UNC Basketball vs. Duke: Game info, preview, prediction and more

The UNC Basketball team hopes to end a two-game losing streak on Saturday night but it won’t be easy as they take on a Top 10 Duke team

North Carolina and Duke will add another chapter to their historic rivalry on Saturday night as the Tar Heels will host the Blue Devils in the Dean Dome for the first of two games in 2020.

This year, things will be a little different.

The Tar Heels enter the game below .500 at 10-12 riding a two-game losing streak as they dropped a home game to Boston College and then a road game at Florida State. Duke will enter the game at 19-3 overall and still has a chance to win the Atlantic Coast Conference. But usually when these teams play, it doesn’t matter what the records are.

With UNC entering this game on a losing streak, Duke comes into the Dean Dome riding a four-game win streak after dropping back-to-back games vs. Clemson and Louisville just a few weeks ago. The Blue Devils are trying to keep pace in the ACC as they are tied with Florida State for second place and are a 1.5 games back of Louisville.

Freshman Vernon Carey Jr. is leading the way for the Blue Devils, averaging 17.8 points and 9 rebounds a game while shooting 58 percent from the field. The former five-star recruit will be a tough matchup in the post for both Garrison Brooks and Armando Bacot in this one. Both players will need to be on their ‘A’ game in this one to slow down Carey Jr.

Along with Carey Jr., fellow freshmen Matthew Hurt and Cassius Stanley as well as sophomore point guard Tre Jones have all averaged double-digits in points. The four have been really good for the Blue Devils this year and give them a solid core both on offense and defense.

Jones makes Duke’s offense go and made the right decision to return to school for another year as he’s been one of the best point guards in the country. He will be matched up with freshman guard Cole Anthony who made his return to the UNC lineup last Saturday. This could very well be the matchup that decides the game especially if Anthony continues to struggle.

For UNC, they are going to have to find a way to score and be efficient in this one.

That’s something they haven’t been able to do a lot this season and most recently had an 11-minute scoreless stretch vs. Florida State on the road which cost them the game. The Tar Heels have to make sure that doesn’t happen against Duke or this one could get ugly early.

Another factor in this is the status of senior guard Brandon Robinson. He injured his ankle on the (TERRIBLE) foul call late in the game against Boston College and missed the matchup against the Seminoles on Monday. Robinson was in a walking boot this week and is not expected to play.

Key to the Game

This is obvious but the Tar Heels are going to need to score. They have had some miserable stretches this season where they just haven’t been able to score and it’s cost them some games.

The atmosphere should be incredible in the Dean Dome with rival Duke coming to town so this team should be fired up. Without Robinson though, UNC will need to find a way to get some scoring production from players other than Brooks and Anthony. This is a chance for someone else to step up and fill up the stat sheet.

The key here will be to avoid this scoreless stretches that the Tar Heels have had before.

Player to Watch

We have to go with Cole Anthony in this one. The freshman made his return against Boston College and has really struggled in these two games as has UNC’s offense. They have to find a way to get things right and Anthony is going to need to be a big part of it.

This will be a tough matchup for the former five-star recruit, going up against a good defensive guard in Jones. How the game goes early on will be key to what could happen down the stretch, so keep an eye on that. Let’s hope Anthony has a big game and can lead UNC to an upset win.

What you need to know

What? Duke 19-3 (9-2 in ACC)  AT North Carolina 10-12 (3-8 in ACC)
When? Saturday, Feb. 6, 6:00 p.m. EST
Where? Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
TV? ESPN
Radio? Tar Heel Sports Network
All-time series? UNC leads 98-84
Last meeting? Duke beat UNC 74-73 on March 15th
Line?  N/A
Prediction? Duke 78, UNC 70