SerpApi.Org
The University of Arizona and Duke University are not traditionally rivals in college basketball.
It has, however, not stopped former Wildcat Richard Jefferson from developing strong competitive feelings towards the Blue Devils.
Jefferson starred for Arizona from 1998 to 2001. In his last year with the team, along with Gilbert Arenas, Michael Wright and Loren Woods, he helped it reach the NCAA Tournament championship game. They, however, lost to Duke, who were bannered by Shane Battier and Jay Williams.
Despite the 82-72 loss, the 6-foot-7 small forward had a solid championship game, finishing with 19 points, eight rebounds and three assists while shooting 7-of-13 from the field and 4-of-8 from three.
In the years that followed, Jefferson often took playful digs at the Duke basketball program whenever the opportunity arose. Most of the time, however, his remarks have been made in jest and reflective of his affinity for his alma mater rather than a deep-rooted hate towards the Blue Devils.
Giving it to Hill
The former player-turned-analyst was recently at it when Duke great Grant Hill graced their "Road Trippin' Show" at the Fanatics Fest in New York City.
Jefferson took his shot at Hill, a two-time NCAA champion at Duke, explaining where his "dislike" for the Blue Devils is coming from.
"The worst part about Duke people is that I know so many of them and they're actually nice people. I just hate your lineage. [laughter] JJ [Redick], I like [Mike] Dunleavy. You have a bunch of great guys, right? But I can't stand your school. I have no problem with your educational system. I just hate your basketball program. Why? I have bad people," Jefferson said.
Hill took the jab lightly and shared a laugh over it with the rest of the panel that included Allie Clifton, Channing Frye and Kendrick Perkins. The NBA great even joked that liking Duke's education system was a step towards "healing" for Jefferson.
While Arizona and Duke have had their memorable battles in college basketball, their encounters have been largely limited since they play in different conferences. The Wildcats are in the Big 12 Conference while the Blue Devils play in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
In fact, since the 1960s, the teams have played only 12 times, with the record evenly split at 6-6. The last time they met was in the Sweet 16 in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, where the Blue Devils, bannered by Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel, defeated the Wildcats, 100-93.
Top-tier programs
The teams may not see a lot of one another, but both programs are widely considered among the top in the nation.
Last season, Arizona had a solid run, finishing with an overall record of 36-3 while going 16-2 in its conference. The Wildcats went on to win the Big 12 title and earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
In March Madness, led by guards Brayden Burries and Jaden Bradley, they made a spirited run, reaching the Final Four before losing to eventual NCAA champion Michigan.
Duke also had a dominant 2025-26 campaign, led by national college player of the year Cameron Boozer. The Blue Devils posted an overall record of 35-3 and 17-1 in the ACC, and won their conference championship.
At the NCAA Tournament, Duke earned the No. 1 overall seed but it lost a heartbreaker to UConn in the Elite Eight.
Boozer and Arizona's Burries made themselves available in this year's NBA Draft and were selected third and 10th overall, respectively, by the Memphis Grizzlies and Milwaukee Bucks.
Jefferson will probably never become a Duke fan. But his seemingly ongoing beef with the Blue Devils also appears to be rooted in a genuine respect for what the program has achieved, which, in the grand scheme of things, is all part of the fun.
