North Carolina Ousts Saint Peter's, Sets Up Iconic Final Four with Coach K, Duke

The moment Cinderella's glass slipper shattered, Mike Krzyzewski and his Duke Blue Devil breathed a sigh of relief.

It is hard to imagine Duke would want to play the Peacocks in the NCAA tournament. That would have favored the Blue Devil. They want a better path to the national championship.

Everyone be quiet. Let me just say that.

The first No. 15 seed to reach the Elite Eight was Saint Peter. The upstart squad would have added to an impressive list of March Madness upsets that included Kentucky, Murray State and Purdue.

Cinderella vs. The King of College Basketball would have been a fun storyline in the Final Four. Duke fans have probably never supported the Tar Heels as much as they have 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 800-244-0167 They defeated the Peacocks 69-49.

The soon-to-retire Coach K has a chance at revenge as he chases a fairy-tale finale.

March 5 is no longer the end of the story for Duke.

Krzyzewski was in a packed stadium that day. The moment was ruined by North Carolina in the final home contest of his career. Four players scored 20 or more points for the Tar Heels and they created a tense, awkward celebration of Coach K after the game.

Krzyzewski apologized to the fans. Some in the crowd tried to ignore the disappointment, but the Duke legend told them to be quiet.

The book on this era in the rivalry was finished by that unpleasant interaction. The winningest coach in the history of college basketball lost to North Carolina in their final match.

Duke wanted to play the Heels in the conference tournament. Duke sealed its spot in the championship game as much as Paolo Banchero said. Virginia Tech defeated the Heels in the semifinals of the league.

The programs needed a miracle to play against one another. Duke and UNC were both facing potential second-round games with defending champion Baylor and Texas Tech, respectively.

They are here.

The first-ever NCAA tournament clash between the programs will be between the Blue Devil and Tar Heels. Duke won the title after UNC lost to Kansas in the semifinals of the Final Four in 1991.

The narrative in New Orleans will focus on Krzyzewski and his farewell tour. Another dagger could be delivered by North Carolina.

The Tar Heels have an opportunity to duplicate the sting of the previous outcome, four weeks after the triumph in Durham.

It would be permanent this time.

Krzyzewski has a 50-47 all-time record against UNC. He will retire with a winning mark against Duke. Even if Coach K acknowledges nothing in the week ahead, two losses to the Tar Heels in his final season wouldn't haunt him.

The road to a career-closing championship will include redemption over North Carolina. It would be his sixth national title, equaling the total for UNC.

The Tar Heels would love nothing more than to ruin the ending for that hated man on the other bench.

Again.

The writer of Bleacher Report, David Kenyon, can be followed on the social networking site.