Jayson Tatum throws down monster slam over Kennedy Meeks (Video)

Jan 7, 2017; Durham, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Jayson Tatum (0) celebrates with guard Matt Jones (13) in the closing seconds of the second half of their game against the Boston College Eagles at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2017; Durham, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Jayson Tatum (0) celebrates with guard Matt Jones (13) in the closing seconds of the second half of their game against the Boston College Eagles at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports

Jayson Tatum sends a message in his first taste of Duke vs North Carolina

It’s the first Duke vs North Carolina game of the year which is always exciting. It’s college basketball’s best rivalry and is one of those games that, no matter when it’s played, just means something more. Neither Duke or Carolina is in any trouble of missing the tournament yet a loss tonight would be heart wrenching for the losing side.

Enter Freshman Jayson Tatum, playing in his very first Duke-Carolina showdown.

Doing something big in a game like this is a chance to enter the history books of college basketball. Austin Rivers hit a game-winner in the Dean Dome a few years ago and it’s still shown on highlight reels to this day next to guys like Michael Jordan and Grant Hill. So what does Tatum have in store for us tonight? While it might not go down in the history books it’ll be a play we all talk about for the next week or two.

That is an absolute monster of a slam by Tatum all over that poor North Carolina defender. It adds some authority to Duke’s double digit lead and sends a message to North Carolina’s defense that if they give him any space he will make them pay for doing so. Maybe next time instead of trying to play defense they should just clear out the lane, because by the end of the night some poor Carolina kid is going to be on a Jayson Tatum poster hanging in Duke bars everywhere.