Duke at UNC: Gameday Open Thread

Duke heads to Carolina to renew the sport’s biggest rivalry

It’s that time of year again. Duke and UNC resume hostilities in college basketball’s signature rivalry. The game tips off at Carolina’s Dean Smith Center at 6:00 on Saturday.

Normally, the two teams are battling for the ACC lead, a No. 1 NCAA seed and bragging rights. While all those are still on the table for No. 7 Duke, Carolina is playing for bragging rights alone. At 10-12, the Heels are below .500 for a Duke game for the first time since 2002. Their 12 losses before playing Duke for the first time are the most in the 100 year history of the rivalry. 

To commemorate the 100 year milestone, both teams are wearing special 1920 throwback jerseys. The new look was unveiled online to outrage from both fan bases earlier in the week. 

Carolina will look to Cole Anthony. The freshman point returned after missing more than a month following a procedure on his knee. He took the court after just two practices and the team struggled with chemistry and rhythm. Now back for a week, things may begin to click again. 

Carolina will need him to drive and penetrate—something Duke has struggled with on defense this year—to have a shot at an upset. 

Your officials: Ted Valentine, Ron Grover, Brian Dorsey

Duke with a change to its lineup. Vernon Carey, Tre Jones & Cassius Stanley are the same as usual but Wendell Moore & Jack White move into the lineup, replacing Jordan Goldwire & Matthew Hurt. This is a first for this starting five. 

UNC starting Cole Anthony, Armando Bacot, Garrison Brooks, Leaky Black, Andrew Platek. Second time with that lineup. 

Let’s do this 

 UNC out fast, pressuring Duke and driving with Leaky Black as ball handier. Black with the first 3 points of the game. Platek also drove and dished. Duke down 7-4 at the under 16.

Cole Anthony and Leaky Black have a combined 7 rebounds in 5 plus minutes. Bigs Garrison Brooks and Armando Bacot have 1 but have beaten Duke down court twice by releasing as the shot goes up 

Cole Anthony drives for an and one. UNC lead is up to nine. 

Long stretch of play. We’re at 9:42 without hitting the under 12. Duke finally calls time, trailing 26-16. Keeling with two buckets from UNC. Brooks hits two in a row. 

Blue Devils just 7 of 18 and getting hammered on the boards. Roy Williams has the early game plan advantage. Time  for Coach K to adjust. 

Matthew Hurt picks up his third foul and heads to the bench scoreless 

We hit the under 8 with UNC up 26-18. 

Carey has 9 points, no rebounds. He’s getting the ball behind the arc and driving to try to pressure Carolina’s bigs 

Vernon Carey just popped Cole Anthony with a screen on a pick and roll. Surprised refs let that go. Let to a turnover though. UNC with another foul line J from Brooks and a baseline dunk by Bacot to go up by 10 again. 

Lightning quick 6-0 run by Duke: could have been 8 but Joey Baker missed a dunk. Brooks with another free throw line jumper. On the other end, Carey fouled as he hits and will shoot for the and one after the under four. UNC up 34-30

Carey very emotional after getting fouled heading into the time out. Roy Williams was too for very different reasons. 

Justin Pierce drives and scores, then hits a three. Vernon Carey is having his way at the other end though. He’s up to 17, including seven free throw attempts. 

Platek drives and scores and UNC hits the half up 44-35. Nice end push after Duke cut it to four. 

UNC shot over 59 percent in the half and outrebounded Duke 22-14. UNC who was no. 352 of 353 teams in transition offense is leading Duke 11-4 on fast break points 

Teams exchange mini runs to start the second half. Hurt picks up his fourth foul. Still scoreless. UNC up 49-39

Tre Jones just threw a back door pass to Cassius Stanley from a step inside mid court. Duke still down 10 though  

Duke getting it inside but Heels have been manhandling Carey. Last two possessions have resulted in a DeLaurier dunk and a foul on Anthony. At the under 16, it’s 53-45 UNC

Stanley hits the free throws after the break.  But then Carey picks up his third foul on the other end. Duke down eight. 

Carey stripped in the paint, Keeling hits. 57-47 UNC, time out Duke. 13:24 to go 

Shots suddenly not falling for UNC. Duke run cuts it to 59-53 at the under 12. Worth noting that UNC has blown second half leads in several home losses, including Clemson and Pitt

Bacot picks up his fourth foul. 

Carolina getting every loose ball right now. Duke looks a step slow, getting the ball knocked loose in the paint. Looks similar to the start of the Louisville game. At the under eight, it’s 68-58. 

Carey picks up his fourth with 6:49 to go. He has yet to score in the second half 

Vernon Carey is limping and heads to the bench. He’s back in one possession later 

Carey fouls out on a very shaky charge call. Duke could be done. Down 77-64, 4:13 left 

5-0 run by Duke cuts it to eight. 2:46 left 

O’Connell hits a three: it’s down to 79-73 with 1:45 to go. Duke is desperate but this also has to bring up nightmares for UNC

Brooks flattens Baker on a screen. UNC runs the shot clock to the buzzer then gets the offensive rebound. 1:11 left. 80-73

Platek misses two free throws. Jones gets a layup. 80-77. 47 seconds to go 

Black 1 of 2. Jones hits both. 2 point  game 

Anthony hits 2. Jones a layup. 83-81 UNC, 15.8 seconds 

Duke with the steal but UNC blocks the potential game tying layup. Platek misses the first FT so Duke will have a chance to tie. 84-81, 6.1 left 

Roy Williams learned from the Clemson loss & fouled up three. 

Oh wow! Jones misses the second, gets the rebound and hits at the buzzer: we are going to overtime. 

Jones hits a layup. Duke’s first lead since 4-3.

Jones hits again. Then strips Anthony and gets fouled by Black, his fifth. He won’t let Duke lose this game. 

Now it’s Cole Anthony’s turn. Back to back shots cut Duke’s lead to 90-89. 

Bacot fouls out for UNC 

Platek ties it with 3:00 to go. Duke misses two layups and now Walker Miller fouls out Cassius Stanley and goes to the line 

Miller hits one to give UNC the lead. UNC goes to zone. Goldwire misses his second layup in as many possessions. 92-91 UNC. 1:50 to go

Jones missed a layup and air balls a three. UNC up 94-91. Baker’s three rattles our. UNC back to the line. 20.9 left 

Anthony with 2 free throws. Jones with a layup. Duke gets the rebound of his ft miss on the and one attempt. Moore with a layup. 96-95 UNC, 12 seconds to go 

Duke nearly gets a five second call in the inbound pass, then forces a turnover . Duke ball (pending replay review) down 1, 10.7 left 

Duke ball. Buckle in for the ending 

Jones fouled with 6.6 left. 

What a finish! Jones hits the first to tie, misses the second. Duke gets the rebound and Moore lays it in at the buzzer for a 98-96 win. Duke absolutely steals a game from the Heels