CHAPEL HILL, N.C. _ Clemson basketball has played UNC in Chapel Hill 59 times.
The Tar Heels have won every one of those games. It is the longest home-winning streak against an opponent in NCAA history. Could it end Saturday when the Tigers play the Tar Heels at the Dean Smith Center? Or will UNC coach Roy Williams finally pass Dean Smith, his former boss, for fourth-most wins of all time?
"I've said the same thing for 17 years, that it's a streak that people talk about. You have nothing to do with it," UNC coach Roy Williams said, referring to what he tells his players. "It's going to end at some time. Let's try to put it off another year.
"It's unusual. That's it."
Clemson has a good chance to win this one. The Tar Heels are struggling. They've lost seven of their last 10 games, including their last two against Georgia Tech and Pitt, as Williams sits tied with Dean Smith at 879 wins.
Either Williams or the Tigers will make history Saturday.
At least one player, freshman forward Armando Bacot, said he wasn't even aware of the Clemson streak until this week.
"I saw it on the internet or something," he said when asked about it.
The Tigers (7-7, 1-3 ACC), like the Tar Heels (8-7, 1-3), are struggling while dealing with a number of injuries to key players. However, the Tigers won their most recent game against N.C. State, 81-70, on Jan. 4.
According to Ken Pomeroy's advanced analytics, Clemson has a 31% chance to beat the Tar Heels.
A loss to Clemson on Saturday would only further diminish UNC's chances of getting an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
