UNC vs. Duke: Five storylines to watchFrom the shades of blue, to the history, to the immense talent on the court, you don't need a whole lot to build up the rivalry between North Carolina and Duke. But when the eighth-ranked Tar Heels (21-4 overall, 9-2 ACC) visit the 18th-ranked Blue Devils on Thursday, there are some storylines that make the clash of ACC powerhouses even more intriguing. (Fayetteville Observer)
Is ACC the best basketball conference ever? Tough to match even last year, Bilas saysThe ACC could match the record for most teams from a single conference in an NCAA tournament this season, but ESPN's Jay Bilas isn’t ready to crown the league the best ever. It might not even match the ACC’s production from last year, Bilas said. The ACC currently has five teams ranked in the AP top 18 — Louisville, UNC, Virginia, Florida State and Duke. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
Joel Berry, Jusitn Jackson Make Wooden Award Top 20 ListNorth Carolina's Joel Berry II and Justin Jackson are both among the 20 remaining candidates for the 2017 John R. Wooden Award, announced Wednesday. Berry leads UNC in assists, three-point percentage, free throw percentage, and steals. Jackson is second in the ACC in scoring (20.0) in conference games and leads UNC in scoring at a career-best 18.6 per game. (GoHeels.com)
No. 18 Blue Devils face tall task against No. 8 UNCNorth Carolina’s reputation as a ferocious rebounding team precedes the Tar Heels’ invasion of Cameron Indoor Stadium Thursday. “I’m breaking out in a rash when you talk about rebounding,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said Wednesday. When Krzyzewski’s No. 18-ranked Blue Devils play the No. 8 Tar Heels in the rivalry’s next chapter, rebounding will be a key factor. (Durham Herald-Sun)
Chansky’s Notebook: The Rivalry RenewsThe greatest rivalry in college basketball resumes Thursday at Cameron Indoor Stadium, home of the consensus pick to win the 2017 national championship but currently languishing at No. 18 in the national rankings. The Blue Devils can certainly beat the Tar Heels, but it is never a guarantee against a team that is not intimidated by the Crazies or the Duke mystique. (Chapelboro.com)
UNC vs. Duke PreviewThe most storied rivalry in college basketball tips off for the first time this season at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Thursday. The Blue Devils, the nation’s preseason No. 1 team, got off to a hot start, winning 12 of their first 13 games. The Blue Devils lost four of their first seven ACC matchups, but appear to be back on track, winning their last three games. (Inside Carolina)
Trip to Cameron offers chance for UNC's Justin Jackson to see how far he's comeThe eighth-ranked Tar Heels head back to Durham on Thursday night for a showdown with No. 18 Duke. This time, Justin Jackson is the Tar Heels' most effective weapon. Averaging 18.6 points per game, he's the Tar Heels' leading scorer. And with a career-best 39 percent mark from 3-point range this season, he's beginning to realize his immense potential. (Fayetteville Observer)
Duke out of excuses, while UNC begins hellish stretch toward possible 1-seedThey always play at least twice, once in Durham and once in Chapel Hill. The first game almost always sets the stage for the ACC regular season title race, which concludes, usually, with the second UNC-Duke game in early March. It's a unique combination of history, timing and hatred that fuels the rivalry. Here are three things to know going into UNC-Duke, part I: (CBS Sports)
Tar Heels To Visit Duke ThursdayCarolina returns to action on Thursday, Feb. 9, at Duke. Game time is 8 pm The Tar Heels are 21-4 overall and 9-2 in the ACC. Duke is 18-5, 6-4. UNC is ranked eighth in the Associated Press and seventh in the Coaches polls. Duke is 18th and 19th, respectively. Carolina leads the all-time series with Duke, 134-108. The Blue Devils have won 11 of the last 15 meetings. (GoHeels.com)
Focus from the Tip Key for UNC at DukeThroughout Roy Williams’s tenure in Chapel Hill, his Tar Heels have embraced the raucousness of Cameron Indoor Stadium from the tip, building double-digit leads in seven of their last nine games in Durham. Williams credited the trend to “really good players who are really focused.” “If you’re not focused, you’re going to get run out,” Williams said Tuesday. (Inside Carolina)
Wayne Ellington to coach at Basketball without Borders Global Camp for NBA All-Star 2017Miami Heat guard Wayne Ellington will join several NBA players and coaches at the third annual Basketball without Borders Global Camp as part of NBA All-Star 2017 in New Orleans. In association with the NBA and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) as well as Nike, the top 67 boys and girls from 32 countries and territories will participate in the camp. (Hot Hot Hoops)
Video: Roy Williams - Preparing UNC Players For LifeRoy Williams has UNC in first place in the ACC. In his amazing career, Williams has two national titles and over 800 wins, but he's proudest of the relationships he's built with his players.
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Wednesday, February 08, 2017
Recent Years Teach Tar Heels Importance of Closing Out vs. DukeThroughout the history of the UNC-Duke men’s basketball rivalry the only certainty has been that the game—more often than not–is decided in the final minutes. Despite jumping out to early leads in each of their last four matchups, the Tar Heels have struggled to close out the Blue Devils during the time in which the outcome is decided—going just 1-3 during that span. (Chapelboro.com)
Lucas: Historically Tough Stretch AwaitsJay Bilas, who will call Thursday night’s game for ESPN, opined Tuesday that Carolina and Duke have the toughest remaining schedules in the country. This much is certain: Carolina’s closing stretch is unprecedented in UNC basketball regular season history, and among the toughest eight-game stretches in program history—including the postseason. (GoHeels.com)
Duke's Allen, UNC's Berry share long friendshipJoel Berry has seen and heard all about Grayson Allen's run-ins, and he has an opinion, too. "I think he's a great dude, even with the things that happened to him," Berry said. "I've been around him a great bit, whether it was us playing in the [AAU] tournaments or going to the camps with each other, so I know him personally, and he's a great guy." (ESPN.com)
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| Team | ACC | Overall |
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| (1) Virginia | 17-1 | 31-3 | | (9) Duke | 13-5 | 29-8 | | (22) Miami | 11-7 | 22-10 | | (20) Clemson | 11-7 | 25-10 | | NC State | 11-7 | 21-12 | | (10) North Carolina | 11-7 | 26-11 | | Virginia Tech | 10-8 | 21-12 | | Florida State | 9-9 | 23-12 | | Louisville | 9-9 | 22-14 | | Notre Dame | 8-10 | 21-15 | | Syracuse | 8-10 | 23-14 | | Boston College | 7-11 | 19-16 | | Georgia Tech | 6-12 | 13-19 | | Wake Forest | 4-14 | 11-20 | | Pittsburgh | 0-18 | 8-24 |
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