‘The rivalry’s still there’: Duke men’s basketball buries the past, wins latest battle in endless war against North Carolina

Historical past all the time repeats itself, till it doesn’t. 

Two days wanting 16 years previous to Saturday, freshman level guard Jon Scheyer was, for the primary time, the contemporary face with one thing to show in considered one of sports activities’ biggest rivalries, and he proved it. On an underdog Duke crew, the then-19-year-old put up 26 factors—greater than Tyler Hansbrough, greater than his captain DeMarcus Nelson, greater than anyone on the courtroom—because the Blue Devils charged towards what may need been their first victory towards North Carolina in additional than a yr. 

They misplaced by six. What ought to have been a triumphant new entry into the saga of Duke-North Carolina withered away, because the Blue Devils squandered a 10-point second-half lead on their dwelling courtroom. 

“We do not have time to sit down round and really feel sorry for ourselves,” Scheyer mentioned after that recreation in February 2007. He didn’t imply it this fashion—one other rival, Maryland, awaited Duke 4 days later—however in a way, he predicted how briskly life would take him from that second, to its mirror picture all these years later. 

After rivalry wins and nationwide championships, having earned the title “head coach-in-waiting”, affiliate head coach Scheyer was on the sidelines when North Carolina got here to city March 5, 2022. In Mike Krzyzewski’s last battle in Cameron Indoor Stadium, historical past repeated itself. 

In a recreation that resulted in some of the brutal defeats within the rivalry’s historical past, Duke had, at one level, led by seven within the second half. Present captain Jeremy Roach was a sophomore then, however he got here off the bench to attain 15 factors alongside star turns from Paolo Banchero and Mark Williams. North Carolina received by 13. A month later, it downed the Blue Devils once more within the Last 4. 

“That is private enterprise for us,” Roach mentioned after Saturday’s recreation, a 63-57 Duke win at Cameron Indoor. “Undoubtedly slightly bit private for me after what occurred final yr.” 

On Saturday night time, it appeared historical past needed one other go on the Blue Devils. They jumped out to a six-point lead early within the second half, controlling the sport higher than any Duke fan might have hoped coming in. It didn’t matter that the Tar Heels had fallen removed from their preseason No. 1 billing; that they had handed Duke its two highest-stakes losses beneath a yr earlier than, in order that they had been Goliath. However North Carolina clawed its manner again, and from the 13:13 mark till the ultimate 23 seconds, neither crew might wrestle away a two-possession lead. 

9 seconds later, Duke had received by six factors, and Roach had led all gamers with 20 factors. The cheers had been so loud that they hardly registered as sound, however extra like vitality piercing instantly via your cranium. They had been of recognition as a lot as they had been of pleasure: recognition that, in defeating historical past, Roach had gotten his revenge for 2022 and Scheyer, as head coach, had lastly gotten the rivalry debut he deserved as a freshman again in 2007. 

Besides, you’ll be able to’t defeat historical past. For 11 gamers on Duke’s roster, there was no historical past to avenge, solely historical past to make.

Freshman heart Dereck Full of life II, a consensus five-star recruit who has struggled with damage and inconsistency, set the Tobacco Street rivalry’s single-game blocks document with eight, whereas additionally setting profession highs in rebounds (14) and minutes (34)—all whereas matched up towards the ACC’s most prolific rebounder since Tim Duncan. Filipowski, instrumental within the recreation’s most important play, bounced again from a gradual begin to assist the Blue Devils cling to a 33-32 lead going into the break. When nobody else appeared to have the ability to, Australian rookie Tyrese Proctor made a bucket or a play, tying North Carolina’s RJ Davis for the game-lead in assists with 5. 

“We didn’t need to concentrate on final yr. There’s two, three returning guys from final yr, so we needed to flush that out the window, simply go to scrub slate,” Roach mentioned. “We didn’t attempt to overhype this recreation or nothing like that. We simply took it as an everyday recreation.”

That’s what occurred. Not one of the newcomers’ performances had something to do with the previous. For Scheyer himself, nobody will outline him by what he did as a participant or an affiliate, solely what he did as head coach: win. It is because, even because the rivalry shackles you to the burdens of the previous by advantage of the title in your jersey, it guarantees you could solely win the battle and by no means the conflict.  

For this Duke crew—11 first-year Blue Devils and 4 veterans led by a first-year head coach—that could be a great factor. Scheyer and the Blue Devils received this battle, however all that has earned them is the privilege to battle extra and create their very own chapter of historical past. Historical past may be repeated, it may be foiled, it may be avenged, nevertheless it can’t be stopped from marching onward. Duke proved Saturday that it’s alright with that; it’s able to run alongside it. 

“This can be a new period. The rivalry’s nonetheless there; it’s all the time going to be there, irrespective of who the coach is, irrespective of who’s enjoying,” Filipowski mentioned. “That is our alternative to depart a mark.”