'It was electric': UNC fans celebrate 93-84 win over Duke, while Duke fans hope team improves
UNC fans poured onto Franklin Street Saturday night after the North Carolina Tar Heels took down the Duke Blue Devils 93-84 at the Dean Smith Center.
Fans for either side gathered outside the Dean Smith Center and across Durham and Chapel Hill Saturday night, and UNC fans were ready for the matchup.
“It was electric,” one UNC fan said. "We got on the jumbotron for the dancing part."
Another fan mentioned the team hadn’t beaten the Blue Devils at the Dean Dome while they were a student at the school.
On Saturday night, they got their wish.
“It’s different than any other game before,” the fan said. “We’re ready, this is the one.”
Fans who were unable to make it to the game because of ticket prices gathered on Franklin Street.
“I don’t know of any rivalry in sports like this one anymore,” a third fan said. “It’s good to be part of it. It’s good to see the environment. Being from western New York, it’s good to have the sun on my face in February.”
Disappointed Duke fans left the game hoping for better luck in March when the two teams square off again. Duke fans who didn’t travel to Chapel Hill gathered at Bull McCabe's hoping for good food and a good game.
Students at the pub say they hope the Blue Devils can learn some lessons from the loss.
"The way the y turned the ball over tonight, I really hope they learn to take care of the ball better," one fan said. "The defense was alright, but also the three-point shooting has [to] be better. I hope this does light a fire."
Despite the the tough loss, Duke fans say they're proud of the effort head coach Jon Scheyer and his team put on display in Chapel Hill Saturday night and are hopeful the team can rally behind his leadership for their next battle with the Tar Heels.
