Michael Malone sends strong message on North Carolina basketball-Duke rivalry

As the North Carolina basketball program hired Michael Malone to be its next head coach, he is entering a team that has a lot of expectations around it. With Malone accepting the North Carolina basketball gig, he is also now going to be a part of the heated rivalry with the Duke Blue Devils, as he speaks about their long-standing history.

If one thing is for certain, Malone is “ready to get into that,” as he said in his introductory press conference on Tuesday, and is prepared to have immense success.

He would even recall the Tar Heels’ exciting 71-68 win on Feb. 7 over the Blue Devils, as a late-three by Seth Trimble put them ahead, citing that as a moment that will live forever, with North Carolina and Duke ranked No. 14 and four at the time, respectively.

“I love rivalries,” Malone said, via The Field of 68. “You know, watching that game at home this year when Seth Trimble hit that corner three, my wife and I were jumping around and everyone back in Colorado.”

“I’m excited to be a part of that rivalry,” Malone continued. “I want to add to that rivalry. I want to win, and I know that Duke is a program down the road, and they’ve had success, but as I said earlier, I didn’t come here to be second best. I didn’t come here to lose in the first round of the ACC tournament. I came here to win and win at a big level.”

"I didn't come here to be second best, I didn't come here to lose in the first round of the ACC Tournament. I came here to win and win at a big level."

Michael Malone on being part of the North Carolina-Duke rivalry

(via @TheFieldOf68)pic.twitter.com/MIjFkzFkjA

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 7, 2026

At any rate, besides the rivalry between the North Carolina basketball team and Duke, Malone looks to bring his winning ways from the NBA, where he won a title in 2023 with the Denver Nuggets, to the Tar Heels.

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