NC State set to play Duke twice during regular season for only 3rd time in 10 years

Tobacco Road is the mecca of college basketball. I don’t even think anyone could argue that.

So why is it that NC State doesn’t play a rival school that’s just 20 minutes down the road, twice per season, every season?

Well, that was the dumb decision made in 2004 when the ACC added Boston College, Miami, and Virginia Tech.

NC State was paired as partners with UNC and Wake, meaning they’d play those school twice every season. However, they were not paired with Duke, meaning they would only play them twice per season every few years.

To me, this is awful for the game. And honestly, there are so many other ways to reconcile this. If NC State and Duke could play twice per year, every year. you’d be strengthening the brand of Tobacco Road, and thus strengthening the brand of the ACC.

But, we don’t get a say, so you’re stuck hoping that this year is the year we get to play Duke twice.

Let’s take a look at history…

2019-20: NC State last played UNC, Duke, and Wake twice in the same season during the 2019-20 season. NC State went 3-3 against their in-state rivals that season. Beating Duke once, and Wake twice.

2015-2016: Prior to the 2019 season, this was the last time the Pack played all three in-state rivals twice. In this season NC State went 3-3 again, beating UNC once and Wake twice.

2012-13: During this season, NC State also went 3-3 again their in-state rivals. They beat each team once, and lost to each team once.

The point is, you have NC State who is playing .500 ball against their in-state rivals over the past 10 years, two of which are usually ranked in the Top-25. This is what college basketball is all about. This is why people watch it. So why do we have to wait year on end to see NC State matchup with all 3 schools twice in the same season?

(Prior to the 2012-13 season NC State only played Duke twice in the 2010-11, 2007-08 and 2006-07 seasons, post 2004 expansion).

I could rant all day, but the good news is, NC State is playing Duke twice this season (along with UNC and Wake). Set your calendars.

Duke: January 4th (home) & February 28th
UNC: January 21st & February 19th (home)
Wake: January 28th & February 22nd (home)