The best rivalry in all of sports is about to renew its annual showdown. The Duke Blue Devils will be hosting the North Carolina Tar Heels on Wednesday night in Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Every year you can throw the records, the stats and the rankings out the window. When Duke and Carolina play none of those things matter. The only thing that matters is who brings the heart and determination.
Every year there is something on the line when these two teams meet. This year it is no different. Both the Blue Devils and the Tar Heels are fighting to keep their ACC regular season title hopes alive. Both teams are playing for seeding in the NCAA tournament. Both teams are playing for bragging rights, at least until they meet again in the regular season finale.
As much as every Duke fan wants to see them win a National Championship, every Duke fan needs to see them beat Carolina. The Blue Devils have an outside chance at winning the regular season title, but they cannot lose another game.
The Duke Blue Devils enter the contest on a 5-game winning streak and have been playing at a high level. Meanwhile, Carolina makes the 10-mile journey needing a victory. The Tar Heels have lost three out of their last four games, with the only victory coming at Boston College.
Key Match-up:
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1. Jahlil Okafor versus the UNC big men. Okafor is the best player in the country and has dominating opponents all season. UNC doesn’t have any big man who can stop him or slow him down, but UNC does have a few big men to throw at him to try to wear him down. Carolina will use Kennedy Meeks, Brice Johnson and Isaiah Hicks in rotation to always have a big body playing Okafor.
2. Marcus Paige versus Quinn Cook and Tyus Jones. Paige will likely be defended by both Cook and Tyus Jones. Paige is without question the Tar Heels’ best player and has the ability to score in a variety of ways. If Duke can contain Paige then Carolina will struggle to keep the game close.
Feb 14, 2015; Syracuse, NY, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski looks on from the sidelines against the Syracuse Orange during the second half at the Carrier Dome. Duke defeated Syracuse 80-72. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Three Keys to Victory:
1. Limit turnovers. Carolina likes to get out in transition and run. If Duke is able to control the ball and not turn it over then Carolina will be limited in transition. Duke needs to protect the ball in order to beat Carolina.
2. Team rebounding. Duke has done an excellent job this season rebounding the basketball. The Blue Devils need to continue to rebound well. However, Okafor cannot be the only one involved. Justise Winslow and Amile Jefferson have been rebounding at a high level of late. UNC is the second best rebounding team in the country, averaging 42.3 rebound per game.
3. Foul trouble. The Duke Blue Devils have an extremely short bench and rotation. One edge that UNC has over Duke is depth. Carolina will use a number of players on Okafor to try to slow him down and limit him. Okafor cannot get into foul trouble. If he does Duke will struggle. Okafor cannot pick up any unnecessary fouls if he wants to have an impact on the outcome o the game.
Prediction:
Both Carolina and Duke have a number of reasons to be motivated. The rivalry will create another great game. Duke and Carolina will play a very intense and tightly contested battle. The difference in the game will be the play of Okafor and Winslow.
The Duke Blue Devils will use the home-court advantage and win the game 80-71.