The series between the two winningest programs of all-time (currently in favor of North Carolian 16-8) has been a long and eventful one, although only in the mid-60's was there a sustained series between the two which lasted through the early 1970's. That series was ended and another which began in the late 80's was aborted early, before the current series started.
The two programs have not played enough games and are not geographically close enough to develop a strong rivalry in the classic sense of the word. But UNC and UK certainly have a rivalry, and it is played out from afar, with the 'spoils' being far bigger than most any individual game. Looking at any major achievement list describing basketball history, and Kentucky and North Carolina are often 1 and 2 (and not necessarily in that order). Whether it is all-time wins, All-Americans, tournament appearances, number of weeks ranked #1 etc., the two are always in contention. The rivalry is also played out on many different levels, from the number of times each program is shown on ESPN, the number of highly rated recruits each signs, or the number of jerseys and ball caps each sell with their logo on it, the rivalry between UK and UNC often comes down to a fight for the hearts and minds of America's sport-loving public.
The attention paid to each is in large part owed to the longevity of both programs (UNC has off-and-on been a powerhouse since the 1920's while UK has consistently been a top power since the early 1930's) and the drive of brilliant coaches who put their respective schools in the spotlight, changing basketball in the South and basketball in general along the way.
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