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Q&A: 2017 national champion Theo Pinson discusses UNC-Duke rivalry

UNC forward Theo Pinson (1) dunks the ball in the final seconds of UNC's 82-78 win over Duke on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018 in the Smith Center.

UNC forward Theo Pinson (1) dunks the ball in the final seconds of UNC's 82-78 win over Duke on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018 in the Smith Center.

“Run Your Race” podcast host Theo Pinson — a 2017 national champion and one of 12 Tar Heels to play in two national title games — has experienced countless memorable UNC-Duke rivalry moments.

Staff writer Anna Laible spoke with Pinson in late January ahead of the first UNC-Duke game of the year. This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

The Daily Tar Heel: When I say UNC-Duke, what comes to mind?

Theo PinsonBattles. It never fails — the anticipation, build-up. Best college game. Best rivalry in sports. Never misses, regardless of what records are, what players are there. My last dunk in my senior year at home. So, just good times. A lot of good times.

DTH: Reliving your rivalry days, what are some of the moments that have stayed with you from those UNC-Duke games?

PinsonOne is going into Cameron Indoor Stadium and winning our regular season championship [in 2016]. That kind of boosted us to make a run to the national championship, but we ended up losing to Villanova unfortunately. That year, since that game, when we won in the Duke game — that run from there to the national championship was probably the most fun I've had in my life.

DTH: What was it like walking onto the court for a rivalry game? What was the atmosphere and what were the emotions running through the tunnel, warming up for those games?

Pinson: It starts when you go to class, people kinda look at you like, “You got a big game today and you’re just in class like it’s nothing.” I’m like, “Bro, look, I've been playing basketball my whole life. This probably means more to you than me, honestly.” I'm going to go out there and do what I need to do to win this game.

I honestly love the fact that we had it on days we go to class because they can see we're regular people. I have to come [to class], and the teacher is looking at us like, “Big game tonight.” I'm like, “Oh, really? Duh.”

You are sitting there a little antsy, waiting on the game to start and to get to the game, but it's cool seeing everybody saying, “Good luck tonight,” and, “Get the win.” The buildup is always fun.

DTH: Do you have a favorite UNC-Duke game from your time on the team?

PinsonPersonally, my last one [in 2018] was probably the most fun just because it was a 50-50 split of fans, it kind of went back-and-forth and we ended up coming out on top and winning. It was my last game versus Duke, so you're only as good as your last game, and I won it. I played pretty well in it too.

DTH: You are currently hosting the podcast “Run Your Race” with AJ Richardson. In your conversations with former UNC players and coaches on the podcast, what have been your favorite stories you've heard about the UNC-Duke rivalry?

Pinson: I mean, just the intensity. It's just a mutual respect between two schools. We all understand what goes into it. The fans are really into it. The game is just a little more loud than usual. You can play anybody else, and it's loud, but you play Duke, it's going to be rocking and there's literally nothing like it.

It's just a different feeling.

We always remember the wins, but we do remember the losses also — only [Tyler Hansbrough] is the one that got lucky and won all four in Cameron. That's legendary. For him to do that, that's elite.

I wish I could've done that. I think I only got one in Cameron. Kudos to him.

@anna_laible

@dthsports | sports@dailytarheel.com

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