The Biggest College Basketball Rivalries

The biggest college basketball rivalries are the ones that have been around for decades. These are the games that fans look forward to every year, and the players always seem to bring their best.

Kentucky vs. Louisville

There are few college basketball rivalries as big or as intense as the one between the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville The two schools are separated by just 70 miles, and their fans are some of the most passionate and loyal in all of College Basketball

The rivalry really heated up in the early 1990s, when Louisville coach Rick Pitino and Kentucky coach John Calipari first squared off against each other. Since then, the two coaches have engaged in some very public battles, both on and off the court.

The rivalry came to a head in 2012 when Louisville defeated Kentucky in the Final Four, en route to winning the National Championship That loss still stings for Kentucky fans, and you can bet that they will be looking for revenge when these two teams meet again this season.

Duke vs. North Carolina

Duke and North Carolina are two of the most successful and well-known College Basketball programs in the country. The two schools have a long-standing rivalry that is one of the most intense in all of sports. The two teams have met 184 times since their first meeting in 1920, with Duke holding a 98-86 lead in the all-time series.

The rivalry between Duke and North Carolina is so intense because the two schools are located just eight miles apart in the state of North Carolina The two teams are also among the most successful in college basketball history, with a combined 39 NCAA tournament titles and 24 Final Four appearances.

The intensity of the Duke-North Carolina rivalry was on full display in February of 2019 when a fight broke out between members of the two teams during a game. The fight resulted in the ejection of four players, including Duke star Zion Williamson

Indiana vs. Purdue

The battle for the old gold and black is one of the most heated rivalries in all of college basketball The Indiana Hoosiers and Purdue Boilermakers have been battling it out on the hardwood for over 100 years, and the competition is as intense as ever.

These two schools are separated by just 60 miles, and their fan bases are some of the most passionate in the country. The games between these two teams are always packed with energy, and the atmosphere is electric.

The rivalry between Indiana and Purdue is one of the most intense in all of college basketball These two schools are separated by just 60 miles, and their fan bases are some of the most passionate in the country. The games between these two teams are always packed with energy, and the atmosphere is electric.

UCLA vs. USC

There is no college basketball rivalry more heated than the one between UCLA and USC. The two schools are separated by just 12 miles, and the fans are intensely loyal to their team. While USC has traditionally been seen as the better team, UCLA has won more NCAA Championships That said, USC has had more recent success, making it to the Elite Eight in 2008 and 2011.

Kansas vs. Missouri

The biggest college basketball rivalries usually involve teams from the same conference who are vying for conference supremacy. But sometimes, two teams from different conferences can develop a heated rivalry, as is the case with Kansas and Missouri.

Kansas and Missouri are two of the most successful college basketball programs in history. They have a combined 8 National Championships and 33 conference titles. But what really sets this rivalry apart is the fact that the two schools are only separated by 120 miles.

The rivalry reached its peak in the early 2000s when both teams were consistently ranked in the Top 25. The games were always highly-anticipated and often had conference implications.

In 2012, Missouri left the Big 12 Conference for the SEC, effectively ending the rivalry. But when they meet again on the court in 2017, there is sure to be plenty of bad blood between these two historic programs.

Syracuse vs. Georgetown

Syracuse vs. Georgetown is one of the biggest College Basketball rivalries. The two teams have met over 80 times, with Syracuse winning over half of the matchups. The rivalry began in the early 1980s when both teams were among the best in the country. Georgetown was coached by John Thompson who was known for his tough, physical style of play. Syracuse was coached by Jim Boeheim, who preferred a more up-tempo style of play.

The two teams met in the finals of the NCAA Tournament in 1982, with Georgetown winning handily. This only served to fuel the rivalry, and the two teams met several more times in the tournament over the next few years. In 1985, they met again in the finals, with Syracuse coming out on top this time. The games between these two teams are always highly anticipated and are often televised nationally.

Connecticut vs. Louisville

This is a matchup of two of the best basketball programs in the country. Connecticut has won four national championships, while Louisville has won three. These two teams have met twice in the NCAA tournament with Louisville winning both times.

Ohio State vs. Michigan

The Ohio State Buckeyes and the Michigan Wolverines are two of the most iconic College Basketball programs in the country. They have a long-standing rivalry that is one of the most heated in all of sports. The teams first met on the hardwood in 1897 and have been playing each other almost every year since 1918.

In recent years the Buckeyes have had the upper hand in the rivalry, winning 14 of the last 20 meetings between the two teams. However, Michigan has won two of the last three games, including a thrilling overtime victory in 2018.

The 2019-20 season will be another chapter in this great rivalry. Both teams are expected to be contenders for the national title, so there is sure to be plenty on the line when they meet on February 8th in Columbus.

Memphis vs. Tennessee

The Memphis-Tennessee rivalry is a college basketball rivalry between the University of Memphis Tigers and the University of Tennessee Volunteers. The schools are separated by less than 200 miles, with Memphis in the southwest corner of the state and Tennessee in the east. The nearby proximity of the schools has led to a rivalry that extends beyond just basketball; there is also competition between the schools in other sports, as well as between the cities of Memphis and Knoxville, where Tennessee is located.

The two teams first played each other in 1920, and have played each other almost every year since 1974. They have met a total of 173 times, with Memphis leading the series 92-81. The yearly matchup is usually one of the most anticipated games on each team’s schedule, and tickets are often hard to come by.

The intensity of the rivalry was ratcheted up in 2008 when then-Memphis coach John Calipari left to take over at Kentucky, one of Tennessee’s biggest rivals. Since then, there has been bad blood between the two programs, with each side taking shots at the other through the media. The level of play on the court has also been elevated, with both programs regularly ranked among the best in college basketball

The rivalry took anotherturn in 2017 when Memphis coach Tubby Smith left to take over at Kentucky. While Smith had been at Kentucky for less than a year, he was still seen as a traitor by many fans in Memphis, further adding fuel to an already intense rivalry.

Gonzaga vs. Saint Mary’s

These two West Coast Conference schools’ men’s basketball programs have developed one of the fiercest rivalries in all of college basketball The schools are separated by only 55 miles, and the fans intensely dislike each other. The rivalry really took off in the early 2000s when both teams were consistently good, and it has only intensified since then. The games are always highly anticipated and very intense, with each team’s fans trying to out-cheer the other.