Patrick Diamond, Reporter
https://twitter.com/diamond_courant
Arguably the best rivalry in all of sports, Duke and North Carolina will be squaring off for the second and final time of the regular season. Duke came back in the first matchup, forcing overtime, and a thrilling 92-90 win for the Blue Devils. The two will play this Saturday at 9 on ESPN.
There is no doubt Duke is one of the favorites going into the NCAA Tournament later this month, being projected a number 1 seed in the latest Joe Lunardi Bracketology after Gonzaga’s loss to BYU. They have a couple key wins including their win over Virginia, and their blowout win over Notre Dame. They’re starting lineup is one of the most dominant in division 1 which includes two potential top 10 picks in the upcoming NBA Draft. An impressive 81.2 points per game, Duke is 4th in the nation in scoring. If Duke can defend the North Carolina offense, look for them to come out on top.
The boys from Chapel Hill are looking for revenge on their home court this Saturday after suffering the OT loss last month. But the players aren’t the only ones seeking revenge on their rival. The fans will be looking to make an impact on the game after the Duke fans willed a 16 point comeback in the game last month. North Carolina’s numbers are relatively close to Duke’s, setting up a matchup that could go down to the last minute.
Players to Watch:
Jahlil Okafor: The Wooden Award Candidate is averaging a team high 17.8 points per game and 9.4 rebounds. Look for him to have a huge game.
Marcus Paige: Team leader in points per game (13.8) and assists (4.4) Marcus Paige will look to feed off the home crowd in this rivalry game.
Prediction: 78-74 Duke. North Carolina’s home-court advantage won’t be enough in this game, as Duke will come out on top.
