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

The UNC Basketball program renews its rivalry with Duke on Saturday as the 2020-21 Atlantic Coast Conference regular season comes to a close. And this one does have some NCAA Tournament implications.

After upsetting Florida State on Saturday, the Tar Heels put themselves in great shape to make the NCAA Tournament and improve their seed. But on Monday they took a small step back, losing a road game at Syracuse which dropped them one line to a No. 10 seed.

For Duke, they have now lost two-straight games and their NCAA Tournament chances are pretty much all but shot. A loss to UNC would put the nail in the coffin in Duke’s chances for the tournament, while pretty much punching their own ticket to the Big Dance.

While this isn’t a “play-in” game, it’s important for both programs.

The Tar Heels should feel safer with their win over Florida State last weekend but with this type of season unlike any other, we really don’t know what will happen on Selection Sunday. A win would go a long way for them on Saturday. Duke on the other hand is still on the bubble somehow despite now losing two-straight games and barley being over .500.

UNC is also looking to sweep the regular season series between the two teams for the second time in three years, doing so in 2018-19. Duke swept the regular season last year, winning in comeback fashion in Chapel Hill and then in the season finale.

The Tar Heels won the first meeting this season back in Durham, leading from the start before holding off a late Duke push. But since then, Duke has played better and is doing so without Jalen Johnson and instead with the rise of Matthew Hurt. The Blue Devils are also seeing Mark Williams give them valuable minutes in the post as a solid defender, which could impact Saturday’s game.

Key to Victory for UNC

Have to shoot better. The Tar Heels have had their fair share of struggles shooting the basketball this season and if that happens on Saturday, it could be another loss. UNC came out hot against Syracuse but then hit a slow point in the game where they struggled to score. Against Florida State, they started real slow before turning it on in the second half.

I’d love to see the Tar Heels come out and play a consistent game from start to finish including shooting it well. Guards Kerwin Walton and Caleb Love have been slumping lately, so getting them going would be a good start….

Something to Watch

In the last meeting UNC dominated in the paint and did so with Day’Ron Sharpe, Garrison Brooks and Armando Bacot. But lately it’s been freshman Walker Kessler who has been the one playing the best in the paint. Kessler is coming off a week in which he was named the ACC Freshman of the Year and has given the Tar Heels a boost.

But on the other side, freshman Mark Williams has provided a boost for the Blue Devils and a legit threat in the paint. Williams wasn’t a big factor in the last meeting but this time around it could be different.

What you need to know

WHAT? Duke Blue Devils (11-10, 9-8 in ACC) AT North Carolina Tar Heels (15-9, 9-6 ACC)
WHEN? Saturday, March 6 at 6:00 p.m. ET
WHERE? Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
TV? ESPN
RADIO? Tar Heel Sports Network
LINE? N/A
LAST MEETING? UNC beat Duke 91-87 on Feb. 6
ALL-TIME SERIES? UNC leads 99-86
PREDICTION? UNC 82, Duke 78

For more on the UNC Basketball program including a recap of this game, please check back with Keeping It Heel.