PHILADELPHIA — They have met 256 times. They have met in the regular season and the ACC Tournament. They used to meet all the time in the ole in-season “Big Four” Tournament in which the two of them would get together with Wake Forest and NC State for a holiday preview of the ACC season to come.

Once, they actually met in the semifinals of the NIT, back in 1971.

But Duke and North Carolina have never before met in the NCAA Tournament. Until now.

College basketball’s deepest blood feud will find its next revival in prime time Saturday night in the Big Easy. If there is one consolation prize for Carolina’s 69-49 vanquishing of Saint Peter’s Sunday, that was it.

Duke-Carolina at the Final Four?

Yes, please.

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Saint Peter's junior guard Doug Edert took to Twitter to express his gratitude for Saint Peter's fans.

"Thank you everyone for your love and support," Edert tweeted.

Edert was a key factor in the Peacocks historic run to the Elite Eight. Known for his moustache and energy, the junior dropped 20 points against No. 2 Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to begin his team's Cinderella run.

Despite the heartbreaking loss, "Dougie Buckets" recently inked a NIL deal with Buffalo Wild Wings.

PHILADELPHIA — Shaheen Holloway wasn’t ready to look ahead yet. 

Following Cinderella Saint Peter’s NCAA Tournament exit in a one-sided, 69-49 Elite Eight loss to No. 8 North Carolina on Sunday, he declined to address rumors about his own future. 

When Kevin Willard left Seton Hall for Maryland last Monday, reports circulated that Holloway would take over the Pirates — for whom he was a star player and eventually an assistant coach under Willard — after Saint Peter’s run came to a close. According to sources, the expectation is that Holloway will leave for the Big East school. Seton Hall hasn’t spoken to any other candidates. 

“I’m not worried about that right now. I’m worried about those 15 young men whose hearts are broken and really down,” Holloway said. “It’s my job as their leader to cheer them up, make sure they understand what they did the last two weeks. And like I said, we’re going to walk out of here the same way we walked in here, with our head up.” 

Approached by The Post after the press conference, Holloway declined further comment, saying he was still Saint Peter’s coach. He has side-stepped the matter throughout the tournament. 

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The North Carolina Tar Heels had to play the villain.

The Tar Heels were the team to end Saint Peter's sensational and miraculous run at the 2022 NCAA Tournament, defeating the Peacocks in the Elite 8. After their victory, the seven-time National Champion Tar Heels gave kudos to the upstart team from Jersey City.

"We wanted to take a moment and congratulate @PeacocksMBB on the greatest Cinderella run in NCAA Tournament history," the Tar Heels posted on Twitter.

The post-game handshake line between Tar Heels and Peacocks programs accompanied the sign of recognition.

"You showed why March is the most exciting time of year," the Tar Heels said.

"Nothing but respect," Saint Peter's responded.

The Post captured Saint Peter's fans' failed hopes of the Peacocks making it to the Final Four on Sunday.

SEE PHOTO GALLERY

Jersey City Public Schools will wear "Peacock Blue" in honor of Saint Peter's run in March Madness, according to Jersey City educator Michelle Duarte on Twitter.

The announcement comes after the Peacocks were blown out by North Carolina 69-49 on Sunday. No. 15 Saint Peter's defeated both No. 2 Kentucky and No. 3 Purdue to get into the Elite Eight.

PHILADELPHIA — The formal ceremony of surrender arrived with 81 seconds left in the game. The ride was going to end here after all for Saint Peter’s. It was going to end 90 or so minutes from campus, after a magic carpet ride that had taken them ever so tantalizingly close to the sun. Now it was time to say goodbye. 

There was a break in the action. Five players jumped to their feet and walked to the scorer’s table. A free throw was taken. A buzzer sounded. And out of the game came Daryl Banks III and Matthew Lee, out came Hassan Drame and KC Ndefo and Doug Edert. They gathered with coach Shaheen Holloway before they returned to the bench. Clarence Rupert joined them. And they embraced, as one. 

One last moment when the team that captured America’s heart would be locked together on the court. From now on, forever, it will be in the hearts, minds and memories of those who went on the ride with them. 

“Keep your heads high!” Holloway ordered 

They would. How could they not? Look what they did.

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A look at some of the most memorable moments from the North Carolina Tar Heels' win over the Saint Peter's Peacocks in the Elite 8.

The big dance may be over for the St. Peter’s Peacocks – but the local fans who rallied around the small Jersey City school won’t soon forget the squad’s historic Cinderella run to the NCAA tournament’s Elite Eight.

“They have proven to do something amazing,” Maya Barrow, 32, told The Post from a packed viewing party at Jersey City’s Hudson Hall as the Peacocks were losing to the University of North Carolina Tarheels en route to a crushing defeat on Sunday night.

“They’ve put Jersey City on the map. They’re amazing. We are 100 percent behind them,” Barrow said from the beer hall where over 300 fans had gathered to cheer on the underdogs.

Ahead of tip-off, expectations for the game were tempered for the team that won the hearts of New Jersey, but spirits were high as the crowd danced to NJ-native Bon Jovi’s “Living on a Prayer” waving blue peacock feathers.

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The North Carolina Tar Heels advanced to the Final Four, defeating underdog Saint Peter's on Sunday.

They'll face head coach Mike Krzyzewski and Duke University in the NCAA tournament's semi-finals on April 2. The Final Four will be held in New Orleans.

Villanova and Kansas also booked their tickets to Louisiana.

Saint Peter's University sent a message to its faithful fans after the team's loss to North Carolina in the Elite 8.

"Thank you, Peacock Nation," Saint Peter's athletic department said.

Fans packed Run Baby Run Arena in Jersey City, NJ on Sunday afternoon. After the Peacocks' loss, fans gave their beloved basketball team a standing ovation.

Jersey guys and gals talk about Saint Peter's Peacocks historic NCAA tournament run after the Tar Heels crushed them.