UNC sends Coach K packing, wins Final Four game and owns rivalry bragging rights forever | Opinion

Well, it could be worse: Duke could’ve lost in the first round of the men’s NCAA Tournament instead of advancing all the way to the Final Four.

But would that have been worse?

Rack your brain and imagine a more painful way for the Mike Krzyzewski era to end than in an 81-77 loss to North Carolina, which gives the Tar Heels the last laugh in a 42-season rivalry between Mike Krzyzewski and the Blue Devils’ fierce in-state foil.

Losing by 20, 30, 40 points would've stung, but not like this. The two biggest rivals in college basketball played a 40-minute instant classic that featured the best each team had to offer. UNC had more. In what is Krzyzewski's last game on the sideline, the Blue Devils came up short.

"Tonight was a battle," Krzyzewski said. "It was a game that the winner was going to be joyous and the loser was going to be in agony. That’s the type of game we expected. We would’ve liked to be on the other side of it."

In comparison, an early tournament exit might've been a gift.

Bragging rights now load up the trunk, sign up for classes and take up permanent residence in Chapel Hill. Going forward, every Duke win in this rivalry comes with the Tar Heels' built-in response:

Remember that time we played in the Final Four? Remember when we beat you? Remember when we played in the Final Four and we beat you and it was Krzyzewski's last game and you lost? To us? Remember?

The rivalry is over. UNC has won. Duke came in second. Nothing can happen in this series from this point forward for the Tar Heels to relinquish the lead.

COACH K: Mike Krzyzewski's career by the numbers

OPINION: Coach K is the greatest, but UNC ruined biggest moments of his last season, writes Dan Wolken

OPINION: UNC wins rivalry bragging rights forever, writes Paul Myerberg

Twice in the home stretch of this season, UNC handed Duke a painful loss to spoil the national applause accompanying Krzyzewski’s final season. After beating the Blue Devils in his last home game, the Tar Heels did so again with even greater stakes — in the first meeting in tournament play between the pair.

But it is fitting, in a way. UNC handed Krzyzewski the first loss of his Duke career. The Tar Heels handed him his last. Be prepared for UNC to regurgitate that detail from now until the end of time.

If it's any consolation — and it's very likely not — the last meeting in the rivalry with Krzyzewski on the sideline met the hype.

The two teams traded leads almost from the opening tip. It came down to the wire. Neither team took control. Future lottery picks and NBA starters went back and forth in a meeting that will slot atop the list of the great games between Duke and UNC.

That doesn't make it any better or any less painful for the Blue Devils.

After 42 seasons, the final image of Krzyzewski's career is one of dejection. Duke players slumping off the court. UNC celebrating. It wasn't supposed to end this way. But after all the battles Krzyzewski won over the years, the Tar Heels have won the war.

Follow colleges reporter Paul Myerberg on Twitter @PaulMyerberg

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Final Four: UNC forever owns bragging rights in Duke rivalry after win