The greatest rivalry in college basketball. Carolina and Duke have combined for 9 national championships, 33 Final Fours, 48 ACC Regular Season First Place finishes, and 36 ACCT Championships.

The 235th meeting between Carolina and Duke will take place tomorrow night in Durham, NC. The Heels lead the all-time series 132-102, but Duke has won five of the last seven. Last season, Duke took the first meeting in Chapel Hill behind an improbable comeback in the final minutes, culminating with Austin Rivers' buzzer beater. Carolina avenged the loss by dominating the Blue Devils at Cameron in the regular season finale.

This time around, both teams are different, especially Carolina. Duke has struggled during the absence of Ryan Kelly, but they're still a legitimate title contender. On the other hand, the entire season has been a struggle for the Tar Heels, and they sit squarely on the NCAA bubble with a 16-7 mark. They're in need of a big time win for their NCAA resume, and this could certainly be it.

Honestly, I think the game in Chapel Hill in March could be a close contest even if Kelly is back, but I'm not so sure Carolina will be able to compete at CIS, especially after what I saw in Coral Gables last weekend. However, this game usually brings out the best in both teams, so hopefully we'll see another classic tomorrow night.

A quick side note. Joel James will be sitting this one out with a concussion. He's the third Tar Heel to miss a game this season due to head trauma. James hasn't been much of a factor this year, but his five fouls in an attempt to defend Mason Plumlee will be missed, I'm sure.

Separated by eight miles of pine trees and a couple of shades of blue. Duke and North Carolina. North Carolina and Duke.

Great write-up. That first line pumps me up.

Other series notes: If we go back to the start of the millennium -- 35 games -- Duke has gone 23-12 against North Carolina, with the Blue Devils winning 16 of 19 games against the Tar Heels at one point. Duke has dominated the most recent era of this rivalry. The only down period for Duke was, regrettably, the Tyler Hansbrough era. He definitely had Duke's number in Cameron. Interestingly enough, the opposing team in the series has had much greater success recently than the home team. North Carolina has won five of its last seven trips to Cameron Indoor Stadium, while Duke has gone 9-5 at the Dean Dome since 1999, winning 4 of the last 7 in Chapel Hill.

History says Duke will win the game. In the last 13 times this game has been played when one team is ranked in the top five and the other is unranked, the top five team has won 12 of them. But, as we all know, this is a rivalry, and all it takes is that one time to ruin the other team's season. A loss to Carolina tomorrow would be a disaster.

Go to hell Carolina go to hell.

Probably the least hyped game I can remember in a long time. Usually its nonstop commercials for at least a week. Been very little of that this year.

Midstate01;1388022 wrote:Probably the least hyped game I can remember in a long time. Usually its nonstop commercials for at least a week. Been very little of that this year.

The game definitely has a different feel to it this year. The last time I remember a Duke-North Carolina game with as little hype leading up to it as this one was in 2010. Although, both teams ended up making the "Final Four" that year :laugh:

Ill still be watching

reclegend22;1388032 wrote:The game definitely has a different feel to it this year. The last time I remember a Duke-North Carolina game with as little hype leading up to it as this one was in 2010. Although, both teams ended up making the "Final Four" that year :laugh:

If I have to suffer through another 82-50 game, or anything close to that, I might have an aneurysm tomorrow night. Carolina can't give Duke as many open looks as they gave Miami last weekend. The Canes shot the lights out from beyond the arc...Duke will do the same unless the Heels decide to commit to playing defense for 40 minutes.

ironman02;1388041 wrote:If I have to suffer through another 82-50 game, or anything close to that, I might have an aneurysm tomorrow night. Carolina can't give Duke as many open looks as they gave Miami last weekend. The Canes shot the lights out from beyond the arc...Duke will do the same unless the Heels decide to commit to playing defense for 40 minutes.

Well, first off, I hope your brain doesn't quit working. Haha.

Secondly, luckily for you (since this game is in Cameron), Duke in recent years seems to shoot much better against North Carolina in the Dean Dome. (The game that Greg Paulus turned into Pistol Pete Maravich comes to mind.) Last year in Cameron, the Blue Devils shot in the twenties from three. Ryan Kelly and Austin Rivers combined for 1-for-11 shooting from beyond the arc. This same thing seemed to happen in each of the four games that Duke lost at home to Tyler Hansbrough.

Luckily for me, however, Duke couldn't throw it in the sea at Boston College. Duke shot 6 of 17 from three against the Eagle, with Curry going 2 for 6. I expect a much different showing this time around. If Curry, Sulaimon and Cook hit early three pointers, I think it could spell doom for UNC. These guys seem to feed off each other. But, as we saw in the Miami game, when they are not feeding off each other, the prognosis is grim for Duke.

If Carolina wins it'll be by a significant amount.

I like Duke 76-70

Duke is an 11 point favorite, so I will guess the Devils win by 3.
Over the years I've found Duke gets an 11 point edge in Cameron. So an 11 point favor is more akin to a push.

Duke by double digits.

Tie game at half. Duke wins narrowly at the end by 8 to 10. This will in no way, shape or form be easy for Duke tonight, and that's troubling to me but it is what it is. A big rivalry game and Duke, well, just hasn't dominated very many games from start to finish.

It will catch up to the Blue Devils if things do not change. Gotta be on the offensive for 40 minutes. Not 15 or 20.

I do find it funny that aside from ironman02, a couple of neutral observers and Duke fans, this thread is a ghost town. If Carolina wins in about four hours, however, this thread will look like a frat party on Franklin Street.

reclegend22;1388566 wrote:I do find it funny that aside from ironman02, a couple of neutral observers and Duke fans, this thread is a ghost town. If Carolina wins in about four hours, however, this thread will look like a frat party on Franklin Street.

People do have jobs.

I won't post much during the game, because I have to watch it online. But I do expect a big time Dook win.

wildcats20;1388570 wrote:People do have jobs.

I won't post much during the game, because I have to watch it online. But I do expect a big time Dook win.

Lol. I don't post during the game either. And I also have a job.

I wasn't attacking anyone. Just pointing out a simple fact.

Ill post a bit during the game. But it wont be an upset or anything surprising if Duke wins, so not many people will take notice.

If UNC wins, it will be a huge upset and will generate buzz. It would be the same if the roles were reversed. If UNC won handily while Duke was down, I wouldnt wast emy time talking much about it,but if Duke won, I would.

I think Duke is far too much for UNC at this point, but that doesn't mean it'll be a blowout. I think the game starts out close as UNC and Duke both come out hyped up, but once everything settles down, Duke will continue to knock down shots and UNC won't.

I'll say Duke 80 UNC 67

Yeah, I agree with everything above. I more or less was just getting in a shot at Carolina fans for the sake of being able to.

I think North Carolina will come out hot, though, behind a big showing from Hairston and Bullock from three. Whether the Heels can sustain that early shooting for the full 40 minutes is another story. We will find out.

I don't know about everyone else, but I'll be tuning in to watch Karl Hess.

karen lotz;1388591 wrote:I don't know about everyone else, but I'll be tuning in to watch Karl Hess.

Is he doing the game? I know that he usually gets one of them, for some reason beyond me.

karen lotz;1388591 wrote:I don't know about everyone else, but I'll be tuning in to watch Karl Hess.

Of course he would get this game. The man is a disgrace to basketball officiating.

wildcats20;1388612 wrote:Is he doing the game? I know that he usually gets one of them, for some reason beyond me.

Yeah I saw it tweeted a little bit ago

reclegend22;1388588 wrote:Yeah, I agree with everything above. I more or less was just getting in a shot at Carolina fans for the sake of being able to.

I think North Carolina will come out hot, though, behind a big showing from Hairston and Bullock from three. Whether the Heels can sustain that early shooting for the full 40 minutes is another story. We will find out.

I can tell you exactly how this is going to start. Hairston will be on the bench for the first few minutes. dook will come out hot, and Carolina will fall into a big hole because they'll basically be playing 3 on 5 at the offensive end until Hairston enters the game. They'll be playing catch-up the rest of the game, and dook (I spell it wrong usually, but today I'm using the correct spelling) will win comfortably.

That said, Go Heels! Beat dook!!!

reclegend22;1388032 wrote:The game definitely has a different feel to it this year. The last time I remember a Duke-North Carolina game with as little hype leading up to it as this one was in 2010. Although, both teams ended up making the "Final Four" that year :laugh:

Wrong! In 2010 UNC did not go to Final4. It was Duke, Mich St, Butler, West Virginia

Red Rider Nation;1388619 wrote:Wrong! In 2010 UNC did not go to Final4. It was Duke, Mich St, Butler, West Virginia

Hence the quotations.

I didn't think it was possible to miss that joke. Gotta love those dookies.