Duke, UNC prepare for second Battle of the Blues of 2024

By WRAL Sports staff

7North Carolina Tar Heels	84
9Duke Blue Devils	79
Final

Durham, N.C. — Duke and North Carolina are set to tip off for the second time this season during Saturday’s game at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham.

WRAL senior multiplatform producer Mark Bergin, WRAL Sports' Louis Fernandez and WRAL Sports anchor/reporter Chris Lea preview the “Battle of the Blues" round two of 2024.

What’s your tweet-length preview of round two of 2024 Duke-UNC?

Bergin: I can’t wait to see someone with a court-storming joke on one of the signs during Saturday’s broadcast of ESPN’s College GameDay.”

Fernandez: It’s March! We know both teams are the best in the ACC, but this could give us a look at who’s playing their best basketball with the tournament fast approaching.

Lea: I'm excited to see if Duke will get the revenge or if UNC will get the sweep, and how that result fuels both teams next week into the ACC Tournmanet in Washington, D.C.

What’s your opinion on court storming?

Bergin: Players should not get injured and should have protection from fans swarming onto the court or field. Period.

If I were a Duke fan, I would have been furious that Kyle Filipowski got hurt in the chaos. However, Filipowski has not missed a game since the Wake Forest court storming on Feb. 24.

I also don’t fault Duke head coach Jon Scheyer for trying to protect his player. It’s his job.

It’s rare for blue bloods like Duke and North Carolina to storm the court because the expectation is to win at home, regardless of the opponent.

The last time Duke fans stormed Cameron Indoor Stadium came on Dec. 4, 2005, when Sean Dockery hit a game-winning, buzzer-beater against Virginia Tech.

The last time North Carolina fans stormed the Dean Smith Center was on Feb. 20, 2014. An unranked North Carolina team upset No. 4 Duke.

I thought ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg, who was the head coach from 2003-2012 at Virginia Tech, had the best perspective in the immediate aftermath of Wake Forest’s court storming. There needed to be a plan in place to safely get the players off the floor. It didn’t happen.

Greenberg said on ESPN’s broadcast that when he was a coach, having a plan in the event of an upset and subsequent court-storming was something they prepared for the day before a big game.

While fans should at least wait until the buzzer goes off, it’s something the Wake Forest students will remember for the rest of their lives. Consider this, Wake Forest is 9-39 against Duke since January 2000.

The sheer delight, revelry and pure joy of playing the role of underdog in a big upset is relatable.

Having attended the University of Missouri for my undergraduate degree, I can say two of my favorite sports memories were getting storm Faurot Field when the football team clinched a spot in the SEC Championship game in 2013 and 2014. I have the utmost confidence that friends and peers would feel the same way.

For better or for worse, court storming and field storming are part of college sports.

The greatest college football moment in the 21st century is when Auburn upset Alabama in the 2013 Iron Bowl on Chris Davis’ “Kick 6.”

Would that moment have been the same without Auburn fans spilling out onto the field in one of the greatest college football games ever? If I’m asking the question, you know the answer.

While the ACC will probably implement a fine against schools that storm the court, it’s not going to stop the fans.

Fernandez: I think court storming is a part of college athletics, but of course can be pretty dangerous for folks (fans trying to get on the court/field, players and coaches already on the court/field).

There’s got to be a way to find balance, some kind of countdown clock? More preparation from security to get players off quickly? Like, literally everything in life, there’s a happy balance we can find.

Lea: I like court-storming. I think it’s what makes college sports stand out.

However, players should never be at risk during the stormings.

Looking at the tape from Duke at Wake, the collision with Kyle Filipowski and the fan seemed incidental and no one was at fault.

The part that concerns me the most is the fan who walked up to Jared McCain and postured as if he was ready for a physical confrontation. That should never happen, and schools need to come up with security plans to ensure that there is no contact between players and fans after games.

What storyline is most intriguing heading into the second Duke-UNC game of 2024?

Bergin: North Carolina has stayed atop of the ACC standings for most of the season. Can the Tar Heels hang on?

The Tar Heels would clinch at least a share of the ACC title with a win Tuesday night against Notre Dame.

Fernandez: Freshman guards! Duke’s Jared McCain and North Carolina’s Elliot Cadeau have grown so much throughout the season. Both are vital to their team’s success, but both play in totally different ways.

McCain has grown into a bucket on the college level (tying Zion Williamson’s Duke freshman record with 35 points against Florida State in February). Everyone knows he can shoot well from three, but his strength and finishing ability at the rim are overlooked.

Meanwhile, Cadeau is the classic Carolina point guard: He is great at attacking the rim and finding opportunities for his teammates. While he’s averaging 4.2 assists this season, in the seven games since the last meeting between these two, he’s averaging 5.7. Cadeau has scored in double figures seven times this season, UNC has won those games every single time.

Lea: The intriguing storyline for me is how Duke will respond from the Feb. 3 game.

The Blue Devils didn’t seem like their normal selves and never seemed to be a threat to UNC in the game.

UNC always shows up for the rivalry game no matter where they are or aren’t ranked. So much so, that they seemed to lose a bit of focus after beating Duke back on Feb. 3.

Will Duke head coach Jon Scheyer have his guys ready?

What Duke-UNC player matchup are you watching most closely?

Bergin: Many people will remember round one of Duke-UNC in 2024 as the “Harrison Ingram game,” but Armando Bacot played about just as well. Both players had double-doubles.

I thought Bacot got the better of Duke sophomore Kyle Filipowski down low in the 93-84 UNC win.

Filipowski’s outside touch is what can serve as an equalizer against Bacot’s prowess near the hoop.

Bacot stayed out of foul trouble in the first matchup too.

I think whichever player wins this matchup will go a long way in determining the outcome of the game. Staying out of foul trouble will be key.

Also, Filipowski doesn’t appear to have any lingering effects since getting hurt during the court-storming against Wake Forest either.

Fernandez: Frontcourt starters

Armando Bacot and Harrison Ingram dominated the last time these two teams met, combining for 46 points and 23 rebounds on 72% shooting. This Duke team is guard heavy, even its bigs have guard-like tendencies, something head coach Jon Scheyer has said. I’m sure that’s where UNC will attack, but Duke knows that as well.

Mark Mitchell has played some of his best basketball of the year in the month of February, failing to score in double figures just twice (one of which was a loss to Wake Forest). He’s attacking the paint early and often, getting to the free throw line and rebounding well. Kyle Filipwoski has battled through a bit of a slump (by Kyle Filipowski standards) and is starting to play some of his best basketball of the season. As of Monday, he is averaging 14.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists since the loss to North Carolina. If Duke’s front court plays better than the last matchup, things will flavor the Blue Devils.

And one more thing to watch, Duke’s rotation. With freshman guard Caleb Foster out for the foreseeable future with a foot injury, Sean Stewart and TJ Power, both freshmen, have gotten more minutes. How do they respond in this one? Do we get more Sean Stewart hustle plays and high-flying dunks? Does TJ Power hit a couple of threes from the wing?

Lea: Jared McCain has had a great showing in the last 10 or so games.

But I think the "X-Factor" for both teams will be the Harrison Ingram vs Mark Mitchell matchup. Both guys are their team’s best on-the-ball wing-defender and if those guys are going, their team’s tend to win. Who comes out on top?

What will be the key to victory?

Bergin: Freshman Jared McCain was arguably Duke’s best player a few weeks back.

While McCain’s shooting might catch the attention of casual fans, his rebounding is what really sticks out to basketball junkies. He’s had five games with double-digit rebounds. It’s even more impressive considering he’s listed at 6-foot, 3 inches.

McCain played well in the first matchup against North Carolina, going 9 of 18 from the floor for 23 points and 11 rebounds.

We’ll see if McCain can have a repeat performance.

Fernandez: Defense. UNC has looked its best this year when RJ Davis goes nuclear, and its defense dominates. While it hasn’t looked as good since it did in the beginning of January (that four game stretch against Pitt, Clemson, NC state and Syracuse was phenomenal) it’s had its moments, especially against Virginia. KenPom still has the North Carolina defense ranked at No. 6 in adjusted defensive efficiency.

Duke meanwhile, has put together a sneaky good stretch on defense (sans Wake Forest loss). In the eight games since the UNC loss, Duke has allowed more than 70 points just once and an effective field goal percentage over 50% just twice.

Lea: In rivalry games, you can throw the stats and trends out of the window, especially in a game like "The Battle of the Blues."

The stars need to show up: Armando Bacot, Kyle Filipowski, RJ Davis, Jeremy Roach, etc.

But energy, effort and someone new stepping up will be the key to victory. Who will step up? Who will show up?

Who has the most at stake?

Bergin: North Carolina guard RJ Davis is among the favorites to win ACC Player of the Year. As of Monday afternoon, he leads the conference in scoring at 21.4 points per game.

Davis is the only UNC player in program history to reach 1,900 career points, 500 rebounds, 400 assists, 250 three-pointers and 100 steals.

Davis is playing for his professional future in basketball too.

It’s unknown whether Davis will return to Chapel Hill for the 2024-25 season. It means Tuesday could be Davis’ final home game at the Dean Smith Center.

The COVID-19 pandemic season allows Davis to return for an additional season if he chooses. He could also opt for the NBA.

Fernandez: Expectations are high for both of teams at this point, it’s UNC vs. Duke. Both need momentum going into the tournament.

Since UNC won earlier in the year, I guess I’ll say Duke, but both teams are at similar points in the season - how high can they climb in seeding process and how far can they go in March? I’m hoping for a possible rubber match in Washington, D.C.

Lea: Duke has more at stake.

They need to show they can beat a Final Four-caliber team and in my eyes, those teams would be Arizona and UNC. They’re 0-2 against those teams this season.

What’s your prediction for Saturday’s Duke-UNC game?

Bergin: Hubert Davis improves his head-to-head record against Duke and the Tar Heels get the win. Both Davis and Scheyer are great coaches. I can’t wait to see which one is better.

Davis is in his third season as UNC’s head coach and Scheyer is in his second as Duke’s.

Fernandez: It’s going to be a close game. That’s what happens when these two teams play.

I’ll be curious to see what the tempo looks like, UNC is moving much faster this year than Duke, about three possessions more per game according to KenPom. Let’s assume it's a 3- to 6-point difference come the final two minutes. North Carolina has struggled converting in those final few minutes in ACC play this year, either losing games or letting teams get way too close.

Plus, with Kyle Filipowski and Mark Mitchell playing better, I lean Duke in what I’m sure will be another classic.

Lea: Predictions don’t matter in this game. Let’s see a good one!