Rivalries between college programs date back so far that they have produced some of the greatest matchups in all of sports.
Professional sports certainly have their rivalries, and there have been eras where professional rivalries rivaled — or even surpassed — those in college sports. There was the peak of the Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, the New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox, the Detroit Red Wings vs. Colorado Avalanche, and many more that transcended sports. Everyone knew about those rivalries, whether they were sports fans or not.
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But above all else, college sports have always had something different.
They have traditions that have been built over decades upon decades, and to this day the rivalries between universities burn brighter than ever. Professional rivalries eventually lose some of their lust with no backbone behind the rivalry other than a period of time both teams didn’t like each other.
Not college sports.
Whether it’s Auburn vs. Alabama, Michigan vs. Ohio State, or a litany of others, those rivalries never truly disappear.
These matchups bring out the best — and sometimes the worst — in people who haven’t even been on Earth for a quarter of the time these programs have been battling one another. These rivalries have endured through championships, losing streaks, dynasties, and blowouts.
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Once you become part of a program, you become influenced, persuaded, or downright brainwashed into having a deep dislike for certain schools. Coaches understand it too. They know one of the quickest ways to win over a fan base is by taking a shot at a rival.
When it happens in college sports, it just feels natural.
When a professional coach does it — like Ben Johnson talking trash about the Green Bay Packers after taking the Chicago Bears job — it just comes across as cringeworthy.
Now that we’re all on the same page about the romance of college rivalries, the reason I even bring all of this up is because of a graphic that was posted by College Basketball Report on social media Wednesday afternoon. It’s an account worth following because it consistently posts graphics that spark great conversations and plenty of water cooler debates.
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Their list ranked the top 10 college basketball rivalries as follows:
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Michigan vs. Michigan State
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North Carolina vs. NC State
So, in their eyes, the Spartans and Wolverines are not only outside the top two rivalries in college basketball, but they’re not even considered the top rivalry in the Big Ten.
Number one is Duke vs. North Carolina, and that’s probably never going to change. Those two powerhouse programs consistently produce one of the best regular-season games in college basketball, loaded with future NBA talent and elite coaching.
After that, though, things get a little dicey.
As good as Kentucky vs. Louisville has been over the years, I’d probably slide it down to fourth. Indiana vs. Purdue should probably be fifth in today’s landscape. Alabama vs. Auburn would be my third-ranked rivalry in basketball, especially now that both programs have turned themselves into national contenders after years of football stealing the spotlight.
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Michigan State vs. Michigan — the reason we’re all here — should absolutely be ranked second on this list.
Whether the game is played at the Breslin Center or Crisler Center, both arenas become absolutely deafening from opening tip to the final buzzer. It’s nearly impossible to walk out of either building, regardless of who wins, and not think you just watched one of the best environments in all of sports.
No, I still wouldn’t rank it ahead of Duke vs. North Carolina.
But I would absolutely rank it as the best rivalry in the Big Ten, especially considering Michigan State and Michigan remain the conference’s two most recent programs to win a national championship.
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Even with Dusty May setting sail for Dallas and the NBA, the Wolverines should once again field one of the top teams in the Big Ten. Michigan State, led by Wooden Award favorite Jeremy Fears Jr. and legendary head coach Tom Izzo, will be looking to reclaim conference bragging rights as well.
The ingredients are all there for another unforgettable chapter in one of college basketball’s greatest rivalries.
And by the time these two teams meet this season, don’t be surprised if everyone is reminded why Michigan State vs. Michigan deserves to be considered the No. 2 rivalry in all of college basketball.
