More than 1,000 fans attended Duke's convincing victory over N.C. State Wednesday night in Raleigh, and the Blue Devils (10-2, 3-0 in the ACC) expect nothing but the same when they travel to play North Carolina Saturday at 6 p.m.
At UNC's Carmichael Auditorium, the Tar Heel fans rally around pep groups, the band and hecklers who sit behind the bench, Duke head coach Jolene Nagel said.
"They have a tremendous crowd in Carmichael," Nagel said. "There are fans all around the facility.
Despite a slow start for North Carolina (3-10, 1-3), the early-season match carries extra significance because of the traditional rivalry between the two schools.
"You just have to be in it to understand it," Nagel said. "I think that Carolina has a greater dislike for Duke than Duke has for Carolina."
The Blue Devils have had plenty of experience playing in front of rowdy crowds this season. Although it's difficult to replicate the conditions in practice, the hostile environments at Arizona State, Penn State and N.C. State have better prepared Duke's younger players for the tough road matches to come.
The team will not prepare any differently for Saturday's Carlyle Cup match-the first Tobacco Road meeting for the four Blue Devil freshmen-but senior Tealle Hunkus said the freshmen comprehend the game's significance.
"Once you walk onto Duke's campus, you understand the rivalry," Hunkus said. "It's implanted from the beginning."
The team veterans will be looking out for the younger players as well.
"It helps them having us there," junior Carrie DeMange said. "The stability's there already, but they definitely look up to us."
Even if the fans at away venues are rooting for the other team, the Blue Devils have learned to feed off the energy.
"The crowd was strong," DeMange said of Wednesday night's atmosphere in N.C. State's Reynolds Coliseum. "There were actually a lot of people.... I love playing in front of fans."
Hunkus said she remembered playing at UNC before a basketball game in front of 16,000 fans. The team doesn't expect that sort of turnout Saturday, but as Hunkus said, "The fans always make it."
Despite losing several key players, including 2005 ACC Player of the Year Dani Nyenhuis, Nagel expects the Tar Heels to come out ready.
"Carolina always plays so well and hard against us," Nagel said. "They're always very competitive."
Last year, Duke and UNC split their two matches, each winning in five games at home. But Duke was not at full strength when it lost at Chapel Hill last November, Nagel said.
The Blue Devils bring a healthy lineup to Carmichael Saturday, but the team is by no means looking past the Tar Heels, who have struggled to find a rhythm this season.
"This is the ACC," Hunkus said. "Any team on any night-teams are out to get us."
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.