Duke Heads To Chapel Hill For Inaugural Meeting Of The Season With North Carolina
Eight miles is what separates Duke and North Carolina.
On Saturday night the two blue blooded rivals will take on each other in their inaugural meeting of the season in Chapel Hill before meeting for the rematch twenty eight days later in Durham on March 7th to closeout the regular season.
Duke who is ranked seventh in this weeks AP Top 25 poll comes into the game with a record of 19-3 while they’re 9-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference and second in the standings behind Louisville who is first in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings while North Carolina comes into the game with a record of 10-12 while they’re 3-8 in the Atlantic Coast Conference and thirteenth in the standings behind Miami. “according to http://www.theacc.com/standings.aspx?standings=40
As for last seasons meeting between Duke and North Carolina in Chapel Hill on March 9, 2019,
Duke lost 79-70.
Barrett scored 26 points to lead the Blue Devils, who shot just 23 percent after halftime.
While North Carolina won last seasons meeting in Chapel Hill.
Freshman Coby White scored 21 points and UNC took down its biggest rival again, beating the short-handed Blue Devils 79-70 to earn a share of the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season championship. “according to an article by Aaron Beard of the Associated Press
Senior Kenny Williams scored a season-high 18 points for the Tar Heels (26-5, 16-2), who led by 15 with about 6½ minutes left but had to hold off a rally by the Blue Devils, who also lost starting big man Marques Bolden early in this one to his own knee injury. “according to an article by Aaron Beard of the Associated Press
This time around Duke will be looking to avenge last seasons loss in Chapel Hill to North Carolina while North Carolina who will be without Brandon Robinson will look to yet again take the inaugural meeting of the season.
Brandon Robinson, who sprained his ankle in North Carolina’s game against Boston College on Feb. 1, is expected to miss one to three more weeks with the injury, coach Roy Williams said Thursday. “according to an article written by Johnathan M. Alexander of the News &Observer.
Why?
Robinson injured the ankle while trying to contest Jared Hamilton’s 3-pointer in the final seconds of the 71-70 home loss to Boston College. He was called for a foul, but when he landed, he twisted his ankle. He had to be helped off the court by two teammates. “according to an article written by Johnathan M. Alexander of the New & Observer
As for Duke’s previous game,
They won the rematch in Chestnut Hill Massachusetts and earned a regular season sweep of Boston College.
Vernon Carey Jr. had 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead No. 7 Duke to a 63-55 victory over Boston College on Tuesday night and give Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski his 500th career Atlantic Coast Conference victory. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2020/2/4/mens-basketball-no-7-duke-rallies-to-beat-bc-63-55.aspx
Duke finished 1 for 15 from 3-point range and BC was 2 for 18.”according to
https://goduke.com/news/2020/2/4/mens-basketball-no-7-duke-rallies-to-beat-bc-63-55.aspx
Unlike Duke,
North Carolina suffered their second straight Atlantic Coast Conference loss when they lost in Tallahassee Florida on Monday to Florida State who unlike North Carolina is ranked in the AP Top 25 pollas they’re ranked eighth in this weeks poll.
Cole Anthony started in his second game back from knee surgery for UNC (10-12, 3-8). The freshman guard scored 16 points on 5-of-23 shooting and added seven rebounds. He shot 3 of 10 from 3-point range and 3 of 8 from the free-throw line.”according to https://goheels.com/news/2020/2/3/mens-basketball-unc-at-fsu-recap.aspx
North Carolina went 0 for 17 during a long stretch of the second half and Florida State was able to build a comfortable lead. The Tar Heels fouled to extend the game, but Florida State finished 11 of 13 from the free-throw line.”according to
https://goheels.com/news/2020/2/3/mens-basketball-unc-at-fsu-recap.aspx
UNC senior guard Brandon Robinson, who's averaging 13.1 points per game, did not play because of a sprained ankle. Christian Keeling, who averages 4.4 points per game, made up some of the slack by scoring 14 points.”according to https://goheels.com/news/2020/2/3/mens-basketball-unc-at-fsu-recap.aspx
Tip-off is set for 6:00pm from the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill. The game will be televised on ESPN.