The 266th installment of the Tobacco Road rivalry between No. 1 Duke (28-2, 16-1) and No. 17 North Carolina (24-6, 12-5) is tonight at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
However, some of the shine has come off this matchup. Carolina’s Caleb Wilson will miss this game and the rest of the season and the NCAA Tournament with a broken thumb.
Duke’s Dominance Since Previous Loss
This rematch comes just weeks after the Tar Heels rallied from 13 down in the second half to stun the Blue Devils 71-68 in Chapel Hill. UNC won the game on a last-second three-pointer from senior Seth Trimble. Since that loss on February 7, Duke has been dominant, winning seven straight games and securing the outright ACC regular-season title.
Saturday night means far more to Cameron Boozer and the Blue Devils than any of those seven or really any of the previous 30 games Duke has played this season.
Since their loss to Carolina, Jon Scheyer’s crew has won each of the seven games they have played. They have dismantled nearly everyone they have played, winning the seven by an average of 25.7 points. The foundation of their success lies in their defense.
Efficiency Ratings
The Blue Devils own the nation’s best adjusted defensive efficiency. Their offense ranks No. 3 in offensive efficiency.
Carolina’s efficiency at both ends does not compare. The Heels are 52nd in defensive efficiency and 53rd in offensive efficiency.
Team Records and Rankings
Duke has a record of 14-2 in Q1 games and is 5-0 in Q2. North Carolina is 6-6 in Q1 and 5-0 in Quad 2 games. The Blue Devils are ranked No. 1 in KenPom and No. 1 in the NET. The Tar Heels are ranked No. 29 in KenPom and 24th in the NET.
Injury Report and Betting Odds
Caleb Wilson (thumb) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game. James Brown (foot) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game. Ivan Matlekovic (hand) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game. Patrick Ngongba II (undisclosed) is listed.
- Moneyline: UNC Tar Heels (+1200), Duke Blue Devils (-2400)
- This game opened Duke -16.5 with the Total set at 146.5.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.