufferable to the nth degree all the time - and they are omnipresent. And they would continue to be regardless of the outcome of a Duke-Heel final.

[sagegrouse]

I would love to see it. It would raise this great rivalry to new heights.

Have same-state rivals ever played in the NCAA championship game?

Only times I can recall are the 1961 and 1962 games in which Cincinnati (post-Oscar) upset Ohio State (Lucas, Havlicek), which had won the 1960 championship. Although those schools are close geographically (100 miles), they have not played each other regularly (so clearly wasn’t a “rivalry” similar to Duke-unc).

The 1961 national finals, where Cincinnati beat Ohio State 70-65 in overtime is the only time, I believe, that two teams from the same state played in the finals.

A cursory inspection of the history of the Final Four shows that five separate times two teams from the same state were in the Final Four:

1959-1960 Ohio State and Cincinnati did not play
1960-1961 Cincinnati beat Ohio State in OT
1974-1975 Kentucky and Louisville did not play
1976-1977 UNC and UNCC did not play
2011-2012 Kentucky beat Louisville in semis

[Tripping William]

The 1961 national finals, where Cincinnati beat Ohio State 70-65 in overtime is the only time, I believe, that two teams from the same state played in the finals.

A cursory inspection of the history of the Final Four shows that five separate times two teams from the same state were in the Final Four:

1959-1960 Ohio State and Cincinnati did not play
1960-1961 Cincinnati beat Ohio State in OT
1974-1975 Kentucky and Louisville did not play
1976-1977 UNC and UNCC did not play
2011-2012 Kentucky beat Louisville in semis

Plus 1991 (IIRC, and there's always a first time).

[Bay Area Duke Fan]

The 1961 national finals, where Cincinnati beat Ohio State 70-65 in overtime is the only time, I believe, that two teams from the same state played in the finals.

A cursory inspection of the history of the Final Four shows that five separate times two teams from the same state were in the Final Four:

1959-1960 Ohio State and Cincinnati did not play
1960-1961 Cincinnati beat Ohio State in OT
1974-1975 Kentucky and Louisville did not play
1976-1977 UNC and UNCC did not play
2011-2012 Kentucky beat Louisville in semis

1961-1962 Cincinnati beat Ohio State again in the championship game.

[bullettoothtony]

Duke and the heels are in the final 4. Heels play first, I pull like hell for them to lose but they win. Am I going to pull for Duke to lose the 2nd game. Of course not. I take any option that has Duke in the final game, including 1991 against Vegas.

I have lived my entire life living behind enemy lines in NC. Their fans are insufferable to the nth degree all the time - and they are omnipresent. And they would continue to be regardless of the outcome of a Duke-Heel final.

Yeah, of course I wouldn't pull against Duke in that circumstance.

But as someone who's spent 44 of my 48 years on this Earth in NC--including now--i would much rather avoid them in the national championship game. Generally speaking.

[sagegrouse]

Plus 1991 (IIRC, and there's always a first time).

Hah!! What a mistake!! I looked at every FF and my eye just jumped over Duke and UNC in 1991 -- which was very close to the main idea of the thread. For the record --

1990-1991 Duke and UNC did not play (and Dean got thrown out of the semifinal game against Kansas)

[CameronBlue]

Yes. And because I know the weauxfgods are listening I will go no further.

[accfanfrom1970]

Yes.

Second. It means we’re playing for the championship. Never turn down a chance to play for the championship.

[SouthernDukie]

No Way! Risk/Reward factor isn't worth it.

[duke96]

First of all I would give a toe to watch ANY game at this point. All the more so for a national championship game. 10x all the more so for a championship game with Duke in it.

But at this point, as I am scraping the bottom of the barrel on Netflix and old games on Youtube, I for sure am not going to be picky about who our opponent would be in said game!

[OldPhiKap]

First of all I would give a toe to watch ANY game at this point. All the more so for a national championship game. 10x all the more so for a championship game with Duke in it.

But at this point, as I am scraping the bottom of the barrel on Netflix and old games on Youtube, I for sure am not going to be picky about who our opponent would be in said game!

Much truth in this.

[awhom111]

Why would I want UNC to win five games in the tournament?
Or even be in the tournament?
Or win a game, ever?

In the past, I would have said that I did not like them, but they were worthy rivals. Now, not so much.

[cspan37421]

Are we really chicken to face them because we might lose? Wow.

There was a time when I thought it would be the ultimate title game. But these days, I feel UNC shouldn't even be eligible to play post-season games, if not others too. Perhaps their legal eagles deserve admiration for threading the needle between SACS and the NCAA. But UNC sold their soul in doing so and I don't feel they belong on the same court, in the same conference, athletic association, etc etc.

[revmel53]

No...