North Carolina’s victories over Duke in early March and early April will be remembered fondly by Carolina basketball fans for many reasons.

The first ruined Mike Krzyzewski’s final home game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on a night when approximately 100 former Duke players joined the Cameron Crazies for both a nationally televised game and a postgame ceremony celebrating Coach K’s 42 seasons in Durham.

The second, of course, came on the greatest stage the legendary 100-plus-year-old Carolina-Duke rivalry had ever experienced: the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament, with the Tar Heels’ triumph ending Duke’s season and sending Krzyzewski into retirement.

Now the Blue Devils may be in the process of adding one more impressive layer of context to the Tar Heels’ twin wins.

With the recent early entry announcements of five Duke underclassmen, the 2022 Blue Devils have a legitimate chance to make NBA draft history later this year.

Since the creation of the professional basketball draft in 1947, only one college team — the 2010 Kentucky Wildcats — ever has had five first-round picks in the same year. Duke has a chance to match that record at this year’s draft, which will be held June 23 in New York City.

Freshman forward Paolo Banchero is projected as a top-five selection, while freshman forward AJ Griffin and sophomore center Mark Williams also are expected to be lottery picks. Freshman guard Trevor Keels and junior forward Wendell Moore Jr. are projected to go either later in the first round or in the second round.

In 2010, by the way, that legendary Kentucky team, led by John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins, went undefeated at home and finished 35-3 after being upset by West Virginia in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.

In 2022, of course, the Blue Devils finished 32-7, falling to the rival Tar Heels to end their regular season, their postseason and their legendary coach’s career.

 

Photo via Todd Melet.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.

 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Related Stories
‹
Art's Angle: Repeating History
It’s no less than incredible how the last 10:31 of Duke's Final Four game Saturday night might affect them, the ACC, UNC and their rivalry.
On Air Today: Art Chansky on UNC Men's Basketball's Loss to Duke and Regular Season Recap
The Hill's Art Chansky joins Brighton McConnell to discuss UNC men's basketball's loss to No. 2 Duke and their ACC Tournament draw.
Art’s Angle: Not Enough
Despite a spirited first half performance by UNC, No. 2 Duke proved to be too much for the Tar Heels. Art Chansky shares his thoughts.
Art’s Angle: Don't Cry
Saturday's drubbing at Duke was predictable, given the Blue Devils’ decided advantages of depth, superior size and talent this season.
Art’s Angle: Ryan, ‘Not Surprised’
Cormac Ryan earned the headlines during UNC men's basketball's win over Duke, but his coach said the 31-point performance was no surprise.
Social Media, Franklin Street Erupt for UNC Men's Basketball's Regular Season Sweep of Duke
UNC men’s basketball closed its regular season in the best possible way on Saturday: beating Duke and claiming the outright ACC regular season title. The Tar Heels earned the 84-79 victory and eventually made the trip in the team bus to Franklin Street, where UNC students and community members greeted them after rushing the downtown […]
WATCH: North Carolina Stingray 'Predicts' UNC-Duke Game
The SEA LIFE Charlotte aquarium had one of its stingrays make a prediction in the UNC and Duke men's basketball game. Who did it pick?
Art’s Angle: The Winner Is...
Appropriately for the Academy Awards season, UNC junior Harrison Ingram said it felt like he was in a movie. And the Best Supporting Actor got just what he was looking for when transferring from “football school” Stanford north of Hollywood to play on Tobacco Road in the biggest game. And as Duke tried to restrict […]
Social Media Celebrates UNC Men's Basketball's Win Over Duke
It was a party in the Dean E. Smith Center and on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill on Saturday after UNC men’s basketball closed out Duke in a 93-84 victory. But plenty of Tar Heels also took the party to social media to celebrate the win. 𝐇𝐄𝐄𝐋𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐍.#CarolinaFamily | @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/rX33bXApXq — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) […]
Photo Gallery: UNC vs. Duke
The UNC men’s basketball team took Duke apart at home on Saturday night, winning 93-84 in the two rivals’ first matchup this season. Check out WCHL & Chapelboro’s photos from the matchup, as well as College GameDay’s visit Saturday morning to preview the game.  
›