When you're slated to play Duke near the end of a given week, it could be very easy to overlook midweek contests that stand in the way.
North Carolina has had a major issue with this, as the classic "trap games" have caught the Tar Heels off guard in recent memory.
"Trap Game" Woes
Since 2020, the Tar Heels haven't had much success in midweek games right before the anticipated matchup with the Blue Devils. North Carolina holds a 1-5 record and is riding a current three-game losing streak in such games.
In 2023, Jeff Capel and the Pittsburgh Panthers secured a 65-64 victory over the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill. The 2024 version of the "trap game" took North Carolina to Atlanta, Georgia, as the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets squeezed out a 74-73 victory over the Tar Heels. Last season, Pittsburgh played spoilers, securing a double-digit victory over UNC, a team that definitely had its mind on Duke.
This trend needs to change, and it starts on Monday night.
Read: UNC looking to avoid the trap as they host Syracuse as a final tune-up before Duke
Don't let the Orange continue the trend
This game has "trap game" written all over it.
A quick turnaround following a trip to Atlanta (one where the Tar Heels got home late Saturday night and practiced on Sunday), snowy/icy conditions in Chapel Hill, as well as hosting a Syracuse team who has lost four of its last five games.
With Duke on the horizon, it could be easy for North Carolina to look ahead, but the importance of focusing on the present needs to be the focus for Hubert Davis' team.
Before we focus on the weekend, take care of the game ahead of you, one that the Tar Heels should win and will be heavily favored to do so.
The Tar Heels need to avoid the trap, something they haven't been able to do over the past few seasons. A loss on Monday night would be brutal leading up to the highly-anticipated showdown with rival Duke, given that the Tar Heels have been building momentum over its current three-game winning streak.
Worry about Syracuse first, there is plenty of time to focus on Duke as the week progresses.