UNC - Duke

If anyone saw last Wednesday's Carolina/Duke basketball game, you pretty much saw what seems to happen at least once every other season.  Although UNC leads the all-time series 131 - 102, recent years have shown a much more even trend.  At least one team is always in the top-10, last week's game included both teams in the top-10.  Home court seems to never be a factor, even in the feared Cameron Indoor Stadium.  Over the years rumors have swirled that Duke doesn't air condition the arena so it gets incredibly hot, which opponents aren't used to.  Fans have even suggested they tighten the rims because Duke is always one of the better shooting teams in the NCAA, which also gives them an even greater home court advantage.  Are the rumors true?  Probably not, but only Duke players and coaches know.  But last week's game took place in the Smith Center, which is often criticized for have a "whine and cheese" audience.  It didn't seem that way when Duke executed one of the greatest comebacks ever in the rivalry, which is saying something considering how many there have been.  The crowd was loud and out of their seats for most of the game, which Carolina lead for most of time until Duke rallied in the final 2 1/2 minutes with a barrage of threes and lucky opportunities.  It was a situation where everything had to happen a certain way for Duke to win, and it did.  UNC center, Tyler Zeller, even tipped in what looked like a clear missed three pointer by Duke's Ryan Kelly.  That and missed free throws by the big man lead to Austin River's opportunity to shoot a game winning three right over Zeller as time expired.  One couldn't help but feel bad for the big man who was a huge reason UNC was up three at halftime.  Fans because of his unfortunate series of mishaps quickly forgot his 23 points and 11 rebounds in the waning minutes of the rivalry game.