UNC vs Duke basketball: Rivalry history when first game played at Smith Center

UNC basketball and Duke have opened their annual rivalry at the Smith Center in 20 seasons since the historic arena’s opening on Skipper Bowles Drive in 1986. The 14th-ranked Tar Heels (18-4, 6-3 ACC) and fourth-ranked Blue Devils (21-1, 10-0) meet in their latest battle of the blues on Saturday, Feb. 7 (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), in Chapel Hill. Before UNC’s Caleb Wilson and Duke’s Cameron Boozer – two of the nation’s top freshmen and projected top-five picks in the 2026 NBA Draft – match up on Roy Williams Court, let’s take a look at the history of...