GREENSBORO, N.C. — Conventional wisdom says the Cameron Crazies are supposed to abrade you, not adulate you.The Crazies, also known as the Duke student section, are nationally renowned for their abusive behavior, choreographed routines and nonstop noise — they line the court at Cameron Indoor Stadium and make life a living hell for Duke’s opponents for 40 minutes of basketball.But as the LSU men’s basketball team tried to topple No. 1 North Carolina on Saturday night, there were the Cameron Crazies. Some 300 Duke students sitting amid a sea of Carolina blue, waving purple and gold pom poms and carrying on in the name of the Tigers.Duke sophomore Megan Sanders said she and several friends got the bright yellow pom poms from an LSU ticket holder.”This is who we cheer for  — Duke and anyone who is playing Carolina,” she said.It just goes to show the deep-seeded hatred between North Carolina’s top two basketball programs. Just as Duke came to the Greensboro Coliseum early to cheer on the Tigers, the Tar Heel faithful stuck around to jeer the Blue Devils in their game against Texas.”As you can see there’s not much purple and gold around,” said Wayne Wright, a Richmond, Va., native. “To be honest I expected more Duke fans — it’s very much a Carolina crowd.”Wright said he made the drive to support the Tigers because his father was a Tiger fan.”It’s probably more of an anti-Carolina thing than a pro-LSU thing, but it was good to have some support in here,” he said.All the Cameron craziness may have resulted in memory loss. As any LSU fan can attest, the Blue Devils have every reason to hate the Tigers after Garrett Temple and Glen Davis ended Duke’s championship hopes in 2006.Duke was one of four victims downed by the Tigers on their way to that year’s Final Four.”We weren’t fans of LSU then,” said Duke junior Ashley Barbo. “But everything goes out the door when somebody plays Carolina … you always remember when Carolina beats you, but it would definitely be satisfying if Carolina had lost and we won.”That 2006 team cost Duke legend J.J. Redick a last shot at a national title, but, “It’s all about the here and now,” according to Sanders.The few LSU faithful who made the trek were impressed, if not surprised by the unlooked-for support.From tipoff until the final buzzer, the Crazies played off their temporary brethren — joining Tiger Nation in the ever-popular “Ell! Ess! You!” chant, as well as dancing and swaying to “Hey Baby,” a popular song at Duke games as well.”They were even getting into the ‘T-I-G-E-R-S. Tigers’ bit,” said Chris Odymile, LSU mass communication junior. “They definitely gave us a little added support. We stuck around to help them out [against Texas]. We felt like we owed it to them.”The Devils fans pulled out all the stops as the Tigers made a run at the lead — and North Carolina’s comfort zone.LSU clung to a 20-19 lead with seven minutes remaining before halftime. North Carolina junior guard Wayne Ellington would take free throws when a TV timeout ended, and the North Carolina fans were getting raucous.Anyone that’s ever been to a Saturday night thriller in Tiger Stadium knows what came next: LSU’s Bengal Brass Band geared up and belted out its big play anthem, “Neck,” and, sure enough, there were the Dukies.After just seconds of watching Tiger Nation’s signature hand motion, the Crazies mimicked it. Amidst the booming cheer of “TAR … HEELS” were the bouncing arms of a bizarre fan coalition.The Crazies even tried to impart their beloved cheer of “Go to hell, Carolina, go to hell,” to the LSU faithful, but were apparently not as successful. The Dukies chanted their vulgarities well into the night but could never get those in the purple and gold to follow suit.”One of the first things I learned how to say was ‘Go to hell, Carolina,'” said Duke sophomore Lauren Heigler. “But LSU was in the fight, and Carolina just kind of took it away in the end … but it was a good game to watch.”LSU lost in the end, and Duke Nation turned its attention to Texas, but the temporary alliance added some spice to an outstanding game of basketball, and perhaps it’s just as well it didn’t last.It’s probably for the best that 23,000 North Carolinians didn’t have to face the unfamiliar prospect of, “Geaux to hell, Carolina, geaux to hell.”——Contact David Helman at [email protected]