Possibly the biggest rivalry in all of college basketball tips off Wednesday night as North Carolina and Duke face off in a premier top 10 matchup.
Duke leads the all time series 96-83, but North Carolina has won 3 of the last 5 matchups head to head.
North Carolina is coming off a 95-57 win at Wake Forest on Saturday.
Last Saturday (2/9) they beat Miami 88-85 at home, and on Monday (2/11) they lost 69-61 to #3 Virginia at home.
Duke is coming off a 94-78 win over N.C. State at home on Saturday. Last Saturday (2/9) they beat #3 Virginia 81-71 on the road and on Tuesday (2/12) they beat #18 Louisville 71-69 on the road.
On the season, North Carolina is 15-8-2 ATS, 9-2 ATS on the road, and 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games. On the season, Duke is 15-10 ATS, 9-7 ATS at home, and 5-5 ATS in their last 10 games.
BetOnline have the Duke Blue Devils as 9.5 point favourites with an O/U total of 166.
Duke averages 86.4 PPG, 42.2 RPG, 16.8 APG, 10.5 SPG, 7.2 BPG, and 12.6 TPG. As a team they shoot 48.6% from the field, 68.3% from the free throw line, and 31.3% from 3 point range. Defensively they allow 66.1 PPG, 35.0 RPG, 39.2% shooting from the field, and 29.7% shooting from 3 point range.
R.J. Barrett leads the way with 22.7 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 4.0 APG, and 0.9 SPG while shooting 44.8% from the field, 68.2% from the free throw line, and 33.5% from 3 point range. Zion Williamson puts up 22.4 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 2.3 APG, 2.3 SPG, and 1.9 BPG while shooting 68.3/66.9/29.2. Cam Reddish chips in 13.8 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.2 APG, 2.0 SPG, and 34.0% shooting from 3 point range. Tre Jones (8.7 PPG/3.5 RPG/5.4 APG/2.0 SPG), Marques Bolden (5.7 PPG/4.7 RPG/0.6 SPG/2.0 BPG), Jack White (4.7 PPG/5.3 RPG/1.0 APG/1.2 BPG), and Alex O’Connell (4.1 PPG/1.5 PPG/0.8 SPG/36.7% from 3) play big roles as well.
Key Injuries
None
North Carolina averages 87.5 PPG, 42.5 RPG, 19.6 APG, 7.8 SPG, 3.7 BPG, and 13.8 TPG. As a team they shoot 47.5% from the field, 74.2% from the free throw line, and 38.6% from 3 point range. Defensively they allow 73.3 PPG, 33.0 RPG, 42.0% shooting from the field, and 33.8% shooting from 3 point range.
Cam Johnson leads the way 16.3 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.2 APG, and 1.4 SPG while shooting 51.7% from the field, 78.9% from the free throw line, and 47.9% from 3 point range. Coby White chips in 15.7 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 4.3 APG, and 1.0 SPG while shooting 43.6/80.5/38.0. Luke Maye puts up 14.5 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.6 SPG, and 0.6 BPG. Nassir Little (9.6 PPG/4.4 RPG/0.6 SPG/0.6 BPG), Kenny Williams (8.9 PPG/3.3 RPG/3.7 APG/1.0 SPG), Garrison Brooks (8.2 PPG/6.1 RPG/1.5 APG/55.6% from the floor), and Sterling Manley (4.4 PPG/4.3 RPG/0.7 BPG) give them big minutes as well.
Key Injuries
F Sterling Manley (knee) – questionable
F Nassir Little (ankle) – probable
G Kenny Williams (knee) – questionable
9 points is a lot in a matchup as tightly contested as this one has been over the past few years. The last 10 games between UNC and Duke, including ACC tournament matchups, have been decided by an average of 5.3 points. Some would argue this UNC team isn’t on the level of past teams, and there may be a case to be made there, but offensively this team is as good as any in the country.
With the lights out shooting of Cam Johnson, elevated play of Coby White, and inside/outside capability of Luke Maye, this team can fill it up against anybody. Duke is unquestionably the best team in the country talent wise, but they do go through periods of struggles offensively, especially with their inability to shoot the 3 ball. Aside from a slip up against Virginia, North Carolina is playing great right now, and their confidence should be high walking into a rivalry game as highly touted as this one.
Don’t be surprised if more money comes in on UNC, but if this one stays above +8, UNC is the right side here.
Final Pick: #8 North Carolina Tar Heels (+9.5)
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