'The Duke game is all that matters': UNC fans celebrate win over Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium
Fans of the North Carolina Tar Heels are celebrating their win over the Duke Blue Devils on Saturday night.
North Carolina beat Duke, 84-79.
UNC fans rushed Franklin Street after the Tar Heels won like they did when the teams squared off on Feb. 3.
"We were the better [team]," One UNC fan said. "We knew we were going to win."
Cormac Ryan led the Tar Heels with 31 points against the Blue Devils, leaving fans excited for more.
"It means so much to see what these guys [have] gone through, [especially] all the new guys," the fan said. "Cormac had a great night. I'm excited to see what they do down the stretch in March."
The two teams could play again in the ACC Tournament, which tips off Tuesday in Washington, D.C.
North Carolina will be the top-seeded team at the tournament, while Duke will be the No. 2 seed.
UNC fans told WRAL News they look forward to the two rivalry games yearly, even if Saturday’s weather didn’t reflect it.
“You always want to beat Duke, even if you haven’t won all season,” one fan told WRAL News. “The Duke game is all that matters.”
Duke fans, who gathered at Cameron Indoor Stadium ahead of the game for ESPN's College GameDay, were hoping for a home-court win after falling in the season's first matchup against the Tar Heels.
Despite losing the game, fans said they will still cheer for the Blue Devils.
"We can be down by 10 and we are cheering," Duke student Taylor Glatt said. "We want to win [and] we want to be there. It's electric."
Fans showed up in a variety of clothes and costumes, encapsulating why they are called the "Cameron Crazies."
"This looks like the Founding Fathers, this is the 'Founding Brothers,'" One Duke fan said. "We're here to revolutionize K-Ville and to warn everyone that the Tar Heels are coming."
The Crazies showed up inside the arena, as Duke nearly completed the comeback against North Carolina.
"I'm so proud. They left everything on the court," Glatt said. "It was a great game to watch."
While Duke fans may have lost the battle, they say they will not lose the war.
"I think they've proven all season long through adversity that they're tough," Duke student Sam Swofford said. "They're sticking with it. No matter the losses, they always bounce back. So I think this team is in it for the long run."
