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February 8th, 7:00 PM CT. Chapel Hill, NC

Duke vs. North Carolina. It’s a tale as old as time: Good vs. Evil, Rocky Balboa vs Ivan Drago, The Empire vs The Republic, GOLIATH VS GOLIATH, Grayson Allen vs Joel Berry II, Marvin Bagley III vs Luke Maye, Coach K vs Roy Williams! The best rivalry in the world, The Battle for Tobacco Road.

Duke vs UNC Hype Video

Duke vs UNC Hype Extra

Duke Hype Video

UNC Hype Video

UNC is a 1.5 point favorite currently (according to SportsAction). Symbolic of the competitiveness and closeness of this great rivalry, the last 100 games have been split 50 wins apiece.

Duke Defense, Boards, and Grayson Allen??

Wendell Carter and Marvin Bagley are going to have to contain Luke Maye. Bagley and Carter need to make a presence down low and alter shots. Duke needs to dominate the boards. Duke has the size and good rebounding bigs in Bagley and Carter. They need to lock in and grab everything around them to take this game on the road. Then, there is the controversial Grayson Allen. Grayson Allen is having a down year, he’s struggling to score in ACC play. Allen mustered a lousy 7 points, going 1 for 7 from the field in the upset agains Saint Johns, Saturday. Duke needs the villain to come out, the locked in Big Game Grayson to show up. He is more than capable, already playing in so many big games and playing so well. Get Grayson rolling and Duke will be tough to stop.

Which UNC will show up??

We know the stars Joel Berry and Luke Maye, the returning national champs. Problem is, the Tarheels have lost 3 of the last 4. Players like Cam Johnson will need to grind it out today. The Guard play needs to be way more consistent. Theo Pinson and Kenny Williams need big games to open up the perimeter, not allowing the Dukes bigs to affect the game defensively.

Let’s go!