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; The North Carolina Tar Heels bench reacts during the second half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Greensboro Coliseum. The Tar Heels won 83-76. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2017; Greensboro, NC, USA; The North Carolina Tar Heels bench reacts during the second half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Greensboro Coliseum. The Tar Heels won 83-76. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Freshman Spotlight

Duke: F Jayson Tatum

Tatum has been coming up big for the Blue Devils of late. Since being a key cog in the comeback against Miami, Tatum is averaging 14 points and seven rebounds per game. He is also shooting 50 percent from the field.

An assertive Tatum makes Duke dangerous, much like Brandon Ingram did last season. Combine him with the hot shooting of Kennard and it is easy to see why Duke has won four of its past five games.

North Carolina: F Tony Bradley

Bradley will be key to any Tar Heels victory against the Blue Devils. Bradley, along with Isaiah Hicks, allows the Tar Heels to play “small ball”. Kennedy Meeks is best when playing with another big.

Unless Duke goes to their super defense lineup that they used against Miami, they will play mostly four perimeter players alongside Amile Jefferson. If they stick with that setup, Bradley will need to have a performance similar to the one he had against Notre Dame.

Against the Irish, Bradley had 12 points and five rebounds in 17 minutes. That kind of production justifies keeping him on the floor and Meeks on the bench, giving Roy Williams his best line-up against the “smaller” Blue Devils.

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