Carolina -Dook

This is one of the most exciting weeks of my year. Not because of Super Tuesday, not even because of the Super Bowl. No folks, this week is exciting because of a great game between two rivals, with two different shades of blue, separated by only 8 miles of Tobacco road. This is CAROLINA-DOOK* week.

Arguably the greatest rivalry in all of sports, these two teams represent what's best about college basketball. Passionate fans, unparalleled talent and a rich tradition of excellence makes every game a classic. Every Carolina and Dook fan has their favorite game. My personal favorite would be the clash in Chapel Hill in 1998. It was a back and forth affair until the final minutes when Carolina broke the game open with a 26-2 run, capped off by the greatest missed dunk ever.

A few numbers point out just how great the rivalry is. UNC and Dook have played37 games when both teams are ranked in the top 10 and 25 times when either team is ranked No.1 in the country. They have also played 5 times when both teams are ranked in the Top 5 with Carolina leading 3-2. I can't think of another contest between two teams who hate each other so intensly and who play so many memorable games.

I will be sitting on pins and needles all day tomorrow up until tip-off at 6 pm and throughout the entire game. I have been a real Carolina fan for more than a decade. In fact, my first memory is their national championship victory over Michigan in 1993. I was a fan through the mid 90's of Jameson, Williams, Carter, and Cota as well as the Doherty years most fans like to forget. When they lose, it takes me a day or two just to get over it. When they lose to Duke, it's a sense of embarassment and hurting that lasts for days on end. On those glorious days when they dismember the Blue Devils, I am on cloud 9 and there isn't a thing that can bring me down off that euphoric high.

So at 6 PM, I will don my tar heel basketball shirt and square up in front of the TV to root on the Heels. It should be a good game. The two teams have strengths and weaknesses that the opponent can exploit. Certainly after the Tar Heels lost Ty Lawson on Sunday, it will be more difficult to run our offense but Quentin Thomas is a capable, quick point guard who should be effective. Our greatest advantage in the front court is clearly in the front court with Hansbrough, Thompson and Stepheson but Dook has several quick quards who could pose problems for the Carolina defense. Either way, it's gonna be awesome!

GO HEELS, BEAT DOOK!

*Gina Del Tatto deserves full credit for enlightening me on the correct spelling of that other University 8 miles down the road in Durham.