UNC's Struggle: Impact on ACC, Rivalry with Duke

0:00On March 20, Duke fans got a kick out of watching North Carolina blow a 19.2nd half lead recently, but some are now saying the fun is, over. The tar heels have struggled since Rory Williams retired, missing deep runs in the NCAA tournament, while even smaller schools like High Point advanced. Further, that rivalry between Duke and UNC has long defined Atlantic Coast Conference basketball, starting with Dean Smith's powerhouse in Chapel Hill. Back in the day, UNC was one of the top programs nationally, only rivaled by UCLA, and when Duke rose under Mike Trizizysky, their battles elevated, the whole league. Carolina fans are reeling from these setbacks, but the concern goes beyond that. A week UNC hurts everyone in the ACC, making it harder to get multiple teams into the sweet 16 or beyond. Duke remains solid under John Shire, yet the conference thrives when both blue bloods are clicking. Now voices are calling for a change with Hubert Davis, UNC's likable coach,

1:00arguing his tenure risks long-term irrelevance, firing him might sting short-term, but it could spark a rebound and keep the rivalry fierce. In the end, a strong UNC lifts the ACC tide for all, including Duke, so expect more pressure on Chapel Hill to shake things up soon.