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It’s finally here, college basketball fans. The 2015-16 college basketball season tips off on Friday night. The defending National Champion Duke Blue Devils lost Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow and Tyus Jones all to the 2015 NBA Draft, and Quinn Cook to graduation. It looks like a wide-open race this season, and I can’t wait. To get prepared for the season, here’s a list of the 15 greatest rivalries throughout college basketball.
Jason Fletcher is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JasonFletcher25, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.
15. Iowa-Iowa State
Credit: Getty Images15. Iowa-Iowa State
This year's matchup will be rather interesting as Fred Hoiberg fled for the Chicago Bulls. The good thing for new Iowa State head coach Steve Prohm is that the majority of the roster returns. Iowa opens the season as the No. 41 team in the AP poll, receiving six votes. The December 10 matchup could be pretty good this year.
14. Michigan-Michigan State
Credit: Getty Images14. Michigan-Michigan State
Both of these teams open the season ranked in the AP Poll, with Michigan State coming in at No. 13 and Michigan at No. 25. The Spartans will miss Travis Trice, but Eron Harris will step in to fill his shoes. John Beilein's team looks to be one of the dark horse teams ready to make a run at the Big-10 Title. Unfortunately, these two teams only get together once this season on February 6.
13. Duke-Maryland
Credit: Getty Images13. Duke-Maryland
With Maryland's move to the Big-10, these two teams won't play each other this season, but it was one of the greatest rivalries in the ACC. The most memorable game for me, was when Jay Williams and Duke overcame a 10-point deficit with less than a minute left to stun Maryland in 2001.
12. Indiana-Notre Dame
Credit: Getty Images12. Indiana-Notre Dame
These two powerhouses from the state of Indiana will get together on December 19 this year. Both teams open the season ranked, which should make this great rivalry game an exciting watch.
11. Indiana-Purdue
Credit: Getty Images11. Indiana-Purdue
This rivalry is always intense because not only are both teams located only two hours apart, but they both play in the Big-10 conference. This season's game should be especially good with the Boilermakers expected to return to contention.
10. Georgetown-Villanova
Credit: Getty Images10. Georgetown-Villanova
I'm so happy these two teams remained in the Big East so that we can keep this great rivalry alive. Villanova figures to be the favorite in the conference, while the Hoyas will need some young guys to step up this year if they are going to contend with the Wildcats.
9. UCLA-Arizona
Credit: Getty Images9. UCLA-Arizona
Since Sean Miller arrived at Arizona in 2010, the Wildcats have a 8-7 advantage in this rivalry, but Arizona swept both games last season. Expect the same thing to happen this year as the Bruins only return one senior in Tony Parker, while the Wildcats have the most talented roster in the Pac-12.
8. Northern Iowa-Wichita State
Credit: Getty Images8. Northern Iowa-Wichita State
These two teams are both coming off of tremendous seasons, and both could be better this year. The Shockers added Kansas transfer Conner Frankamp which will give them another shooter alongside Ron Baker. While the Panthers lost a few seniors from last year's team, Ben Jacobson is one of the best coaches in the country and he will have his team right there with the Shockers by season's end. This two-game set will be fun to watch.
7. Florida-Kentucky
Credit: Getty Images7. Florida-Kentucky
It will be interesting to see how this great SEC rivalry changes as Billy Donovan left for the NBA. John Calipari has the most talented team in the country once again and it's likely that the Gators will just be overmatched this year.
6. New Mexico-UNLV
Credit: Getty Images6. New Mexico-UNLV
These two teams have a solid Mountain West rivalry. Last season, they split the season series, with the road team winning both games. It will be interesting to see how this year's series goes as both teams could be in for a bit of a down year.
5. Oklahoma-Oklahoma State
Credit: Getty Images5. Oklahoma-Oklahoma State
Bedlam could be one of the most competitive rivalries this year. Oklahoma opens the season ranked No. 8 in the AP poll, and return last year's Big-12 Player of the Year, Buddy Hield. The Cowboys lost Le'Bryan Nash to graduation, but return most of their regular contributors from last season.
4. Michigan-Ohio State
Credit: Getty Images4. Michigan-Ohio State
Although the football rivalry is definitely more cutthroat, the Buckeyes and Wolverines have certainly made their matchups into a nice basketball rivalry over the last decade, or so. With D'Angelo Russell moving on to the NBA, it seems the Wolverines will have the upper-hand this season, but don't count out Thad Matta.
3. Kansas-Kansas State
Credit: Getty Images3. Kansas-Kansas State
My biggest memory of this rivalry is when Michael Beasley and Bob Huggins took down Bill Self's Jayhawks in 2008. It broke the Wildcats' 24-year home losing streak to the Jayhawks. While Kansas State opens this season unranked, Kansas is one of the preseason favorites to win it all.
2. Kentucky-Louisville
Credit: Getty Images2. Kentucky-Louisville
This will certainly be an interesting game on the day after Christmas this season. With Louisville's issues involving an escort, expect the Wildcats' student section to give it to the Cardinals pretty good. Hopefully, it'll be an entertaining basketball game.
1. Duke-North Carolina
Credit: Getty Images1. Duke-North Carolina
Duke and North Carolina is the greatest rivalry in college basketball, even though the series hasn't been heated in recent years. With the Tar Heels ranked No. 1 in the nation and the Blue Devils being the defending champions, this year's two-game set should be tremendous.
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