This (Non) Sporting Life: Duke Vs. Carolina 2020 (I)

This is a post about sports by a guy who does not know a lot about sports.

 

Today’s topic: Duke Vs. Carolina

 

Here in North Carolina, one of the most intense rivalries in sports is between the Duke University Blue Devils and the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) Tarheels men’s basketball teams.

 

Entire countries have gone to war with less bitterness and passion as exhibited when Duke and Carolina clash on the basketball court.

 

Here at the Fortress of Ineptitude, we are a house divided. My wife Andrea is a lifelong Carolina fan while I have cast my lot with Duke.

 

The bitterness and passion of the Duke/Carolina rivalry is not typically part of our relationship.  Andrea is perfectly willing to support Duke and I am perfectly prepared to cheer for Carolina.

 

Except when Duke and Carolina play each other. Then all bets are off. 

 

So there we were on Saturday night on our respective ends of the living room couch.

 

Andrea urges Carolina on with demands that they “have to remember to rebound!” Failure to rebound is the greatest sin of all in Andrea’s basketball bible.

 

I’m pushing Duke to go with the clever strategy of “Put the ball through the hoop! Put the ball through the hoop! Put the ball through the hoop!”

 

I would make a lousy basketball coach.

 

I call the team to a huddle. “Guys! I’ve got a plan! It’s kind of crazy but it just might work! What if…. Hear me out now! What if we put the ball through the hoop?” 

 

Going into Saturday’s game, Duke was favored to win. Duke is #7 in the nation.

 

Meanwhile, Carolina has been having a really bad year with more losses than wins and a continually rotating roster of injured players. 

 

But from the get-go, Saturday’ game found Duke uncharacteristically struggling and Carolina playing like it’s old championship self.  Out of 40 minutes of game time, this state of play continued for 39 minutes.  Then in the last minute, Duke woke up and began acting like the #7 team in the nation. But is it enough?

 

With only a couple of seconds left, Duke is down by 3. Duke’s Tre Jones is at the free throw line. Even if he makes both free throws, Duke is still down by 1 with no time left to turn things around.

 

Tre makes the first shot. 

 

Then he puts up the second shot and it caroms right off the rim. Tres runs to exactly where the ball is going, catches it and immediately takes the shot. It goes in and the game is tied. We’re going into overtime! 

 

Overtime plays out in dramatic fashion. Duke takes the lead. Carolina takes it back. In the last seconds of overtime, Duke is down by two and damned if Tre Jones isn’t back on the free throw line. And damned if he doesn’t do the same thing again: he makes the first free throw and caroms the second. This time it’s a quick pass to another Duke player under the basket who tips it in and with zero on the clock and by one point, Duke wins the game!

 

Twice, Tre Jones saves the day by NOT putting the ball through the hoop!

 

Andrea was seriously bummed out. And I don’t blame her. I too though Carolina was going to get the upset win over Duke. To be honest, for most of the game, Duke was not playing their best. But the Blue Devils never gave up, even with mere seconds left on the clock and the odds against them. 

 

 

Tomorrow is my Tuesday TV Touchbase as I discuss non-sports related television stuff.