Keeping It Heel
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UNC Basketball: Blue Devils vs. Tar Heels game preview

By Brandon Griffin

Feb 5, 2017; Greensboro, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Seventh Woods (21) and Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward V.J. Beachem (3) battle for a loose ball during the first half at Greensboro Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2017; Greensboro, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Seventh Woods (21) and Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward V.J. Beachem (3) battle for a loose ball during the first half at Greensboro Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 5, 2017; Greensboro, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Joel Berry II (2) shoots the ball over Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Matt Farrell (5) during the second half at Greensboro Coliseum. The Tar Heels won 83-76. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2017; Greensboro, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Joel Berry II (2) shoots the ball over Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Matt Farrell (5) during the second half at Greensboro Coliseum. The Tar Heels won 83-76. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Key Players

Duke: G Luke Kennard

Luke Kennard has literally willed this Duke team to wins this season. His performance in the second half isn’t just one of the best of the season, it is one of the best at Duke. Kennard is hitting nearly 46 percent of his shots from behind the arc, making him very dangerous when catching the ball.

At 6-foot-6, Kennard is the type of guard that the Tar Heels have struggled against, particularly when Theo Pinson doesn’t play. If Carolina cannot contain the sophomore from Ohio, they could be in for another disappointment at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

North Carolina: Joel Berry II

Joel Berry is always a key cog to this North Carolina team. Against Duke, he will be even bigger. One of Duke’s biggest questions this year is at the point guard position. Basically, they don’t have one. North Carolina doesn’t have that problem and this presents a great opportunity for Berry.

A guard has had at least 15 or more points in seven of their 10 conference games this season. When Berry scores at least 15 points, UNC is 11-1. The one loss was against Kentucky, where he had just returned from injury. In other words, if Berry has a big game, the Blue Devils could be in trouble.

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