Before Duke beat UNC in overtime because someday had to win this incredible game, before UNC blew a 10-point lead with less than four minutes left, before Duke blew a 13-point lead of its own, before the opening tip, there was this dramatic moment of silence for Dean Smith. The legendary Tar Heel coach passed away on February 8 at the age of 83.
After the game, Mike Krzyzewski had this to say about Smith:
“He might not have liked the result of the game, but I’m sure he liked the way both teams played.”
Indeed, although simply being part of another classic contest in this 95-year-old rivalry won’t mean much to the current players, or UNC fans, who have now seen the Tar Heels lose four of the last five against Duke.
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