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

By Zack Pearson

CHAPEL HILL, NC - FEBRUARY 01: Justin Pierce #32, Cole Anthony #2, Christian Keeling #55, Brandon Robinson #4, and Garrison Brooks #15 of the North Carolina Tar Heels huddle during a game against the Boston College Eagles on February 01, 2020 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Boston College won 70-71. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - FEBRUARY 01: Justin Pierce #32, Cole Anthony #2, Christian Keeling #55, Brandon Robinson #4, and Garrison Brooks #15 of the North Carolina Tar Heels huddle during a game against the Boston College Eagles on February 01, 2020 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Boston College won 70-71. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images) /
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The UNC Basketball program returns to the court on Saturday night to close out the 2019-20 ACC regular season against their rival

The North Carolina Tar Heels will have revenge on their minds when they travel to Durham on Saturday night for a rematch with the Duke Blue Devils.

UNC blew a double-digit lead in the first meeting between the two teams in February and eventually lost on a buzzer-beater in overtime. Duke flat out stole a game that they had no business winning and it was another tough loss for the Tar Heels. But on Saturday, they hope they can get the chance to close out the game and improve their win streak to four-straight games going into the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament.

The Tar Heels enter at 13-17 overall and 6-13 in conference play. The only hope they have at making the NCAA Tournament in a disappointing season would be winning the ACC Tournament next week. A win gets UNC out of last place in the conference but no matter what they do on Saturday, they will have to win five games in five days to make the tournament. Not an easy task.

But for the Tar Heels, they are playing some of their best basketball of the season down the stretch with wins over Wake Forest and N.C. State at home and a road win over Syracuse last weekend.

Keeping that momentum and bringing it to the ACC Tournament will be huge. Plus, getting a win over Duke in a down year for the program would be nice.

After losing two-straight games, the Blue Devils rebounded with a big home win over N.C. State and avenged an earlier loss to the Wolfpack. Duke is still in the running to capture a share of the ACC regular season title but will need to win plus have both Louisville and Florida State lose on Saturday.

Duke is led by the combo of Vernon Carey Jr. and Tre Jones. Carey Jr. is 17.6 points and 8.7 rebounds per game while shooting 57.7 percent from the field. The point guard Jones came up big last time these two teams met, hitting clutch shots at the end as he’s averaging 6.2 assists per game this season.

Jones will be matched up with Cole Anthony who is playing a lot better over the past four or so games. That should be a matchup to watch on the perimeter and could decide this one.

It’s also senior night in Durham and that’s something UNC is familiar with. The Tar Heels have spoiled Senior Night in 2006, 2008, 2012, and 2016 in Durham and are looking to do it again this season.

Saturday night should be another good one in the rivalry and hopefully the Tar Heels will be on the winning end this time. Let’s get into our preview.

What to Watch For

Free throw shooting. Going back to that first matchup, North Carolina really struggled to make their free throws and that is putting it nicely. The Tar Heels went 21 of 38 from the free throw line and it cost them the game. UNC had a double-digit lead in the game but when it came to extending that lead at the free throw line, they really struggled.

That included missing seven free throws in the final minute of regulation, allowing Duke to mount a comeback and force the game into overtime. In overtime, the Tar Heels missed two more free throws and lost on a buzzer-beater. Make your free throws and that game is over. Simple as that.

The good news for UNC is that since that game, they have improved on their free throw shooting.

Player to Watch

Senior forward Brandon Robinson. He didn’t play in the first game between the two teams this season after suffering an ankle injury but he now provides another scoring option for the Tar Heels on the wing.

Robinson is wrapping up his senior season and hopes that these aren’t his final two games of his Tar Heels’ career. Robinson is averaging 12 points and 3.3 rebounds per game for the Tar Heels while shooting 40.5 percent from the field and 34.9 percent from the three-point line. Let’s see how much of an impact Robinson can have for this team against Duke.

What you need to know

What? North Carolina 13-17 (6-13 in ACC) AT Duke 24-6 (14-5 in ACC)
When? Saturday, March 6 2020
Where? Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina
TV? ESPN
Radio? Tar Heel Sports Network
All-time series? UNC leads 98-85.
Last meeting? Duke beat UNC 98-96 in OT
Line? NA
Prediction? Duke 78, UNC 76

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