Category Archives: Duke-UNC

Beyond the Arc: Duke vs. UNC

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In a classic Duke-UNC nail-biter, the Blue Devils give Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski the best gift he could ask for. Down four points at the half, Duke surged back to win 73-68 in a strong, collective team effort.

Here’s your postgame recap:

Revisiting the three keys to the game:

  • How fast will it get? Duke turned the ball over four more times than North Carolina, and the Tar Heels took advantage of the Blue Devil’s faults, turning them into easy baskets. In the second half, Duke was the team controlling the pace. They lengthened their possessions and had the ball for the majority of the time.
  • Can Mason play tough D and avoid foul trouble? Mason struggled with foul trouble all night, which resulted in easy baskets for James Micheal McAdoo and the cutting Tar Heels while Plumlee tried to keep himself in the game. When it counted Plumlee did step up though, and Duke managed to hold on and win the game.
  • The size differential on the perimeter. Bullock picked apart Duke’s defense in the first half, scoring nine points off of three 3-point shots. Duke caught on in the second half, limiting Bullock and the rest of the Tar Heels from deep.

Three key plays:

  • 14:35, second half. Quinn Cook, who was perfect with three-pointers at this point, missed a jump shot, but Tyler Thornton grabbed the rebound and found Rasheed Sulaimon. Sulaimon drove down the middle looking for a lay up, but instead whipped it to Josh Hairston. Hairston powered toward the basket for an easy hoop. A Seth Curry three on the next play gave Duke its first lead of the game.
  • 13:11, second half. Following a fingeroll from Quinn Cook, Plumlee grabbed the missed three by Marcus Paige. Plumlee passed to Cook, who quickly relayed the ball to Sulaimon. Sulaimon planted and drained the three-point shot.
  • 4:59, second half. Mason Plumlee grabs the defensive rebound off of a P.J. Hairston missed jumpshot. Quinn Cook took a quick jumpshot but missed. Seth Curry pounced on the loose ball, took it outside, and connected an NBA–range three.

Three key stats:

  • Duke shot 40 percent 3-point shots: Entering the game shooting just under 41% from long range, Duke struggled to drain 3-pointers in the first half. Luckily, Tyler Thornton kept Duke’s numbers up, hitting three triples.
  • 30 Total Turnover: Mistakes by both sides led to a number of made baskets. UNC had the advantage in the first half, while Duke benefited from errors in the second half. Turnover differential was one of the keys to victory here.
  • Duke shot 85 percent from the free throw line: In order to fight back in the second half, Duke needed to rely on strong free throw shooting. As a team, the Blue Devils hit 17 of 20 free throws, and was phenomenal at the stripe in crunch time.

And the Duke game ball goes to … Tyler Thornton. Thornton had a perfect evening, hitting three three-pointers and playing gritty defense.. Coming off the bench, the guard finished with three rebounds, two of which were offensive. His presence on defense played a huge role in Duke’s comeback.

And the UNC game ball goes to … Reggie Bullock. The Tar Heel forward drained four three-pointers, ending with 15 points and eight rebounds. Bullock was instrumental in putting North Carolina ahead in the first half.

Duke-North Carolina position by position analysis

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Here’s a position by position breakdown of the Duke and North Carolina key players. The two teams meet this Saturday in Cameron Indoor Stadium at 7 p.m.

Tyler Zeller vs. Mason/Miles Plumlee

Tyler Zeller: 16.2 ppg, 9.3 reb, 1.5 blk

While most Blue Devil fans likely remember Zeller’s ignominious finish to the first Duke-North Carolina game—in which the big man missed two free throws, accidentally tipped in a Duke miss and allowed Austin Rivers to shoot over him for the game winning 3-pointer—that shouldn’t overshadow what has otherwise been an excellent senior season. Zeller will likely be named the ACC player of the year, as he’s reached double digit scoring in 15 of his last 16 games, currently placing him fifth in the ACC in scoring. He’s gotten even stronger as the season has progressed, putting up 20 points against Virginia last Saturday and 30 against Maryland Wednesday. Don’t discount his defense either—against Virginia he held star Mike Scott, who came into the game ranked second in the ACC in scoring, to a mere six points.

He’s also been a force on the boards with 10 double-doubles this season, as he ranks third in the ACC in rebounds per game. His work on the glass has helped the Tar Heels to the largest rebounding margin in the country, and will certainly make life difficult for the Plumlee brothers. Lest you forget, going into the final two minutes of last month’s game, Zeller had dominated down low, finishing with 23 points and 11 boards. There appears to be little in the way of him doing it again Saturday.

Mason Plumlee: 10.8 ppg, 9.4 reb, 1.5 blk
Miles Plumlee: 6.5 ppg, 7.0 reb, .9 blk

Miles Plumlee has started the past two games in Mason’s place, and probably will again Saturday on Senior Night, but you can guarantee Mason will see plenty of minutes as head coach Mike Krzyzewski tries to slow down the North Carolina frontcourt. After struggling for the beginning of the season, Miles has become a completely different player following the game in Chapel Hill. In the six games since, Miles has averaged 12 rebounds a game, giving the Blue Devils the reliable force on the glass they lacked last time against the Tar Heels.

Unfortunately his resurgence appears to have come at his brother’s expense. Mason, who ranks second in the ACC in rebounds with 9.4, has struggled heavily in the past few games. He’s averaged only five points and six rebounds in his past four contests, including his measly one point against Florida State in which the junior was plagued with foul trouble the entire night. Krzyzewski has since responded by giving Mason’s starting spot up to his brother, and Mason has shown signs of recovery. Against Wake Forest he scored 12 points, including going 8-9 from the charity stripe. Expect Krzyzewski to cycle through both Plumlees early and often to try and wear down Zeller, as this game will likely be determined by the bigs.

Edge: Tar Heels

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Duke v. North Carolina: Top 5 Cameron moments

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Back in November, I gave you the five most memorable games of head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s tenure with the Blue Devils. As Duke and North Carolina prepare for their 234th meeting on the hardwood Saturday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium, let’s take a look back at some of the top moments in the rivalry’s history that have taken place here on the Blue Devils’ side of Tobacco Road.

5. February 24, 1979—DUKE 47, Carolina 40

This game gets notice for the absurdity of the 7-0 halftime score, which prompted one of the more famous quotes in the rivalry’s history. The game was Jim Spanarkel’s senior night in Durham, and in the first half North Carolina head coach Dean Smith essentially refused to play against the Spanarkel-anchored zone defense of the No. 6 Blue Devils. He ordered his team to retreat into the ‘four corners’ offense, where they proceeded to pass the ball around the perimeter for up to twelve minutes at a time in the pre-shot clock era. The shots the No. 4 Tar Heels did take in the first half didn’t even manage to hit the rim, prompting the students at Cameron Indoor Stadium to use the “AIR-BALL” chant for the first time. Things opened up in the second half with both teams scoring 40 points, but Duke coach Bill Foster couldn’t help but take a jab at Smith the next day, saying, “I thought Naismith invented basketball, not Dean Smith.”

4. March 6, 2010—DUKE 82, Carolina 50

The last time College GameDay came to Durham, the soon-to-be national champion Blue Devils treated the national audience to the largest margin of victory in the rivalry’s history. Duke’s victory was so lopsided, the No. 4 Blue Devils outscored Carolina’s total output with 53 points in the first half. The ‘Big Three’ of Jon Scheyer, Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith each scored 20 or more points, and Brian Zoubek pulled down 13 rebounds in the final home game for Scheyer, Zoubek and Lance Thomas. One month later, the benches burned again.

3. February 28, 1981—DUKE 66, Carolina 65 (OT)

The first time head coach Mike Krzyzewski faced the No. 11 Tar Heels in Durham was senior night for the Blue Devils’ Gene Banks, who threw roses to the crowd during player introductions. Coming out of a timeout, down two, with two seconds remaining, Banks nailed a jumper at the top of the key to send the game to overtime. Banks then scored the game-winning layup off an offensive rebound in the closing seconds of the extra period to snatch Krzyzewski his first victory over Dean Smith and North Carolina.

2. February 4, 1961—DUKE 81, Carolina 77

Cited as the game that sparked a new level of hatred between the two schools, the No. 4 Blue Devils’ victory was overshadowed by a brawl led by Duke star Art Heyman. As the Tar Heels’ Larry Brown drove baseline, trailing by 5 in the waning seconds, and was grabbed by Heyman as he attempted to shoot. Brown immediately went after Heyman fists-first, and several other North Carolina players, including Donnie Walsh and Doug Moe, joined in. Heyman was ejected but fouled out on the play anyway, and Brown was surprisingly allowed to continue the game and shoot his free throws—though the Blue Devils held on to beat the No. 5 Tar Heels. Ultimately, the fight led to the departure of North Carolina coach Frank McGuire and the promotion of his young assistant—Dean Smith. The game was such a monumental event in the rivalry that Art Chansky spends an entire chapter on the fight and events leading up to it in his book, Blue Blood.

1. February 28, 1998—DUKE 77, Carolina 75

Steve Wojciechowski’s senior day pitted the No. 1 Blue Devils against the No. 3 Tar Heels. Freshman Elton Brand had just made a surprising return from a foot injury and scored 16 points while carrying Duke back from a 17-point deficit in the second half. The victory was Krzyzewski’s 500th as a head coach, and produced one of the most notable images in Duke Basketball history, as Wojciechowski and Krzyzewski embraced after the game.

Your pocket guide to Duke-North Carolina

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No. 5 North Carolina will play host to the No. 10 Blue Devils tonight in the first meeting between the teams this season. Tipoff is at 9 p.m.

Duke is coming off a home loss to Reggie Johnson and Miami, but has not lost consecutive games since 2009. The Tar Heels struggled to get past Maryland over the weekend, but the interior tandem of John Henson and Tyler Zeller are playing as well as any frontcourt in the nation. Click here for a full preview.

Projected starters:

Duke (19-4): G Quinn Cook, G Seth Curry, G Austin Rivers, F Ryan Kelly, F Mason Plumlee.

North Carolina (20-3): G Kendall Marshall, G Reggie Bullock, F Harrison Barnes, F John Henson, F Tyler Zeller.

1. Can Duke handle the Tar Heels’ height?

North Carolina is the nation’s tallest team by Ken Pomeroy’s overall average height statistic, which is measured by weighting each player’s listed height by the number of minutes he plays. The Blue Devils rank 36th, and nowhere is this discrepancy more evident than on the wing. Six-foot-8 Harrison Barnes will have a four-inch advantage over Austin Rivers, and Duke’s big men will need to work hard to help out.

2. Can the Plumlees keep Zeller and Henson off the glass?

The North Carolina big men have combined for 112 rebounds over their last five games. While Mason Plumlee has 54 boards by himself over that span, his older brother has just 22 and Kelly has 28. Without a second rebounder, the Blue Devils will be hard pressed to take down the Tar Heels.

3. Live by the three, win by the three?

North Carolina’s weakness thus far has been from long range, where they shoot just 35.8 percent. The team scores under 19 percent of its points from beyond the arc, one of the lowest marks in the nation. Duke shot a woeful 9-for-31 from downtown Sunday against Miami, but might be able to overcome the Tar Heels’ efficient offense by knocking down some 3-pointers.

Counterpoint: North Carolina has too much firepower

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After a demoralizing loss to Miami Sunday, the Blue Devils are no doubt eager to attack their opponents with renewed energy. Unfortunately, their redemption must wait at least one more game, because North Carolina—the most talented team in the ACC—will hand Duke another loss in Chapel Hill Wednesday.

Why? Let’s begin with a recap of last year’s series. The Tar Heels dropped two out of the rivals’ three meetings last season, but North Carolina notched a convincing 81-67 victory in the Dean E. Smith Center to capture the regular season conference championship. Despite 30 points from then-senior Nolan Smith, the Tar Heels jumped out to a 14-point lead in the first half and never looked back.

Although it would be unwise to draw too many conclusions from a single game, almost all of the players who squared off in that matchup last March will be back on the floor Wednesday night, except for a trio of Blue Devil stars. The North Carolina offense also remains as potent as it was last season, with the Tar Heels leading the nation in scoring at just over 84 points per game. Duke can score in bunches, but turning the game into a shootout would play right into North Carolina’s hands. The defensive effort put forth by the Blue Devils will ultimately determine whether they come away with the win, especially if they shoot poorly from the outside.

Yet I have a hard time believing Duke will succeed in shutting down all of Roy Williams’ weapons, especially considering the Blue Devils’ recent struggles on the defensive end. The NBA-ready trio of Harrison Barnes, John Henson and Tyler Zeller comprises one of the best frontcourts in the college game, while point guard Kendall Marshall ranks second in Division I in assists per contest. And even without the injured Dexter Strickland, the Tar Heels’ supporting cast features three players—Reggie Bullock, P.J. Hairston and James Michael McAdoo—capable of scoring in double figures on any given night.

After playing inspired defense against Virginia Tech Thursday, Duke experienced a letdown during the Miami game Sunday. Kenny Kadji and Reggie Johnson—similar in height but less skilled than Henson and Zeller—combined for 42 points in the Hurricanes’ first-ever win at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Given the success Johnson enjoyed down low, North Carolina’s twin towers should receive plenty of good looks at the basket. Granted, neither Zeller nor Henson carries the girth of the 285-pound Johnson, but they don’t need to outmuscle their defenders in order to score. Both players boast an arsenal of post moves and can knock down jumpers from 10-12 feet.

Unless the Blue Devils can consistently play the type of lockdown perimeter defense they displayed in the second half of Sunday’s defeat, Marshall will find a way to get his big men involved. He may not possess enough quickness to drive by Duke’s guards, but his court vision is so highly developed that he can put the ball in the hands of Henson and Zeller without penetrating deep into the lane. The distributor also excels in transition and can pick defenses apart with his outlet pass.

The Blue Devils could fluster the Tar Heels by exploiting Marshall’s occasional carelessness with the ball—almost 30 percent of his possessions this season have resulted in turnovers. But Duke usually doesn’t create many takeaways as a result of its defensive strategy. The Blue Devils’ opponents this season have coughed up the ball about once every five possessions, a mark slightly below the Division I average.

Finally, Duke will need to find a way to contain Barnes—North Carolina’s leading scorer. The 6-foot-8 forward poses a serious matchup problem on the wing, and the Blue Devils are fortunate that he’s still dealing with an ankle injury sustained last week. Nevertheless, Barnes mustered 18 points against Maryland Saturday and hit a late jumper that sealed the Tar Heels’ victory.

When Duke takes the floor at the Dean Dome, Mike Krzyzewski will make sure his team understands the level of intensity needed to earn a victory in the Tobacco Road rivalry. But if Blue Devils haven’t shown the ability to sustain that focus and unity of purpose in tough games at home, doing so in front of 21,750 hostile fans seems unlikely.

Point: Blue Devils match up well with Tar Heels

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Normally, picking Duke to win a basketball game is not a tall task—even if it is in Chapel Hill. But after the debacle that was the Blue Devils’ loss to Miami in Cameron Sunday, that job just became exponentially harder.

How could I possibly argue that a Duke team that looked uninspired, overmatched and apathetic against an average Hurricanes team could beat its archrival on the road? If the Plumlees and Ryan Kelly let Reggie Johnson go for 27 points and 12 rebounds, how could they stop Tyler Zeller and John Henson? If Miami’s guards could get to the rim almost at will, won’t North Carolina’s guards be able to do the same?

But the Blue Devils will beat the Tar Heels Wednesday, for one simple reason—they match up with their rivals better than with Miami or any other team that’s given them trouble this season.

Make no mistake—North Carolina is the most talented team Duke has faced this year. But the Blue Devils have players who can take away what the Tar Heels like to do offensively.

Zeller and Henson make up one of the best frontcourts in the country, but their games are ideally suited for the defensive style of the Plumlees and Kelly. Whereas Jackson dominated the Duke bigs by using his immense size to back them down, Zeller and Henson play with more finesse. The length of Mason Plumlee can take away Henson’s favorite turn-around jumper, and Miles Plumlee will be able to make Zeller uncomfortable with physical defense.

And neither Tar Heel has the frame to bully their way to offensive boards like Johnson did.

But what of Duke’s true Achilles heel—perimeter defense? After Dexter Strickland went down with a torn ACL, the Tar Heels lost their most explosive perimeter athlete. And it’s athleticism and speed that have given the Blue Devil guards the most trouble defensively this season.

Kendall Marshall may be the best passer in the country, but athletically he’s more Greg Paulus than Raymond Felton. Strickland’s replacement, Reggie Bullock, relies more on his size to get his shot rather than on drives to the hoop. And for all of Harrison Barnes’ talent, he still is not an elite athlete.

If the Tar Heels can’t get to the rim, Zeller and Henson won’t get the easy points down low that have plagued the Blue Devils of late. Meanwhile, Bullock and Barnes, who rely heavily on the 3-point shot, won’t get as many open looks if the Plumlees can exploit their defensive matchups in the post.

As for Duke’s offense, this North Carolina team is anything but an elite defensive squad—allowing 81 points at home to Georgia Tech certainly proves that. The Blue Devils will be able to get their points as long as their shots are falling.

Let’s also not forget that the Tar Heels have not been playing stellar basketball as of late—they needed a late run to avoid an upset against Maryland in their last contest and were challenged by an undermanned Wake Forest team last week. Barnes has not emerged as the leader many expected him to be in his sophomore year—and he’s battling a nagging ankle injury—while the loss of Strickland hurts North Carolina more than anyone will admit.

But perhaps most importantly, one has to think Mike Krzyzewski will not let another heartbreaking defeat derail his team. After the Blue Devils lost to Florida State, they played one of their best games of the year in a dominating victory their next time out. That win just happened to come on the road against one of Duke’s biggest rivals, the Terrapins.

And after the Miami loss, the Blue Devils’ season is arguably on the line in Chapel Hill Wednesday night. If Duke plays with the effort and intensity that this rivalry merits, the favorable matchups should give them a victory.

Especially considering a victory Wednesday may be the only thing that can get the taste of Sunday’s loss out of the Blue Devils’ mouths.