Tyler Hansbrough’s loyalty to the North Carolina Tar Heels is still unwavering.
The former UNC basketball star hopes that the best rival of her Alma Mater, Duke, will be short in her next game in the NCAA tournament.
Duke survived against Arizona at the Sweet 16 Thursday. Cooper Flagg finished the 100-93 victory with 30 points on the team. The victory also hit the Blue Devils ticket to the Eight Elite, where they will meet the second crimson of Alabama.
If Hansbrough goes out with his, Alabama will eliminate Duke from the tournament on Saturday.
CLICK HERE for more sports coverage at Foxnews.com
The former Basketball player of North Carolina Tar Heels, Tyler Hansbrough (Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images)
While Hansbrough is choosing Crimson Tide to win the first national championship in school history, he also took a time to dig the team that despises.
“I am really locked in the NCAA tournament. I’m going to go with ‘Bama,” Hansbrough said during a recent appearance in “The Pat Mcafee Show.”
Texas Tech Rallies from 16 to defeat Arkansas in the first game of OT in March Madness
“I know that they face Duke. In fact, I had Duke losing the first game against seed No. 16. So I am a bit partial. I chose ‘Bama at the beginning of the year. Then, I will stay with’ Bama.”
Members of the Tar Heels of North Carolina, including striker Tyler Hansbrough (center), the five fans, since they leave the court after defeating the spartans 89-72 of Michigan State in the 2009 NCAA championship game in Ford Field on April 6, 2009, in Detroit. (Bob Donnan/USA Today Sports)
The Crimson Tide advanced to the Final Four last year. Despite Hansbrough’s personal bias, Duke will enter Saturday’s confrontation with Alabama as the favorite of probabilities.
Until Friday, Fanduel Sportsbook listed the Blue Devils as a favorite of 6.5 points.
Duke Guard Sion James (14) and striker Mason Gillis (18) Motion for teammates during the first half of a Sweet 16 tournament against Arizona on Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Newark, NJ (AP Photo/Julia DeMaree Nikhinson)
The rivalry of Tobacco Road remains the most competitive of university basketball. Mike Krzyzewski trained Duke five national titles during his historical history. North Carolina has ran the national championship trophy six times, more recently in 2017.
Duke and Alabama are scheduled to warn on Saturday at 8:49 pm et in Newark, New Jersey.
