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ESPN staff
The storylines from Duke and North Carolina‘s first meeting in the Final Four were aplenty in one of the most anticipated matchups of the NCAA tournament.
The first Final Four meeting between the Tobacco Road rivals lived up to the hype in UNC coach Hubert Davis’ first Final Four as a coach and Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski’s last.
After two back-and-forth halves, the Tar Heels ended any chance of a fairytale ending for Krzyzewski with a 81-77 win. This victory came just weeks after UNC spoiled Coach K’s home finale.
After scoring just six points in the first half, Caleb Love picked up the pace in the second and led the game in scoring with 28 points. Armando Bacot was also a big contributor for UNC with 21 boards. He became the first player with a 20-rebound game in the Final Four since Kansas’ Nick Collison in the 2003 title game.
Speaking of, UNC will meet the Jayhawks for the national championship.
Those on both sides of the Duke-UNC rivalry weighed in on social media after the final buzzer:
Major luv n respect for Coach K. Phenomenal career, truly one of a kind.
— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) April 3, 2022
Mannnnnn stop playing with that perfect shade of BLUE!!!!🐑 pic.twitter.com/mWf8fPqGLB
— Vince Carter (@mrvincecarter15) April 3, 2022
A basketball legend 🐐
Thanks for one last ride, Coach K 💙 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/c97PUqlWgS
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 3, 2022
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) April 3, 2022
Farewell.#CarolinaFamily | @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/0AkvQLJ1OU
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) April 3, 2022
You can’t spell coach without K. #CoachK pic.twitter.com/Gd8dJSCMVN
— Nike (@Nike) April 3, 2022
Roy Williams is loving the UNC win 🤩@UNC_Basketball pic.twitter.com/Bzaq97ae4S
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 3, 2022
What’s school did MJ go to??? #Letsgoo @woodsonwhiskey @InterceptWines
— Charles Woodson (@CharlesWoodson) April 3, 2022
pick the right blue. https://t.co/ppIelrbNpL
— Eric Ebron (@Ebron85) April 3, 2022
Legendary game for many reasons & I hadn’t even really watched much college basketball this year. I love tournament time tho
— Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey) April 3, 2022
happy wife, happy life.@KealiaOhai pic.twitter.com/MppqQvRlji
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) April 3, 2022
Anybody but Duke pic.twitter.com/C9b7hVKI5M
— Torrey Smith (@TorreySmithWR) April 3, 2022
What they talking bout @tpinsonn 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥BEST UNIVERSITY IN WORLD
— Reggie Bullock (@ReggieBullock35) April 3, 2022
So proud of this group!!! @UNC_Basketball #GDTBATH
— Harrison Barnes (@hbarnes) April 3, 2022
Get em outta here!!!!!!
— Danny Green (@DGreen_14) April 3, 2022
I was at the Smith Center in February when Duke dubbed us by 20. The fact we’re here right now is a testament to the will & desire of these kids & Coach HD. Unbelievable growth. Damn proud to be a TarHeel tonight! #GDTBATH #GOHEELS
— Ryan Switzer (@Switz) April 3, 2022
🤷🏽♂️🤷🏽♂️ #UNCvsDuke pic.twitter.com/BQSkAEXiQA
— Jody Breeze (@Blafell1) April 3, 2022