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March Madness: 10 best potential games in the NCAA Tournament

By Mike Phillips

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 15: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks on against the Duke Blue Devils during their game in the semifinals of the 2019 Men's ACC Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 15, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 15: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks on against the Duke Blue Devils during their game in the semifinals of the 2019 Men's ACC Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 15, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 16: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils shoots a three pointer against the Florida State Seminoles during the championship game of the 2019 Men’s ACC Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 16, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 16: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils shoots a three pointer against the Florida State Seminoles during the championship game of the 2019 Men’s ACC Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 16, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

1. Duke-North Carolina, National Championship Game

The history of the great rivalry between Duke and North Carolina has been well documented, but the two schools have never met in the NCAA Tournament, which is downright shocking considering the basketball excellence of both programs. The only postseason meeting in history between Duke and North Carolina came in the 1971 NIT, with the Tar Heels picking up a 73-69 win in what was then the more prestigious tournament.

The Blue Devils and Tar Heels have already met three times this year, with North Carolina claiming the regular season sweep while Duke was without Zion Williamson. Williamson returned for the third matchup in the ACC Tournament semifinals, where he went for 31 and 11, including the game-winning tip in with 30.3 seconds to go in a 74-73 victory for Duke.

The Tar Heels have given Duke the most trouble all season long, so it would be true theater to see these two programs meet for all the marbles in Minneapolis this year. Seeing the first NCAA Tournament matchup between Duke and North Carolina come this year, when both ACC rivals are at the height of their powers, would be a rating bonanza for CBS and a win for sports fans throughout the country.

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