North Carolina fans were never going to be fond of J.J. Redick, but the former Duke star’s comments this week only added to their hatred for him.
Leading up to this Saturday’s Final Four matchup between the longtime Tobacco Road rivals, Redick appeared on ESPN’s First Take and accused UNC supporters of having an inferiority complex.
“And my comment to that is I’ve always felt that Carolina fans hate Duke fans way more than Duke fans hate Carolina fans,” Redick said, via 247Sports.
“And the reason is that people that go to Carolina — and there’s a lot of people in North Carolina that are UNC fans that didn’t go to Carolina — but people in North Carolina and UNC fans all over the country, the have an inferiority complex. They have an inferiority complex, and that’s just part of the rivalry.”
Let’s just say these remarks did not go over well with many Tar Heel supporters, who felt Redick was being elitist and out of touch.
UNC in-state tuition: $8,980
Duke tuition: $57,633
This is key to the dynamic between the two schools. JJ Redick labeling it an “inferiority complex” is typical nose-up, snobby Dookie. https://t.co/pcgtnyNmXp
— Elijah Cone (@ElijahCone) March 29, 2022
So JJ Redick actually SAID these words?!? Like, his brain thought of this and his mouth said it?!? #CarolinaFamily https://t.co/zWconH4Agy pic.twitter.com/Mj8hY3lHWx
— Bryan J. Harvey (@SoBeeHarv) March 29, 2022
I’d argue the rivalry is so great because neither feel inferior to the other by any means. The history is so good because of the success of both schools. Don’t cheapen the rivalry with your ego. https://t.co/VPi8PYU7HR
— Zachary! (@Clemons012) March 29, 2022
Just the type of elitist mindset you’d expect from Duke https://t.co/gtqVL3fGQQ
— Carolina Fan 🐏🇺🇦 (@ComeToUNC) March 29, 2022
.@jj_redick you do realize you have to be inferior to have an inferiority complex, right? You still mad about your senior day, I see https://t.co/oGbcFid9Im
— Kevin Chandler, Jr. (@KChandlerJr) March 29, 2022
If you ever wondered why I don’t like JJ Redick…it’s comments like this!! 🙄🙄 https://t.co/jBathWQFTa
— Rachel Larson (@RachelJean11) March 29, 2022
ESPN coverage of college hoops is a joke and embarrassment. This makes it seem like we aren’t a blue blood. https://t.co/M79ijURpKw
— Will Casmus (@thecas24) March 29, 2022
Why people hate Dook, in a nutshell.
They think they’re better than everybody.
(Personally, I have no issues with their players. They have a very good team.) https://t.co/E68jnZxTX6— Mark Harming (@coacharming) March 29, 2022
Nice of JJ to stir it up for us this week https://t.co/ShB3IbeRIS
— Chris McClain (@macwfnz) March 29, 2022
UNC: more national titles, more F4s, more E8s, more S16s, more NCAAT appearances, most NCAAT wins, more wins all-time, more head-to-head wins, more ACCRS titles, more overall ACC titles…
DUKE: FEWER OF ALL OF THOSE https://t.co/wY3UQcNZi7— michael wesley brooker, sr (@m_brooker11) March 29, 2022
Redick stirring the pot like this only heightens the intensity leading up to this weekend. Duke and North Carolina have met over 250 times, but never in the NCAA Tournament.
Now, they will play in New Orleans with a national championship berth on the line. Oh, and there’s also the looming possibility that it could be Mike Krzyzewski’s last game as a head coach, not to mention the fact the Heels beat Duke in his final game at Cameron earlier this month.
There’s never been a matchup in this rivalry quite like this one before.
The post Look: UNC Fans Are Not Happy With J.J. Redick appeared first on The Spun.