This week is one of the best week’s of college basketball every season, probably the best prior to March. ESPN is loaded with “rivalry games” all week, and one of the best games is often Kansas-Missouri.

Last night was no exception when Missouri hosted the Jayhawks. I missed the first half, but picked it up at halftime and watched a great comeback by Missouri. Down fourteen at the half and still down ten with about eight minutes to go, the Tigers rallied in the final minutes to take a two point lead. Kansas tied it on their next possession, before Zaire Taylor got a friendly bounce on a 10-footer with 1.3 seconds left to give Missouri the win.

Rivalry week got off to a great start. But no matter what other games are played this week, there is no doubt that the highlight of Rivalry Week – as it always is – will be on Wednesday night when the greatest rivalry in college basketball takes center stage.

The first Duke-Carolina game of the year is always one of the most anticipated regular season games of the year. This year will be no exception as both teams are highly ranked (again). I plan to talk more about the rivalry and the upcoming game tomorrow, but I wanted to share this today.

As the game tomorrow night is at Cameron, Jay Bilas recently shared his five greatest Duke-UNC games at Cameron in this video from Blue Planet.

I wouldn’t argue with Jay’s selections, though he apparently limited his list to only games where Duke finished on top. All games considered, no matter the location or winner, I would submit a few other great Duke-Carolina games that come to mind along with the ones Bilas listed:

• 1984, ACC Tournament – After two losses that season to a Carolina team featuring Michael Jordan, Sam Perkins, Matt Doherty, Brad Daugherty and Kenny Smith, Duke upsets the #1 ranked team in the ACC semifinals, announcing their return to the national stage.
• 1992, Smith Center – Undefeated and top-ranked Duke loses by two when Christian Laettner failed on two shots in the final seconds. One of only two Duke losses that season on their way to their second straight national title.
• 1995, Cameron – Duke, on it’s way to a 13-18 season and at the time 0-7 in conference, took the #2 ranked Tar Heels to double-overtime before UNC wins by two. This game included one of the most memorable shots in series’ history when Duke’s Jeff Capel hit a half-court shot to send the game to the second overtime.
• 2000, Smith Center – UNC’s Joe Forte hits a three-pointer at the buzzer to force overtime after Duke had led by as many as 19 points in the second half. However, Duke holds off the Heels in OT for a four point win.
• 2001, Cameron – Duke, on it’s way to it’s third national championship, falls to the Tar Heels after a foul by Shane Battier gives Brendan Haywood two free throws in the final seconds.
• 2004, Smith Center – Jawad Williams hits a three to tie the game in the final seconds before Duke’s Chris Duhon takes the inbounds pass and drives the length of the court for a game-winning reverse layup.
• 2005, Smith Center – Eventual national champion Carolina, down by nine with three minutes remaining, storms back to win in the final minute and avoid a season sweep by Duke.

And I know there are many more. ESPN Classic is playing classic Duke-UNC games during the day this week, including some of the above games. I recorded two yesterday and will be recording two more tomorrow which I plan to save on DVD. There are so many great games in this rivalry, by two programs that are consistently not only at the top of the conference, but among the top teams in the nation as well. As I said, I plan to say more about it tomorrow, but I don’t think there’s anything better in sports than Duke-Carolina basketball. It’s absolutely the best.