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Caleb Love vs. Duke: The Final Chapter

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Nathaniel Noftz | Last updated Mar 26, 2025 12:29 PM ET

The moment he made his college decision, Caleb Love knew that his games against Duke would just mean more. That’s the case for every player who commits to the University of North Carolina. The rivalry to end all rivalries looms at least twice per year. Love knew that and took that to heart. No player has done more to spoil the Blue Devils since Love joined the Tar Heels. However, it all ended after the 2022-23 season, when Love was pushed out of Chapel Hill and transferred to Arizona. Seven games against the Blue Devils, it seemed unlikely that he would ever play them again. But Love could never be separated from Duke, not after what he did to that program. It would always have to end with Caleb Love vs. Duke. There never was another option. Love will now take on Duke in the Sweet 16 for the final time this Thursday.

Caleb Love vs. Duke: The Final Chapter

The Games for North Carolina

In arguably the greatest rivalry in college athletics, Love knew the Blue Devils would hate him. So he had no other choice but to bring everything he had against Duke. In Love’s first game vs. Duke, as a true freshman, he scored 25 points with seven assists in a narrow win at Cameron Indoor. He followed that with an 18-7-3 line in Chapel Hill. He only averaged 10.5 points per game as a freshman, but he knew when to bring his best.

However, Love struggled in his sophomore year against Duke, shooting only 7-27 from the floor and scoring 30 points in two games in the regular season. He did end up with 22 points in the regular season finale with five assists and five rebounds but shot only 4-17 from the floor in the win. That win propelled North Carolina into the NCAA Tournament, where they made their historic run to the Final Four.

Coach K’s Last Game

The 2021-22 campaign was the end of Mike Krzyzewski’s brilliant coaching career. A group of stars at Duke, led by first overall pick Paolo Banchero, seemed destined to lead Coach K to his final national championship. What better way for arguably the best coach in college basketball to end his career? North Carolina received an eight-seed, but fate drew together the inseparable forces: Love and North Carolina vs. Duke in the Final Four. The game didn’t disappoint.

The game came down to the final possessions. Every basketball-loving television in the country tuned in, rooting for Coach K and the Blue Devils for possibly the only time in their lives. With only 25 seconds left, up by one point, history was made.

One year ago today, Caleb Love hit the dagger for @UNC_Basketball as the Tar Heels defeated Duke in Coach K’s final game to advance to the National Championship #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/i8SRQJB8vG

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 2, 2023

Love drained the shot, the dagger in Coach K’s career. Love scored 28 points, but none were more important than that bucket. North Carolina would go on to lose the national championship to Kansas in heartbreaking fashion. However, Love had reigned supreme over the Blue Devils, and Duke fans would never forget, or forgive.

The Transfer

North Carolina lost both games to Duke the following season and missed the NCAA Tournament. Love received the most criticism out of anybody. Tar Heel fans blamed him, similar to the ongoing situation with Elliot Cadeau. Love opted to transfer out. He decided to attend the University of Arizona, where people assumed the rivalry against Duke would be virtually over. However, fate had other ideas.

When they released the schedule, Arizona played Duke in Love’s second game as a Wildcat. Caleb Love vs. Duke in a different way: what better way for his career to start in Arizona? Well, that game didn’t go well. Arizona lost, and Love struggled. Despite his team’s success that season, they fell short in the Sweet Sixteen to Clemson. Love had one year left of college eligibility and opted to return to try and win a national championship with Arizona. This season, Duke remained on the schedule. Love put together the worst performance of his career against Duke, scoring only eight points. Arizona lost then and struggled early in the season. However, they caught fire, earned an NCAA Tournament bid, and made it to the Sweet Sixteen.

Caleb Love vs. Duke: There Was No Other Way

As soon as the NCAA Tournament bracket was revealed, people circled Duke vs. Caleb Love and Arizona. After playing against Duke nine times in his career, more than any other team by a considerable margin, Love must face them a tenth time. He has a 5-4 record against the Blue Devils. Duke has national championship aspirations and looks significantly stronger than when they played in November. Freshman phenom Cooper Flagg and an elite supporting cast will be as strong as any Duke team Love has faced since the 2022 Final Four.

How will the story end? Will Duke rise up and even the series 5-5? Or will Love give the final blow, ending Duke’s national championship hopes like every North Carolina recruit is destined to? He may have been pushed out of Chapel Hill, but Love’s hatred for Duke will never die. He’s played the Blue Devils too many times.

Beware, Duke fans. You may be the favorite to win this game, but Love has dealt with worse odds before. And he won’t let his career go out so easily, especially against the Blue Devils. He needed to go through Duke one more time. So, will he seize the opportunity and lead them to victory? Or will his career fittingly end at the hands of the Blue Devils, finally getting revenge for their beloved Coach K? There was never another way.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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