With the end of ACC play near, No. 4 Duke (22-3, 9-3 in the ACC) will take on its Tobacco Road rival No. 15 North Carolina (18-7, 8-4) Wednesday 9 p.m. at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Tar Heels come into the game having lost three of their last four and desperately needing a big-time victory versus their in-state rivals. The Blue Devils will look to add another solid victory to their resume and stay in contention for a No. 1 seed come tournament time. Before every game this season, the Blue Zone will select a player on both teams that could make the difference for their respective squads:
Duke: forward Amile Jefferson
After starting the season strong, the Philadelphia native’s play has tailed off considerably. Jefferson has been held under six rebounds and scored in single digits during each of the past six games—a stretch that has caused some fans to forget just how important he is to the team. The junior is coming off one of his worst games in the season against Syracuse, where he played a season-low 14 minutes and scored only two points to go along with three rebounds.
But with North Carolina’s skilled frontcourt coming to town, Duke will need Jefferson to have a strong game to stave off its in-state rival.
The junior’s biggest contribution will have to be his rebounding on both the offensive and defensive glass. The Tar Heel duo of Kennedy Meeks and Brice Johnson each averages more than seven rebounds per game and the two have elevated the Tar Heels to the second-best rebounding team in the nation. If Jefferson—along with Jahlil Okafor and Marshall Plumlee—is able to prevent second-chance baskets for North Carolina, the Blue Devils will be in position to come away with the victory.
The 6-foot-9 forward will also need a better performance on the offensive end of the floor. After being replaced in favor of Matt Jones' hot shooting to start the second half against Syracuse’s 2-3 zone Saturday, Jefferson will have to be ready to take the open looks he receives Wednesday, with the Tar Heels' defense heavily invested in stopping Okafor. The forward’s ability to make his presence felt on the low block and get to the foul line could prevent North Carolina from double-teaming Duke’s star freshman and free up shooters on the perimeter.
North Carolina: forward Kennedy Meeks
At 6-foot-9 and 280 pounds, the Charlotte, N.C., native has the size and wide body to make life difficult for Okafor on both offense and defense. Meeks' skill set in the post—including his hook shot over either shoulder and his turnaround jump shot—makes him one of the most skilled offensive players the Blue Devils have faced this season. On defense, Meeks’ physicality and length may allow North Carolina to play man against Okafor.
After averaging only 15.5 minutes coming off the bench in his last two games, expect the Tar Heels to start their sophomore forward—who has averaged 12.4 points per game in 23.4 minutes of action. Despite his ineffective performances against Duke a year ago—a total of four points in the two games played—Meeks has significantly improved his conditioning and has lost nearly 35 pounds since the Blue Devils last saw him.
Look for North Carolina to test Duke’s defense early by playing through Meeks. The sophomore’s ability to take advantage of Okafor’s inexperience on the defensive end with punishing post moves could land the Blue Devils' star center in foul trouble and give the Tar Heels a shot to pull off the road upset. But if Okafor can shut down Meeks the same way he did Syracuse's Rakeem Christmas Saturday night, North Carolina could struggle to get points inside.
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