Keeping It Heel
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UNC Basketball: Five things from the Duke loss

By Zack Pearson

Feb 17, 2016; Chapel Hill, NC, USA;North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams reacts in the first half game at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 17, 2016; Chapel Hill, NC, USA;North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams reacts in the first half game at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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How will this loss effect the Tar Heels?

Feb 17, 2016; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Kennedy Meeks (3) and guard Nate Britt (0) react in the second half. The Duke Blue Devils defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels 74-73 at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 17, 2016; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Kennedy Meeks (3) and guard Nate Britt (0) react in the second half. The Duke Blue Devils defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels 74-73 at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Remember in 2012 when North Carolina lost on an Austin Rivers’ buzzer-beater? I was confident the Tar Heels would dominate Duke in the rematch at Durham. This season? It’s possible, but I’m not as confident.

But enough about the rematch. Let’s talk about what this loss could do for the Tar Heels.

This thing is going to go one-of-two ways for Roy Williams’ team. It’s either going to be a big gut-check moment and hopefully propel them on a deep run or it’s going to be the game that essentially ruins their season.

Coming back from a loss like this isn’t easy but luckily for the Tar Heels, they will only have to wait just three days to redeem themselves. The Miami game on Saturday is arguably bigger than the Duke game and it’s for first place in the ACC. A win and UNC really controls their destiny with games against Duke and Virginia still on tap.

A loss? Well it’s another gut-check moment and will create more panic amongst fans.

So what’s going to happen? Can this team, who hasn’t really shown they have gotten over the hump of potentially being a great team, pull it together and be that great team? Can they use this loss as a major teaching moment and just dominate?

Stay tuned.

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