The independent news organization of Duke University
This game was not just another loss. Granted the unique opportunity to defeat a bitter rival and potentially turn around a trying season in one fell swoop, the Blue Devils failed to make this game feel much different from any other, despite the added stakes.
Relying on 50-50 games going their way isn't going to get the Blue Devils into the NCAA tournament this year.
Trailing 89-87 with 15 seconds left, Duke had a chance to tie or win it and write a new page in Tobacco Road lore. But Wendell Moore Jr. was called for a traveling violation as he drove to the rim, and the Blue Devils' nightmare season continued.
North Carolina jumped out to an early lead, but with the help of Wendell Moore Jr. and company, the Blue Devils continued to stay afloat throughout the period.
While the Blue Devils’ work with social justice may not be making national headlines now that the season is in full swing, that doesn’t mean it hasn’t continued behind the scenes.
Coming up against a North Carolina team that features a few imposing big men, Johnson’s size and versatility could be a huge turning point for the Blue Devils.
Among many other factors, the inconsistencies of both Duke and North Carolina this season have toned down the traditional hype of the Tobacco Road rivalry, but that is precisely why this year's game is a must-watch.
Duke and North Carolina have been stumbling throughout their respective seasons, but this rivalry game is a chance at redemption for both.
Duke hosts North Carolina Saturday at 6 p.m. in 2021's first rendition of the Tobacco Road rivalry. Our beat writers make their predictions for the primetime matchup.
Here are five keys to the Tar Heels and Blue Devils’ 254th meeting Saturday at 6 p.m. in Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Beating the Tar Heels will be no easy task, but here are the key things to keep in mind as we head into Saturday’s game.
Normally around this time of year, the Cameron Crazies would be making last-second Amazon purchases for blue face paint and putting the finishing touches on their game day outfit. But this year, Krzyzewskiville won’t be filled with over 100 tents packed with sleep-deprived students competing for a coveted ticket to the Duke vs. North Carolina game.
If there’s one question on if this will truly feel like the Tobacco Road rivalry, it’s whether or not the players can bring that old school Duke-Carolina edge.
Ultimately, the potential to win the game could lie in the hands of the benches of Duke and North Carolina.
The Chronicle spoke with Bilas over the phone Saturday, discussing the best Duke-UNC games ever, how the rivalry has changed over the years and more.
On March 7, 2020, thousands of people packed into Cameron Indoor Stadium to watch Duke take on North Carolina. It was just days before the college basketball season was cancelled and the world flipped upside down.
Basketball is something of a religion here at Duke, so I feel I should confess something to the basketball gods: In middle school, I was a teammate of North Carolina’s starting point guard Caleb Love.
Plagued by injuries, inconsistent shooting, and foul trouble, the Blue Devils will need a quality game from the likes of Jalen Johnson and Wendell Moore if they wish to knock off North Carolina.
The Blue Devils and Tar Heels rely on their respective backcourts for steadiness and scoring production.
The frontcourts of each team feature the leading scorer for both Duke and North Carolina.
