Whether you like him or not, Jay Bilas is one of the more notable college basketball analysts around.
The former Duke Blue Devil star might be seen as someone who doesn't like the UNC basketball program (given his ties to the rivalry). However, his breakdown of this current Tar Heels team is spot-on, as he discussed where they stand leading up to the final game of the regular season on Saturday night.
“Six straight wins, averaging 91 points a game and they’re shooting well over 40% from three during that time period – making over 10 threes a game. It’s a different North Carolina team than I think Duke faced in the first game. And North Carolina’s playing for their lives. They’re on the bubble right now. I think they’ve got a resume that compares favorably with the other bubble teams. But you get a win against Duke at your home floor, that could clinch it."
Bilas is right- a win on Saturday night likely is enough to get the UNC basketball program into the big dance. North Carolina needs another statement win, and what better way to secure that than to beat their bitter rivals who have already secured the ACC regular season title.
Let's remember: this might not be the last time these two teams square off, as a meeting in the ACC Tournament could potentially happen. Needless to say: North Carolina has to beat Duke at least once before the selection committee makes up the final brackets.
North Carolina and Duke square off on Saturday night at the Dean Smith Center. Tip-off for the big matchup is set for 6:30 PM EST.