Get ready to circle that 2025-26 calendar, Tar Heels and Wolfpack fans. The Ven-Allen Lubin saga has added another spicy layer to one of college basketball’s fiercest rivalries. Lubin, a major figure in this storyline, just announced he’s trading his Carolina blue for NC State red, making his transfer official.
Lubin’s switch, confirmed on Sunday, is sure to stir emotions in Chapel Hill. Initially, he’d kept hopes alive for North Carolina supporters by expressing his intent to stay with the Tar Heels despite entering the transfer portal. That was then, this is now. His pivot has stirred quite a reaction among Tar Heel faithful and the squad itself, especially from Seth Trimble. Trimble’s social media zing at Lubin’s announcement is the kind of extra juice that turns a heated rivalry into a pressure cooker.
Screenshot says it all: Trimble glaring across the court, a symbolic stare-down with their opponents from NC State. The backstory? Lubin had been flirting with NC State and Mississippi State, though UNC fans clung to the hope that loyalty might prevail. But, in a notable recruiting push, the Wolfpack rolled out the red carpet for Lubin, and one can’t help but speculate that NIL opportunities might have helped seal the deal.
Here’s a twist to the plot: For the first time in over a century, NC State and UNC won’t be battling it out in Chapel Hill, as highlighted by KIH’s Nick Delahanty. Perhaps a stroke of luck for Lubin, as he’d likely be greeted by a chorus of boos at the Dean Smith Center—revenge is a dish best served cold, or rather, on the road this time.
The drama of transferring after expressing commitment to the team adds fuel to the rivalry’s flames. Can you imagine the intensity in the air the next time these teams clash? Trimble and his crew are sure to have a bit of extra motivation to deliver a decisive blow to Lubin and company. This showdown is shaping up to be must-watch TV. Buckle up, college basketball fans—this is going to be a fierce contest.
