Basketball rivalry dissected at book forum

Before moving to Chapel Hill, librarian Margot Malachowski of Carrboro's Cybrary realized the intensity of the Carolina-Duke basketball rivalry at a funeral when someone asked her which color blue she preferred.

So when she set out to plan community forums for discussing books about issues important to residents, the Carolina-Duke rivalry seemed an obvious choice.

Monday night, community members came to the Carrboro Century Center to share their opinions on the heated topic and to hear the analysis of experts - authors and journalists, including Art Chansky, Ken Tysiac, Al Featherston and Barry Jacobs.

The panel agreed that talent and proximity greatly contribute to the intensity of the rivalry.

"It's really a case of opposites attract," said Chansky, a University alumnus and author of Blue Blood: Duke-Carolina.

"It's a private school versus a public school. It's a big school versus a small school. It's a primarily out-of-state school versus an in-state school.

"And basketball is the most similar thing about them."

Each of the experts explained recruiting struggles, player conflicts, and coaching differences that make up an elaborate history of the rivalry.

Chansky noted one key example in the 1989 recruiting battle for Bobby Hurley.

Chansky said Dean Smith's recruiting policy was to offer "number two" spots to players who were his back-ups - if his first choice did not accept a scholarship, Smith would pass it along.

Such was the case with Hurley, until Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski offered Hurley an immediate spot and the recruit accepted.

"From that point on, the whole recruiting philosophy of Dean Smith changed," Chansky said.

All the journalists said coaching always has been a main factor in the rivalry and that shifts such as Smith's retirement, Roy Williams' arrival and a future Krzyzewski retirement will play a large role.

"The most exciting element in this rivalry is that we don't realize how lucky we are to be sitting with two Hall of Fame coaches over the last 30 years," Chansky said of Smith and Krzyzewski.

The dueling coaches have had their differences during the years, but the relationship has been beneficial to them both, Featherston said.

"They fed off each other," he said. "Dean is very stubborn like Mike is very stubborn."

Coach Roy Williams has had his part in the rivalry as well, Tysiac said.

"What would've happened if Roy would have stuck to his 'I don't give a bleep about Carolina' and didn't come?" he asked. "I think the coaches are that important."

Featherston said the coaches' play-calling and decision making have been difference makers over the years, citing Smith's gradual realization that he should use King Rice to shut down the Duke defense in the 1990s.

"He made Bobby Hurley cry."

Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.