As we get ready for yet another installment in the North Carolina-Duke rivalry tonight in Chapel Hill as the Tar Heels take on the Blue Devils, we take a look at three keys to the game that will help decide who ultimately goes home a winner.
- Rebound, Rebound, Rebound: Carolina is the best rebounding team in the country this season when they put their minds to it, while Duke is undersized and not so hot when it comes to cleaning up the boards. Without Amile Jefferson in their lineup, the Blue Devils simply don’t have the horses underneath to keep Carolina from running wild on the offensive glass. The question, though, will be whether or not Duke can force UNC to be more of a jump shooting team, creating longer rebounds, and putting Duke’s guards into a position where they can make more of an impact in the battle on the glass.
- Slow Down Paige: North Carolina guard Marcus Paige had been in the slump of slumps before Notre Dame helped him break out of it. In the past three games, he’s averaging 16 points per game and shooting 55-percent from beyond the arc. If he gets going against the Blue Devils, it could be a long night for a Duke team that really doesn’t have a defensive stopper on their roster. Forcing him into questionable decision making in the half-court will be vital
- Fabolous Frosh Time: We’ve seen a handful of freshmen have big time impacts in this rivalry, like Austin Rivers hitting a game-winning trey a few years back. Now, it’s time for Brandon Ingram to make his own statement. Ingram has three double-doubles in the past five games, including a stretch where he lit up Virginia for 25 points and seven rebounds. If Duke can get a big-time performance from him, they’ve got a chance to pull the upset.
