Duke Travels To Chapel Hill For Their First Meeting Of The Season With North Carolina

Eight miles is what separates the two rivals and Thursday night Duke will take on North Carolina in Chapel Hill in their first meeting of the season.

In the midst of a three-game road swing, Duke hits Tobacco Road for the first of two meetings with North Carolina.

• A win Thursday gives Duke its 22nd consecutive 20-win season and the program’s 53rd all-time.
• Marvin Bagley III leads the ACC in scoring (21.4) and rebounding (11.2) and is second in the NCAA in double-doubles (17). Trevon Duval leads the ACC in assists (6.0), while Grayson Allen is fifth in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.4).
• Bagley is bidding to be the first Blue Devil and the first freshman to lead the ACC in scoring and rebounding. Of the 12 previous ACC players to accomplish it, eight have gone on to win the league’s Player of the Year award, including each of the last four.
• Wendell Carter, Jr. is averaging 16.5 points and 10.5 rebounds over Duke’s last 11 games. He has led Duke on the boards in five of the last six games.
• North Carolina enters the game with a 17-7 record and is 6-5 in the ACC. The Tar Heels snapped a three-game losing streak with a 96-65 win over Pittsburgh the last time out.
• Luke Maye leads North Carolina in scoring (18.3) and rebounding (10.3). He is second in the ACC with two 30-10 games this season.
• Duke and North Carolina have met 85 times during the Coach K era and 245 times altogether. The Blue Devils are 45-40 versus the Tar Heels with Mike Krzyzewski as the head coach.
• Allen is 5-2 in his career versus North Carolina. The senior is averaging 16.8 against the Tar Heels and scored 25 in last year’s 86-79 win at Cameron."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211696235&DB_OEM_ID=420

Duke comes into their game with North Carolina with a record of 19-5 while they're 7-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference "according tohttp://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/_/id/150/duke-blue-devils  and are coming off a shocking non-conference  loss to St. John's on Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

Shamorie Ponds scored 33 points and St. John's stunned No. 4 Duke 81-77 at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, snapping an 11-game losing streak and handing the Blue Devils their second loss in eight days. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211695141

Bashir Ahmed added 19 points and Tariq Owens had 17 for the Red Storm (11-13), who overcame an early 10-point deficit and fought off Duke's heralded freshmen down the stretch in their biggest win under third-year coach Chris Mullin."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211695141

St. John's was playing the second of three straight games against top-6 opponents in a span of nine days. Next up, a visit to No. 1 Villanova on Wednesday night. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211695141

Gary Trent Jr. had 22 points for the Blue Devils (19-4), who perhaps got caught looking ahead to their first matchup of the season with bitter rival North Carolina on Thursday night. Freshman sensation Marvin Bagley III scored 19 but sat out a significant chunk of the second half with four fouls. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211695141

Outhustled all afternoon, Duke was coming off an easy win over Notre Dame that followed a disappointing 65-63 loss to No. 2 Virginia at home last weekend. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211695141

Winless in 11 Big East games this season, the Red Storm improved to 11-2 in nonconference play. They led by 11 with 6 1/2 minutes left before Duke stormed back and took a 73-72 advantage on Trent's two free throws with 1:35 to play, its first lead since early in the second half. "according tohttp://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211695141

Fans of both schools were on their feet in the final minute. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211695141

Ponds, who also grabbed seven rebounds in his second consecutive 30-point game, put St. John's back in front with a driving layup and drained a 3-pointer from the corner to make it 77-73 with 40 seconds left. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211695141

Grayson Allen's only 3 seconds later trimmed the margin to one, but Owens hit two free throws with 32.2 seconds to go. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211695141

Bagley made one of two foul shots with 20.4 seconds left and Ponds did the same to make it 80-77 with 17.5 seconds to go. Allen missed a 3 at the other end and Owens grabbed the rebound before sinking one of two free throws with 2.7 seconds remaining to seal it as Ponds waved his arms, spurring on the sellout crowd of 19,812. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211695141

It was the first meeting between the teams since Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski got his 1,000th career win with a 77-68 victory at Madison Square Garden on Jan. 25, 2015. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211695141

BIG PICTURE

Duke: Fell to 34-19 at the Garden, including 29-11 under Coach K. ... The Blue Devils will be back in New York City next month for the ACC Tournament across the river at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. ... Duke leads the all-time series 16-7."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211695141

St. John's: After three losses this season to top-10 opponents, the Red Storm finally broke through. They have played the fifth-toughest schedule in the country this season according to the NCAA, the school said. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211695141

FIVE STAR

The matchup between two of the top-10 winningest programs in Division I history was played in tribute to the late Howard Garfinkel, who ran the famous Five-Star Basketball Camp from 1966-2008, attracting many of the game's greatest players before they blossomed in college. The logo at center court read "The Garf." "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211695141

North Carolina meanwhile comes into their game with Duke with a record of 17-7 while they're 6-5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference "according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/_/id/153/north-carolina-tar-heels and unlike Duke North Carolina is coming off a win over Pittsburgh who is last in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings with a record of 8-16 and 0-11 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. "according to  http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/_/id/221/pittsburgh-panthers

North Carolina finally got its offense — and maybe its confidence — going again. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/3/mens-basketball-tar-heels-run-past-pitt-96-65.aspx?path=mbball

Luke Maye scored 26 points to help the 19th-ranked Tar Heels beat Pittsburgh 96-65 on Saturday night, ending their first three-game losing streak in four years."according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/3/mens-basketball-tar-heels-run-past-pitt-96-65.aspx?path=mbball

"Our guys around here, you lose a couple and the kids start feeling the pressure because they're such good kids," UNC coach Roy Williams  said. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/3/mens-basketball-tar-heels-run-past-pitt-96-65.aspx?path=mbball

The response was a positive, if for no other reason than the Tar Heels (17-7, 6-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) had a relatively stress-free night while matching their best scoring output in league play. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/3/mens-basketball-tar-heels-run-past-pitt-96-65.aspx?path=mbball

The Tar Heels also shot 51 percent, made 11 3-pointers and dominated the boards (47-28) en route to 22 second-chance points. Maye led six players in double figures, including junior Kenny Williams , who had his best scoring night after several rough games. And Theo Pinson  (13 rebounds, eight assists) played a strong floor game. "according tohttp://goheels.com/news/2018/2/3/mens-basketball-tar-heels-run-past-pitt-96-65.aspx?path=mbball

In short, they made things look routine against a team that's yet to win an ACC game. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/3/mens-basketball-tar-heels-run-past-pitt-96-65.aspx?path=mbball

"We needed tonight," Pinson said."according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/3/mens-basketball-tar-heels-run-past-pitt-96-65.aspx?path=mbball

UNC found itself in a close game late in the first half before blowing it open with a big run spanning halftime. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/3/mens-basketball-tar-heels-run-past-pitt-96-65.aspx?path=mbball

Graduate transfer Cameron Johnson  scored eight points against his former team in UNC's 14-3 half-ending flurry, which grew to 25-5 when Joel Berry II hit his fourth 3-pointer for a 56-37 lead with 16:48 left. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/3/mens-basketball-tar-heels-run-past-pitt-96-65.aspx?path=mbball

Freshman Marcus Carr scored 22 points for the Panthers (8-16, 0-11), who hit eight first-half 3s to hang around but made 2 of 16 after halftime as the Tar Heels' lead ballooned.

That sent Pitt to its 11th straight loss, the longest skid in program history. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/3/mens-basketball-tar-heels-run-past-pitt-96-65.aspx?path=mbball

"They played well obviously," Panthers coach Kevin Stallings said. "I didn't think that we did so much, but certainly you have to give them credit. It probably wasn't the most ideal time to catch them." "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/3/mens-basketball-tar-heels-run-past-pitt-96-65.aspx?path=mbball


BIG PICTURE
Pittsburgh: Things keep getting worse for the Panthers. They entered Chapel Hill ranked last in the league in major categories such as scoring offense, shooting percentage, rebounding margin and turnover margin. Now they've lost 15 straight regular-season ACC games and are approaching a year since their last win. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/3/mens-basketball-tar-heels-run-past-pitt-96-65.aspx?path=mbball

"Maybe I'll feel a little differently when I see the film," Stallings said. "But I think we can play better than that." "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/3/mens-basketball-tar-heels-run-past-pitt-96-65.aspx?path=mbball

UNC: The Tar Heels were facing the possibility of their first four-game losing streak since February 2010, the only one of the Roy Williams  era. And the past week in particular had been bumpy: There was an overtime home loss to North Carolina State last weekend and a loss at No. 20 Clemson on Tuesday. This win — a get-right cruise in front of a friendly crowd — might have helped drain a bit of building tension. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/3/mens-basketball-tar-heels-run-past-pitt-96-65.aspx?path=mbball


FAMILIARITY
Pitt initially blocked Johnson's attempt to move to UNC with immediate eligibility, citing an internal policy, before relenting last summer. He finished with 14 points. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/3/mens-basketball-tar-heels-run-past-pitt-96-65.aspx?path=mbball

"I tried not to look at this game any different, you know what I mean?" Johnson said. "Obviously you're going to feel some things when you play against your former team. I spent three years there, I grew up in Pittsburgh, my dad played at Pitt, my mom went to nursing school there, and my brother is still doing research for the university, so obviously I have a pretty strong connection there." "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/3/mens-basketball-tar-heels-run-past-pitt-96-65.aspx?path=mbball

Stallings deflected questions afterward about Johnson. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/3/mens-basketball-tar-heels-run-past-pitt-96-65.aspx?path=mbball

"I don't like to comment on other people's players," he said. "Ask Roy about how he played. I couldn't tell you. I was worried about my guys." "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/3/mens-basketball-tar-heels-run-past-pitt-96-65.aspx?path=mbball


WILLIAMS' JUMPER
Kenny Williams scored 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting, including 3 of 5 from behind the arc. He had failed to reach double figures in five of the past six games."according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/3/mens-basketball-tar-heels-run-past-pitt-96-65.aspx?path=mbball

"I wasn't thinking about the shots," he said. "I was just stepping into it and doing everything that I've worked on."
11th straight loss, the longest skid in program history. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/3/mens-basketball-tar-heels-run-past-pitt-96-65.aspx?path=mbball

Tip-off is set for 8:00pm from the Dean E. Smith Center. The game will be televised on ESPN/ ACC Network. "according to http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4200&SPID=1845&SPSID=22726