Duke (26-4, 13-4 ACC) at North Carolina (22-8, 12-5 ACC) - Saturday at 9:00PM

• ironman02

  McAdoo practiced today and should be good to go.
  
  Can't wait until tomorrow night!
  
  The Ryan Kelly/PJ Hairston matchup is interesting. I think they both present problems for each other. Carolina has to rebound and not allow Duke to have many second chance opportunities. They always seem to kill the Heels by rebounding a miss, and then kicking it out for a wide open three. Obviously the Heels will also have to do a good job on Plumlee in the post too. If they can do those things, and if Duke isn't unconscious from the perimeter, I think Carolina can get the win.
• Ironman92

  

  If UNC plays smart and Duke isn't killing it from 3.....UNC wins
• reclegend22

  

  McAdoo was always good to go. Please.
• wildcats20

  

  reclegend22;1402944 wrote:McAdoo was always good to go. Please.

  You can believe whatever you want, but the original reports basically said he could be out.
• ironman02

  reclegend22;1402944 wrote:McAdoo was always good to go. Please.

  He did leave the game briefly against Maryland with a back problem. He returned pretty quickly, but there was an issue. He has been playing with a bulging disc for most of the season, but holding him out of practice yesterday was clearly just a precaution. The fact that he was held out of practice did, however, create some momentary doubt about his availability for Saturday. It's not like Carolina is sandbagging...McAdoo, himself, already said he's playing.
• reclegend22

  

  I agree that Hairston and Kelly presents an intriguing matchup. But I wonder if Reggie Bullock won't see significant time on Kelly. He's got more height than Hairston, and with the way Kelly was easily getting his shot over the outstretched hands of 6-11 Kenny Kadji against Miami, I don't think that bodes well for Hairston if Kelly's feeling it early.
  
  The Heels have enjoyed season-turning success as a result of Roy taking a page out of K's book and going with the small-ball lineup. With Kelly back in the lineup, however, spreading the floor and allowing Plumlee ample space to go one-on-one inside by himself against McAdoo, I wonder if the small unit will work against the Devils a second time or if Roy will be forced to revert back to a bigger look if Plumlee is having success under the basket.
  
  I agree with ironman02 that rebounding will be a big key in this game. Duke is not a great defensive rebounding team, but did outrebound Carolina in the first matchup without Ryan Kelly. Since returning, Kelly has averaged 8 boards per game, and has really worked hard on the glass in the two game's he been back. He will need to continue this tomorrow night for Duke to win.
• swamisez

  

  I see Carolina winning this game and being in control for much of it. The high screen game will lead to lots of paint touches or open threes. Carolina is very confident and in combination with the home crowd should yield a victory.
  
  That being said I think duke beats UNC next Saturday and still advances farther than UNC in the big dance. Tonight 83-74 Tarholes.
• ironman02

  swamisez;1403233 wrote:I see Carolina winning this game and being in control for much of it. The high screen game will lead to lots of paint touches or open threes. Carolina is very confident and in combination with the home crowd should yield a victory.
  
  That being said I think duke beats UNC next Saturday and still advances farther than UNC in the big dance. Tonight 83-74 Tarholes.

  Things have certainly been set up perfectly for Carolina-Duke Part III next weekend. That hasn't happened very much recently. Hopefully the Heels can win tonight so that game could complete a best-of-three.
  
  Speaking of tonight, I'm not nearly as confident about a Carolina win as the Duke fans seem to be. I think if Carolina plays well, they'll certainly have a chance to win. I think Duke will play well, though, and make it very tough for the Heels to defend the home court.
  
  I'm ready to go. Win this one for Dex!!!
• reclegend22

  

  I fully expect UNC to rain threes and Duke to get into a double-digit, perhaps even a 20-point deficit, early.
  
  If Duke doesn't hit 8 threes in the first half, they might as well board the bus and go home at half-time.
• DeyDurkie5

  

  Carolina by 8
• ironman02

  reclegend22;1403237 wrote:I fully expect UNC to rain threes and Duke to get into a double-digit, perhaps even a 20-point deficit, early.
  
  If Duke doesn't hit 8 threes in the first half, they might as well board the bus and go home at half-time.

  LOL. That stuff isn't gonna work today.
• reclegend22

  

  ironman02;1403253 wrote:LOL. That stuff isn't gonna work today.

  Haha. I actually believe that, but based on past history, I could see why you wouldn't believe me. Ha.
• Ironman92

  

  ironman02;1403253 wrote:LOL. That stuff isn't gonna work today.

  
  You sit there expecting Duke to shoot lights out and I sit here expecting UNC to be on fire.....jinx or not, you're thinking that...100% guarantee
  
  Good Luck here in a bit. I hope this game turns out to be your all-time favorite loss for UNC.
• ironman02

  Game over already. Unbelievably bad start by Carolina.
• Ironman92

  

  ironman02;1403281 wrote:Game over already. Unbelievably bad start by Carolina.

  
  Lol. That stuff isn't going to work today.
• ironman02

  Ironman92;1403284 wrote:Lol. That stuff isn't going to work today.

  Dead serious though. You can't spot Duke a friggin 14 point lead out of the gate.
• Midstate01

  

  Unc looks horrible. And duke can't miss anything
• ironman02

  Quite possibly the worst half of basketball I have ever seen from a Carolina team.
  
  Duke is shooting 69% from the field. Inexcusable.
• Mulva

  

  UNC is such a hard team to predict in the tournament. They really haven't beaten any good teams. UNLV is OK, but still probably a 5 seed at best.
• Iliketurtles

  

  Seth Curry was just money in the first half. 18 points going 8 of 10 from the field. I expect UNC to come back in the 2nd half and we will probably see an epic finish.
• Heelz

  

  Curry is killing it and UNC can't do anything. If UNC can't get stops AND score buckets the second half could be real ugly.
• Ironman92

  

  Iliketurtles;1403299 wrote:Seth Curry was just money in the first half. 18 points going 8 of 10 from the field. I expect UNC to come back in the 2nd half and we will probably see an epic finish.

  
  This
• Ironman92

  

  ironman02;1403296 wrote:Quite possibly the worst half of basketball I have ever seen from a Carolina team.
  
  Duke is shooting 69% from the field. Inexcusable.

  
  I was hoping for 70+%
• Midstate01

  

  Unc's shot selection was a big part od the first half. They probably have a run in them though
• Mulva

  

  I can't imagine how embarrassing it must be to be Plumlee's bitch.