The loyalty of Tyler Hansbrough towards the Tar Heels of North Carolina remains unshakable.
The former UNC basketball star hopes that his Alma Mater rival, Duke, will be short of his next match in the NCAA tournament.
Duke survived against Arizona in Sweet 16 on Thursday. Cooper Flagg finished the victory of the 100-93 with a summit of 30 points. The victory also struck the Blue Devils ticket for the Elite Eight, where they will meet the second seeded Alabama Crimson Tide.
If Hansbrough reaches its way, Alabama will eliminate Duke from the tournament on Saturday.
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The former North Carolina basketball player, Tyler Hansbrough, is recognized for his enthronement to the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in a match against the Duke Blue Devils at the Dean Smith Center on February 3, 2024, in Chapel Hill, NC, NC, NC, NC, NC (Peyton Williams / UNC / Getty images)
While Hansbrough chooses the Crimson Tide to win the first national championship in school history, he also took a moment to search the team he despises.
“I’m really locked up on the NCAA tournament. I’m going to go with” Bama, “said Hansbrough during a recent appearance in” The Pat McAfee Show “.
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“I know that they are facing Duke. In fact, Duke lost the first game to the head of 16. So, I am a little biased. I chose ‘Bama at the start of the year. So, I will stick to’ Bama.”
Members of North Carolina Tar Heels, including striker Tyler Hansbrough (Center), High-Five fans while leaving the court after defeating Michigan State Spartans 89-72 during the 2009 NCAA Championship match at Ford Field on April 6, 2009, in Detroit. (Bob Donnan / USA TODAY SPORTS)
The Crimson Tide reached the Final Four from last year. Despite Hansbrough’s personal bias, Duke will enter the match on Saturday with Alabama as a rating favorite.
Friday, Fanduel Sportsbook listed Blue Devils as a favorite of 6.5 points.
Duke Sion James (14) and the Mason Gillis (18) striker have the teammate movement in the first half of a Sweet 16 tournament against Arizona Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Newark, NJ (AP photo / Julia Demaoree Nikhinson)
The rivalry on the tobacco road remains among the most competitive in university basketball. Mike Krzyzewski led Duke to five national titles during his career. North Carolina has raised the trophy of the national championship six times, more recently in 2017.
Duke and Alabama are expected to denigrate on Saturday at 8:49 p.m. in Newark, New Jersey.
