As reported by the WRAL Sports team

7 are ready for their first match The North Carolina Tar Heels are prepared for their inaugural competition.
9Duke Blue Devils
On Saturday, March 9th at 6:30 PM Eastern Standard Time, tune into ESPN.

Durham, N.C.

On Saturday, Duke and North Carolina will have their second game of the season at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham.

Mark Bergin, a senior producer for WRAL across different platforms, along with WRAL Sports’ Louis Fernandez and WRAL Sports anchor/reporter Chris Lea, provide a preview for the upcoming “Battle of the Blues” in 2024.

What’s your short description of the 2024 Duke-UNC round two game in a tweet?

Bergin expressed excitement for the possibility of seeing a clever sign referencing court-storming during ESPN’s College GameDay broadcast on Saturday.

Fernandez: We’re in the month of March! Both teams are recognized as the best in the ACC, but this game could reveal which team is performing at their peak as the tournament approaches quickly.

Lea is eagerly anticipating the outcome of the upcoming game between Duke and UNC. She wonders if Duke will seek retribution or if UNC will continue their winning streak. She is also curious to see how the game will impact both teams as they prepare for the ACC Tournament in Washington, D.C.

What are your thoughts on fans rushing the court after a game?

Bergin: It is important that players avoid injury and are shielded from fans entering the court or field. This should be enforced at all times.

If I had been a supporter of Duke, I would have been extremely angry about Kyle Filipowski’s injury during the chaos. However, since the court storming incident at Wake Forest on February 24, he has not sat out a game.

I do not blame Jon Scheyer, the head coach of Duke, for defending his player. It is part of his responsibility.

It is not common for prestigious teams like Duke and North Carolina to rush onto the court, as they are expected to win when playing at home, no matter who the opponent is.

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 most recent instance of North Carolina supporters rushing the Dean Smith Center was on February 20, 2014 when an unranked North Carolina squad pulled off an upset against fourth-ranked Duke.

I believe that ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg, who previously served as the coach of Virginia Tech from 2003-2012, had a valuable viewpoint right after the court storming at Wake Forest. It was crucial to have a strategy in place to ensure the players’ safety while leaving the court, but unfortunately, that did not occur.

During the broadcast on ESPN, Greenberg mentioned that during his time as a coach, having a strategy for dealing with potential upsets and resulting court invasions was something they would deliberately plan for the day prior to important games.

Although it is important for fans to remain until the end of the game, the Wake Forest students will never forget this moment. This stat demonstrates that since January 2000, Wake Forest has only won 9 out of 39 games against Duke.

The immense pleasure and pure happiness of being the underdog in a major upset is relatable.

As a graduate of the University of Missouri, two of my most cherished sports moments were experiencing the energetic atmosphere at Faurot Field when the football team secured a place in the SEC Championship game in both 2013 and 2014. I am certain that my friends and peers would share the same sentiment.

For good or bad, rushing the court or field is a tradition in college sports.

One of the most memorable events in college football during the 21st century was the 2013 Iron Bowl where Auburn surprised Alabama, resulting in a “Kick 6” by Chris Davis.

Could that particular moment have occurred without the presence of Auburn supporters rushing out onto the field in what many consider to be one of the most epic college football matches? It’s safe to say that the answer is a resounding no.

Although the ACC may impose penalties on schools for storming the court, it is unlikely to prevent enthusiastic fans from doing so.

Fernandez believes that court storming is a common occurrence in college sports, although it can pose a risk to individuals such as fans, players, and coaches.

Is there a method to achieve equilibrium? Can we implement a countdown clock or enhance security measures to ensure swift removal of players? As with everything in life, there is a middle ground that we can strive for.

Lea expressed her fondness for court-storming and believes it adds a unique element to college sports.

Nevertheless, it is important to ensure that players are not endangered during the storming situation.

After reviewing the footage of the Duke at Wake game, it appeared that the incident involving Kyle Filipowski and the fan was accidental and neither party was to blame.

The aspect that worries me the most is when a fan approached Jared McCain and seemed prepared for a physical altercation. This should never occur, and schools should devise security measures to prevent any interaction between players and fans after games.

Which narrative is the most compelling leading up to the second 2024 Duke-UNC matchup?

Bergin: The Tar Heels have remained in first place in the ACC standings for the majority of the season. Will they be able to maintain their lead?

The Tar Heels will secure at least a portion of the ACC championship by winning against Notre Dame on Tuesday evening.

Fernandez commented on the growth of Duke’s Jared McCain and North Carolina’s Elliot Cadeau, noting their importance to their teams’ success. Despite their differing playing styles, both freshman guards have made significant progress throughout the season.

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.

In the meantime, Cadeau fits the mold of a traditional point guard for the Carolina team. He excels at driving to the basket and creating chances for his fellow players. Despite averaging 4.2 assists this season, his average has increased to 5.7 in the seven games since the last time these two teams met. Whenever Cadeau scores at least ten points in a game, UNC has emerged victorious in all seven instances.

Lea: The aspect of the plot that interests me is Duke’s reaction to the game on Feb. 3.

The performance of the Blue Devils appeared to be lackluster and they were unable to pose a challenge to UNC during the game.

Regardless of their ranking or location, UNC consistently participates in their rivalry game. However, their intense focus may have waned following their victory against Duke on February 3rd.

Is Duke’s head coach, Jon Scheyer, prepared for his team?

Which Duke-UNC player matchup are you paying the most attention to?

Bergin: The first Duke-UNC game in 2024 will likely be known as the “Harrison Ingram game,” but Armando Bacot also had a strong showing with a double-double. Both players performed impressively.

I believe Bacot outperformed Duke’s sophomore player Kyle Filipowski in the paint during UNC’s 93-84 victory.

Filipowski’s perimeter shooting could potentially level the playing field against Bacot’s dominant presence in the paint.

In the previous game, Bacot was able to avoid getting into foul trouble as well.

I believe that the outcome of the game will heavily depend on the winner of this face-off. Avoiding fouls will be crucial.

Furthermore, Filipowski does not seem to have experienced any lasting effects from his injury during the court-storming incident against Wake Forest.

Fernandez: Frontcourt starters

When they last faced each other, Armando Bacot and Harrison Ingram put on an impressive performance, scoring a total of 46 points and grabbing 23 rebounds with a shooting percentage of 72%. Duke’s team is focused on their guards, but even their big players exhibit guard-like skills, as noted by head coach Jon Scheyer. It is likely that UNC will try to exploit this, but Duke is also aware of this tactic.

In the month of February, Mark Mitchell has been playing exceptionally well in basketball. He has only failed to score in double digits twice, one of which was during a loss to Wake Forest. Mitchell has been consistently driving to the paint, drawing fouls and rebounding at a high level. Kyle Filipowski has also had his ups and downs, but is now finding his rhythm and playing his best basketball yet this season. Currently, he has been averaging 14.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists since the team’s loss to North Carolina. If Duke’s frontcourt performs better than in their previous game, it will greatly benefit the Blue Devils.

Another aspect to keep an eye on is Duke’s rotation. Due to freshman guard Caleb Foster’s current absence due to a foot injury, fellow freshmen Sean Stewart and TJ Power have been given more playing time. How will they perform in this game? Will we see more of Stewart’s energetic plays and impressive dunks? Will Power make some three-pointers from the wing?

Lea: Jared McCain has been performing exceptionally well in the recent stretch of 10 games.

I believe the deciding factor for both teams will be the matchup between Harrison Ingram and Mark Mitchell. They are both strong defenders on the wing and their teams typically have success when they perform well. Which player will come out victorious?

What will determine the outcome of success?

Bergin stated that Jared McCain, a freshman, was potentially Duke’s top performer a few weeks ago.

Although McCain’s scoring may attract the interest of less dedicated fans, it is his rebounding abilities that truly capture the attention of basketball enthusiasts. He has tallied five games with at least ten rebounds, a particularly noteworthy feat considering his height of 6 feet and 3 inches.

In the initial game against North Carolina, McCain had a strong performance scoring 23 points and grabbing 11 rebounds while making 9 out of 18 shots from the floor.

Let’s see if McCain can do it again.

Fernandez:
The University of North Carolina’s defense has been strongest when RJ Davis has performed exceptionally well and their defensive play has been dominant. Though it hasn’t been as impressive recently as it was in the beginning of January (during the four game stretch against Pitt, Clemson, NC state, and Syracuse), there have still been noteworthy moments, particularly against Virginia. According to KenPom, North Carolina’s defense is still ranked No. 6 in adjusted defensive efficiency.

In recent games, Duke’s defense has been surprisingly strong, with the exception of their loss to Wake Forest. Over the course of eight games since their loss to UNC, Duke has only given up over 70 points once and allowed an effective field goal percentage above 50% just twice.

Lea: When it comes to rivalry games, statistics and patterns may not hold much weight, especially in a match-up like “The Battle of the Blues.”

The key players include Armando Bacot, Kyle Filipowski, RJ Davis, Jeremy Roach, and others.

The key to winning will be having the right amount of energy, effort, and someone new to take charge. Who will rise to the challenge? Who will make their presence known?

Who stands to lose the most?

According to Bergin, guard RJ Davis from North Carolina is one of the top contenders for the ACC Player of the Year award. As of Monday afternoon, he is averaging 21.4 points per game, making him the leading scorer in the conference.

Davis is the sole member of the UNC program to achieve the milestones of 1,900 career points, 500 rebounds, 400 assists, 250 three-pointers, and 100 steals.

Davis is also using basketball to determine his professional future.

It is unclear if Davis will continue playing at Chapel Hill for the 2024-25 season. This suggests that Tuesday’s game at the Dean Smith Center could potentially be Davis’ last home game.

Davis has the option to return for another season during the COVID-19 pandemic season. Alternatively, he may choose to join the NBA.

Fernandez: The expectations for UNC and Duke are high at this moment, as they face off against each other. Both teams require momentum as they head into the tournament.

After UNC’s earlier victory, my prediction is for Duke to win. However, both teams are currently at a similar level in the season. How far will they advance in the seeding process and how deep will they go in March? I’m anticipating a potential rematch in Washington, D.C.

Lea: Duke has more to lose.

They must demonstrate their ability to defeat a team of Final Four caliber, Arizona and UNC being the top contenders in my opinion. So far this season, they have a record of 0-2 against these teams.

Can you share your forecast for the Duke-UNC game on Saturday?

Bergin: Hubert Davis extended his winning record against Duke in the head-to-head match, leading the Tar Heels to a victory. Both Davis and Scheyer are highly skilled coaches and I am eagerly anticipating seeing who will come out on top.

Davis is currently in his third year as the head coach for UNC, while Scheyer is in his second year as the head coach for Duke.

Fernandez predicts that the game will be a tightly contested one, as is often the case when these two teams face each other.

I am eager to witness the pace of the game, as UNC is playing at a significantly faster rate compared to Duke this season, with approximately three additional possessions per game according to KenPom. Assuming a difference of 3-6 points in the last two minutes, North Carolina has faced difficulties in converting during this crucial period in ACC matches, resulting in either losses or allowing opponents to narrow the gap.

Additionally, considering the improved performances of Kyle Filipowski and Mark Mitchell, I am confident in choosing Duke for what I anticipate will be another unforgettable match.

Lea: The predictions hold no significance in this game. Let’s hope for a good performance instead!

Source: wralsportsfan.com