MBB: Duke vs. UNC (Saturday 2/1, 6:30pm ET, ESPN) Pregame and In-Game Thread

[ChillinDuke]

While I concede that UNC has talent and that the Duke/UNC game is one of those where you throw logic out the window, I take some level of comfort in the following.

Other than a 24-point home win against 11-10, 4-6 Cal and arguably their 15-point home win against SMU, no ACC team has struggled with UNC in the least. Their other 4 ACC wins are by a combined 12 points, and then they have 4 losses. So at least 8 out of 10 conference games have been tough contests for UNC.

In a year/era where we bemoan how far the ACC has fallen, we can't have it both ways where the vast majority of our fallen league has played UNC roughly even yet UNC is somehow scary.

We all recognize we could lose. We could lose any game, for that matter. But we should win this one. KP has us as a 15-point favorite. And while I don't expect quite that large a margin, I do expect to win.

- Chillin

 

[UrinalCake]

Watching this again, it blows my mind that we were playing a lineup of Wendell Moore, Cassius Stanley, Alex O'Connell, Jordan Goldwire, and Tre Jones to close the game because Vernon Carey had fouled out with over 7 minutes to go in the game. 5 guards. That is absolutely crazy to think about.

Joey Baker and Alex O'Connell both hit key shots in the comeback in the final 2 minutes of the game. Joey Baker and Alex O'Connell were closing the game in Chapel Hill. I have to admit, I did not remember that.

The more shocking game to me was 2016 when we were down to a six man rotation after Amile got hurt, Matt Jones sprained his ankle in the first half so now we were down to 5, and Marshall Plumlee who was our only center picked up his fourth foul with 10 minutes remaining. Going against their front court of Brice Johnson, Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks we managed to win that game when Derryck Thornton sealed it with a block on Joel Berry. Weird stuff happens in this rivalry.

 

[duke79]

what do a duke student and unc student have in common?


they were both accepted at unc.....

I WAS accepted at both schools. Never really considered going to UNC; frankly, it was one of my back-up colleges at that time.

 

[Music man55]

The more shocking game to me was 2016 when we were down to a six man rotation after Amile got hurt, Matt Jones sprained his ankle in the first half so now we were down to 5, and Marshall Plumlee who was our only center picked up his fourth foul with 10 minutes remaining. Going against their front court of Brice Johnson, Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks we managed to win that game when Derryck Thornton sealed it with a block on Joel Berry. Weird stuff happens in this rivalry.

I agree! That one was really sweet! When Matt went down, I didn’t think we had a chance. I remember Grayson and Luke Kennard hitting big threes in the final two minutes!

 

[Maged]

I will always remember Derryck Thornton positively due to that block, which I can still picture in my mind.

 

[DukieTiger]

The more shocking game to me was 2016 when we were down to a six man rotation after Amile got hurt, Matt Jones sprained his ankle in the first half so now we were down to 5, and Marshall Plumlee who was our only center picked up his fourth foul with 10 minutes remaining. Going against their front court of Brice Johnson, Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks we managed to win that game when Derryck Thornton sealed it with a block on Joel Berry. Weird stuff happens in this rivalry.

Yes that was a wild one, and came in that stretch of time where Duke tended to have the most talented players in the rivalry but Carolina retained guys like Brice Johnson and Justin Jackson for years (or decades, is how it felt).

That game came in a brutal stretch where Duke played 4 straight ACC games against top 7 KenPom teams (!) and went 3-1. My, how the ACC has fallen. Just go look at Duke’s conference schedule from 2016 and it’s obvious.

 

[kAzE]

The more shocking game to me was 2016 when we were down to a six man rotation after Amile got hurt, Matt Jones sprained his ankle in the first half so now we were down to 5, and Marshall Plumlee who was our only center picked up his fourth foul with 10 minutes remaining. Going against their front court of Brice Johnson, Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks we managed to win that game when Derryck Thornton sealed it with a block on Joel Berry. Weird stuff happens in this rivalry.

I remember that one, we didn't have a choice, there were too many casualties.

The crazy thing about the 2020 game though is that Jack White, Matthew Hurt, and Javin DeLaurier were all available, but Coach K chose not to play them and went with the 5 guards anyways. I don't exactly remember why, but I assume they were the main reason we were down. What a ballsy move by the GOAT to go with that tiny lineup which ended up winning the game.

 

[CasualObserver]

Why can't Cheat basketballers access the internet?

They can't put 3 Ws together in a row

 

[DukieTiger]

I agree! That one was really sweet! When Matt went down, I didn’t think we had a chance. I remember Grayson and Luke Kennard hitting big threes in the final two minutes!

Luke, Grayson and Ingram combined for 58 points! Awesome performance against an experienced, deep, talented Carolina team.

 

[whereinthehellami]

Always a classic...

 

[dukelion]

The concerns are only on those who have them and will change nothing about reality. Comparison is the thief of joy and every game is different, including this upcoming one. I had ridiculous expectations for the Detroit Lions and that was a mistake leaving a tiny window for happiness/satisfaction and I'll never do that again. Many have the same ridiculous expectations of this Duke team (and every Duke team for that matter). Demand perfection from the government not a team of teenagers playing hoops for a school. 9F

I feel seen

 

[wilson]

This is the 2012/Austin Rivers in the Nose Dome video against which all others are measured. Sad tar heel quotient through the roof. Still delicious 13 years later.
The best content starts around 2:23, but for max enjoyment, I suggest watching the whole thing for the most lovely "before and after" experience possible. 2:45-3:00 is probably my favorite segment...so many people about to cry. It's seriously some of my favorite content on this entire network of tubes.

 

[DavidBenAkiva]

Given the standings and location, it's Duke fans that would be the ones that would be featured in a video like this. Hopefully this is just a nice, comfortable home win over a rival on Saturday night.

 

[kAzE]

This is the 2012/Austin Rivers in the Nose Dome video against which all others are measured. Sad tar heel quotient through the roof. Still delicious 13 years later.
The best content starts around 2:23, but for max enjoyment, I suggest watching the whole thing for the most lovely "before and after" experience possible. 2:45-3:00 is probably my favorite segment...so many people about to cry. It's seriously some of my favorite content on this entire network of tubes.

So good. Sort of weird that this is on a pro-UNC youtube channel. Pretty pure 95% of the views on this video are from Duke fans. Just check the comments

I'm still looking for the video that shows the live reaction from people in the crowd inside the Dean dome from different angles as it happens though.

 

[cbarry]

I don’t bet on sports because it’s a money-losing prospect for most (that’s how the betting companies make huge profits)… BUT I saw the betting line on this game is something like Duke by 5.5

If I were a betting man, I would place a WHOLE lot of money that we cover that… easily.

 

[moonpie23]

i don't like how we're being presented as the winner by a mile already......this is the cheats coming to town and they want our demise.....they are sick of the cooper hype and this would be their superbowl....

i trust jon shows them some heartbreak video as well as the 82-50......

 

[duke79]

I don’t bet on sports because it’s a money-losing prospect for most (that’s how the betting companies make huge profits)… BUT I saw the betting line on this game is something like Duke by 5.5

If I were a betting man, I would place a WHOLE lot of money that we cover that… easily.

I don't see any point spread yet posted on any of the major betting sites, so I'm not sure where this 5.5 point spread is coming from. I have to believe Duke will be favored by much more - maybe in the 12-14 point area.

 

[hallcity]

I don't see any point spread yet posted on any of the major betting sites, so I'm not sure where this 5.5 point spread is coming from. I have to believe Duke will be favored by much more - maybe in the 12-14 point area.

I think the 5.5 or maybe 4.5 spread was for last year's game.

 

[budwom]

I don't see any point spread yet posted on any of the major betting sites, so I'm not sure where this 5.5 point spread is coming from. I have to believe Duke will be favored by much more - maybe in the 12-14 point area.

yeah, I think I saw the figure of 5 or so floating around a few days ago but it was for a prior year's game. Google can do this to people.

 

[billy]

What do a State student and a Duke student have in common?

They never wanted to go to UNC in the first place.

They both outgrew wearing pastels/Smurf colors