Just over two weeks ago, Duke outlasted rival North Carolina for a 92-90 OT win at Cameron Indoor Stadium. For many, it was the best college basketball game of the year.
Anytime these two storied programs meet, there will be headlines. There will be big time players making big time plays. I mean, come on. It’s Carolina-Duke.
The two again square off this evening, only inside the confines of the Dean Dome as opposed to Durham. While there is no conference championship on the line–Virginia once again has captured the ACC title–NCAA Tournament seed lines are certainly at stake, as are bragging rights.
Tyus Jones and Quinn Cook dominated the last meeting for Duke, combining for 44 points and eight three-point makes. On the inside, National Player of the Year candidate Jahlil Okafor was not his usual offensive juggernaut–though he did draw nine fouls on Brice Johnson (who fouled out) and Kennedy Meeks–but his 13 rebounds were crucial, as North Carolina is perhaps the country’s best rebounding group.
On the other side, Meeks and Johnson controlled the paint offensively, combining for 36 points on 15-for-20 shooting. Carolina’s preseason All-American candidate, Marcus Paige, was a no-show however. Paige shot just 2-for-11 from the field and finished with just three assists. In fact, it was J.P. Tokoto that was the Tar Heels’ play maker, dishing out seven assists while also pulling down eight rebounds and scoring 15 points.
With the win, Duke would almost guarantee themselves a No. 1 seed in the Big Dance, even with an early exit in the ACC Tournament. Carolina, on the other hand, would gain a bit of momentum and give themselves a chance at getting into the top ten of the RPI rankings, and could be looking at a top four seed come March Madness.
