Tobacco Road Battle

Well, if you're not intrigued by this annual matchup between two of the top programs in College Basketball history, then entertain yourself by driving down to Norman, and watch OU/Texas, which should just be a whale of a game.  This is THE rivalry in College Basketball.  The names that have competed against each other year in and year our are remarkable. Grant Hill and Christian Laettner vs. Hubert Davis and Eric Montross; Vince Carter and Antawn Jamison vs. Jeff Capel and Ricky Price; J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams vs. Tyler Hansbrough and Marvin Williams. These players have made this rivalry great, and this year, there are even more stars to add to this storied matchup.

Singler is the clear-cut leader of defending
champion Duke.

Duke comes into this game ranked fifth in the country, after winning their fourth national championship last year.  Led by arguably the best coach in the game today, the Blue Devils have ran their record to 21-2, and lead the ACC at this point at 8-1.  They are led by their senior point guard Nolan Smith, who leads the ACC in two categories, points per game (21.0) and assists per game (5.6).  Smith would be the first player in conference history to lead both throughout the league schedule.  He is joined by senior forward Kyle Singler, who keyed the title run last season.  Singler is one of the premier forwards in college basketball, and contributes 18 points and 6 rebounds per game.  Coach K's squad is one of the best teams in the nation because they score, and protect the basketball. They average 84 points a game, fourth in the nation, and only average 12 turnovers a game.  For the Blue Devils to protect their home court, they will have to rebound the basketball, and try and prevent North Carolina's fast break.  Carolina sometimes struggles in the half-court set, and their youth shows in their decision making. Duke definitely has the advantage, playing at home, and playing six returnees who saw time during last year's spectacular season.

Marshall has orchestrated the Tar Heel offense
to five straight victories.

The North Carolina Tar Heels, come into this game, surprising a lot of people with the way they have played recently.  The Roy Williams led team, started the season 4-3, and fans were thinking that this season was deja vu to last year's debacle.  Since that 4-3 start, all the Heels have done is win thirteen of their last fifteen, and seven of eight games in the ACC to tie Duke in the loss column at the top of the standings.  UNC has won the last five games, three of those by twenty or more, and is riding the play of freshman point guard Kendall Marshall.  After junior point guard Larry Drew decided to leave school last week, all attention has turned to the impressive youngster and his excellent court vision and ever-improving decision making. Marshall dished out a Tar Heel, ACC record 16 assists in Sunday's romp over talented Florida State (who is Duke's only conference loss).  Opposite of Marshall, is Carolina's talented front court of John Henson and Tyler Zeller.  These two help the Tar Heels lead the nation in rebounding, grabbing 42 missed shots a game.  The Tar Heels not only crash the boards better than anyone else, but also thrive on getting out quick, and running Roy William's signature secondary fast break.  Like stated earlier, they struggle in the half-court set sometimes, but recently Marshall has been able to help the Tar Heels out of those struggles, by making stellar plays to the big men Zeller and Henson, and shooters Harrison Barnes and Dexter Strickland.

This game is going to be a competitive one, as usual.  The Tar Heels have something to prove.  They have to prove that they belong where they were ranked at the beginning of the year, and that they deserve some "usual Tar Heel talk" among the nations elite.  Duke, has to prove that they are the best team in the country, even without early POY candidate Kyrie Erving. Duke will have to be able to contain one of the top front courts in the country in Henson and Zeller, which will require the twins, Mason and Miles Plumlee, to have one of their best performances thus far.  Marshall has to be able to make plays, while not turning the ball over.  In 2006, Bobby Frasor, a freshman PG for the Heels, led the young team to a victory, beating Redick on his own senior night.  Cameron can be the toughest place to play in the entire nation, however, Carolina has won five of the last six there.

My Prediction:
North Carolina needs to come out hot. Freshman star, and preseason All-American Harrison Barnes has to continue his stellar play for the Tar Heels to jump out early.  Duke is one of the best outside shooting teams in the ACC, as well as the whole country.  If North Carolina can continue to own the boards, and contain Duke on the perimeter, I think the Tar Heels will be able to steal one in famous Cameron Indoor Stadium. For Duke to win, they absolutely have to play strong inside, and continue to beat people with their guard play.
I think Carolina comes to play, and Marshall has another big game. It will be a closely contested game, and with the whole nation watching one of the best rivalries in college sports, the Tar Heels win 83-78.

Let's Go Heels!
Whitt Carter
whittcarter15@gmail.com