The transfer portal has made movement in college athletics a whole lot easier, but some things always stick with players even after they’ve found new teams. Seemingly, if someone started their career at North Carolina, they’ll always hate Duke – and vice versa.
Jaylen Blakes reminded everyone that was true on Saturday in the Smith Center when the guard hit a game-winning shot for Stanford to pull off an upset road win over North Carolina, further damaging the Tar Heels’ already-questionable NCAA Tournament resume.
Blakes, you might remember, started his college basketball career at Duke, where he played three seasons for Blue Devils. He was a reserve on Mike Krzyzewski’s final team – you know, the one that lost to UNC in Coach K’s final home game, and then fell to the Tar Heels in the first-ever Final Four meeting between the two teams.
On Saturday with the clock winding down, Blakes finally got his revenge. The senior Cardinal guard drove in, created space between himself and a defender, and swished a mid-range fadeaway with 0.9 seconds to play. Stanford won, 72-71.
JAYLEN BLAKES WITH THE GAME-WINNER TO HELP @StanfordMBB WIN IN CHAPEL HILL 🔥
(via @accnetwork)
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) January 18, 2025
After the game, Blakes told reporters:
“I would be lying to you if I didn’t think about having this moment the night before the game. I was in my hotel room thinking about Austin Rivers’ (2012 game-winning) shot. I was thinking I would have a moment like that… I still have Duke blood in me, so it’s still GTHC.”
For the uninitiated, GTHC is shorthand for “Go To Hell Carolina.”
“I was in my hotel room thinking about Austin Rivers’ shot”
“I still have Duke blood in me.”
Jaylen Blakes after hitting the dagger for Stanford to beat Carolina. pic.twitter.com/pZnhOGrpyI
— Will Dalton (@thewilldalton) January 18, 2025
Blakes finished with 20 points and seven assists in the victory that put Stanford above .500 in ACC play.
