A minor rant before the analysis. Hey I have you here, might as well use the time wisely! A month ago the Bleacher Report asked for a report on the unknown college basketball players–the ones that are really good but are overshadowed by the Big Names in the NCAA.

At first I was against doing the article on the principle that I don’t really see a point in following college basketball avidly until March. I don’t understand their ranking systems and the #1 team can change like four times in a week. It irks me anyway. There are always at least 20 teams that  know are going to practically get a hand written invitation every year because they ALWAYS go. Does it really matter if they were #1 in January? I’m sure someone will say yes but really, the answer is NO. You really never know what is going to happen until the tourney brackets are picked. There is always some random team on there that no one has a clue about.

Anyway, I did the article, and I learned a lot. Since then I’ve been kinda tuning in here and there to see what is going on. Totally admit that I had no idea that there was a big game tonight until I saw it on two of my friends’ away messages on AIM! Tonight is a big game for the biggest Big Name teams with the biggest rivalry.

UNC Tar Heels vs Duke Blue Devils

Is it worth the hype? Beats me! I’m excited and my friends are excited! And be prepared: you are going to be hearing the words Tyler Hansborough and Kyle Singler A LOT in the next hours. (Especially if you are an ESPN fan cuz they totally sweat them more than I do Kurt Warner and Fitzy)

Here is my breakdown of tonight’s match-up.

The Historical Rivalry

Oy! So remember how on OTH, Nathan was going to Duke and Lucas was going to North Carolina (aka UNC). Maybe you didn’t notice but there was this icky tension about that situation because it would have pitted the brothers against each other as arch rivals. The rivalry between the teams has been polled and determined to be the most intense and heated rivalry in college basketball–past and present–and maybe in all of sports.

It makes Gossip Girl drama look like a catfight.

It’s known to divide families as the teams are handed down from generation and practically handed out at birth.

It’s even been known to end in bloodshed:

The Tobacco Road Rivalry:

• The schools are only 8 miles away from each other in North Carolina and it’s called the longest 8 miles in the world. Tobacco Road.
• The rivalry is also known as Battle of the Blues
• The University of North Carolina (UNC) is a public school.
• Duke is private and very elite—and gets lots of funding.

“To legions of otherwise reasonable adults, it is a conflict that surpasses sports; it is locals against outsiders, elitists against populists, even good against evil… The rivalry may be a way of aligning oneself with larger philosophic ideals — of choosing teams in life — a tradition of partisanship that reveals the pleasures and even the necessity of hatred.” ~Will Blythe, Esquire editor, UNC grad.

• Both schools are in the ACC and are always in the top of their conference.
• Every year they battle each other twice
• UNC has 4 National Championships and 17 Final Four appearances
• Duke has 3 National Championships and 14 Final Four appearances
• UNC is the #2 team with the most victories in NCAA basketball history.
• Duke is #4
• In their 225 matchups against each other the score is UNC  128 – Duke 97.

Winner: UNC

Historical Player Analysis:

Helloooooo, the great Mike himself is from UNC.

When I asked the biggest Duke fan that I know (Mark) about what basketball greats started as Blue Devils that “Duke has not had great players in the NBA. Good, yes. Great, no”

• However, he then pointed out that   “It’s because they aren’t smart enough to play at Duke. Duke is a private, hard school to get into. They can’t just recruit anyone.”
• I’ll be sure to pass that on to Jordan when I meet him!

Winner: Clearly, UNC

__________________________________________

Coaching:

• UNC: I heart Roy Williams almost as much as I love Phil Jackson. Roy coached KU for years–and during the peak years of my KU lovin’— and I loved him then. My love remains pure.
• DUKE: Then again, how can you not love Coach K? He’s THE MAN!

Winner: Ooooh too tough to call for me:

The Current Roster

• UNC: I feel the same way about Tyler Hansborough as I do Kobe Bryant. Don’t like him, but have no idea why.
• Duke: I really think Jon Scheyer is great. And not just because his b’day is three days before mine making him another August cutie. (Okay so it’s because Mark said so. Whatever! He knows Duke ball!)
• Clearly, there are more but …. well, to be honest, I have dinner plans.

Winner: Duke

The Fans:

Winner: Duke

• You don’t mess with the Cameron Crazies from Duke. I’ve been trying to get the perfect WW Photo of them for weeks! They are hysterical.
• Dicky V is shamelessly a Duke fan. He loves them and he doesn’t care is he is biased!

The One Tree Hill Factor

I think it’s safe to say no one else has this kind of analysis…. Go ahead and laugh but I have been told by a very reliable source who is known for her extensive knowledge in many sports and teams, (who made me swear on our friendship not to disclose her name because it could ruin her and her sports credibility) that the real reason she picked the Blue Devils as her team si because she hearts Nathan Scott!

If you like Nathan Scott/James Lafferty: Duke

If you like Lucas Scott/Chad Michael Murray: UNC

The Deciding Factor:

In this case, I don’t even have to consider all of my analysis and compare it with My Official Rulebook for Team Selection.

If I were to root against Duke, Mark–known to some as The Mayor–would most likely resign from his position. And that is so not good. I need someone watching out for me! Because of this, I have added a new Rule: Do not root against Mark’s Teams if it will greatly upset him. This rule superceedes all others and must be obeyed at all times. *The name Mark can be substituted for the names of any friend, family member, co-worker or loved one that you are close to and should not piss off.

I am also terrified of those Cameron Crazies.

My pick: Duke

About the author: Jennifer Taglione is the owner of this fabulous website Stiletto Sports. Despite writing well over 500 posts, she still maintains that she is not a sports writer! She is however a huge fan of Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, Mark Sanchez, the Celtics, and totally kicks butt on March Madness brackets! Connect with her by following her on Twitter @StilettoSportsJ and subscribing to her weekly newsletter. For more info check out the About the Editor page!

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