Rivalry Renewed: 8 questions ahead of North Carolina vs. Duke

Keys to the game for North Carolina

1. Can UNC slow Duke’s freshmen sensations?

I don’t what to tell you if you thought anything else… what else could be North Carolina’s top priority? The Tar Heels will likely dare Duke to beat them from deep and hope Zion Williamson, R.J. Barrett and Cam Reddish they don’t catch fire. North Carolina should also foul with purpose when they do, as Duke also is inconsistent, or any good from the free-throw line. The Blue Devils only have two losses on the year so it is not like there is a great blueprint to beat Duke.

2. Can UNC create mismatches to generate quality ball movement?

North Carolina is a top-10 team in assist rate and will need to continue their ball movement if they want to win. Duke is better than North Carolina athletically, so mismatches will have to occur schematically for the Tar Heel offense to reach their potential. Duke likes to gamble for steals on defense, and the passing of North Carolina can definitely mitigate the aggression of the Blue Devils defense.

3. Can UNC create mismatches for Cameron Johnson?

The senior forward also happens to be one of the country’s best three-point shooters. It is safe to assume that Roy Williams has been designing ways for Johnson to get good looks from deep. The offensive spacing around Johnson will be significant as well. If the Tar Heels can spread out Duke’s defense than White will have more room to operate and find his teammates.

Furthermore, Johnson’s size and skill create huge matchup problems for Duke. If Johnson primarily plays on the perimeter then Reddish or Barrett will me moved away from the rim, which will place a greater burden on Zion or Duke’s other forwards while simultaneously risking foul trouble for Duke’s bigs.

4. Will Luke Maye’s crash the boards on defense?

College Basketball statistician Bart Torvik has the senior forward ranked in the 99.7th percentile in the country for defensive rebounding, and Maye is going to need to showcase his elite defensive rebounding skills to help his Tar Heels win. Maye is a burly and strong 6-foot-8, 240 pounds, and he will be in charge of handling the wave of Blue Devils trying to corral offensive rebounds. Maye’s ability to secure rebounds after a Duke miss will greatly improve North Carolina’s chances of leaving Cameron Stadium with a win.

Duke is almost double-digit favorites to beat their fellow in-state rivals at home. The Blue Devils also have Zion, so there is really no telling what absurd feat he might reach, or dominance he might display. However, let’s not forget that North Carolina is a top-10 team for a reason. The Tar Heels absolutely have a chance to pull off the upset, however, a complete team effort will be needed, and some role players will have to play above their expectations for a victory. The Duke vs. North Carolina rivaly is truly special and I would not be surprised if we witness another amazing game betweeen the two storied programs.