North Carolina (20-3, 7-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) will open the second half of Atlantic Coast Conference play for the 2011-12 season when it hosts Duke (19-4, 6-2 ACC) on Wednesday night at 9 p.m. in the Smith Center.  The ACC Network will televise the game in the ACC region, with Tim Brando (play-by-play) and Dan Bonner (analyst) calling the action.  ESPN will televise the game nationally.  Dan Shulman (play-by-play), Dick Vitale (analyst), Jay Bilas (analyst) and Erin Andrews (reporter) will have the national call for ESPN.

Since sophomore Reggie Bullock replaced injured shooting guard Dexter Strickland in the starting lineup four games ago, UNC’s reserves have been outscored 80-42. In the past two games, they’ve scored only nine points.

North Carolina coach Roy Williams knows his reserves have what it takes to boost his team.

“And at some point, I’m going to say, ‘Hey, I keep putting you in the game, so I must think you’re pretty good. So why don’t you start playing that way?’” Williams said during his Monday night radio show. “And hopefully, it doesn’t get to that stage, but P.J. [Hairston] and James Michael [McAdoo] and JWatts and those guys coming in have got to give us some things positive.”

“When Dexter was playing, Reggie was doing a great job of coming into the game and making something positive for our team,'' Williams said. "Our two national championship teams -- in ’05, we had Marvin Williams coming off the bench, and when he came in, it was really positive; in ’09, Ed Davis came in and was a great rebounder, shot blocker.

“Guys coming off the bench have a tremendous opportunity. They’ve got to make our team better, and you’ve got to stick with them, but there comes a point and time you’ve got to put up or shut up.”



I really think foul trouble is going to be the deciding factor in this game.  Whoever can keep their main guys on the court has the advantage.  Henson and Zeller need to stay on their feet for shot fakes, and our guards need to move their feet.  If Zeller can get Plumlee in foul trouble early, we should be able to dominate inside (really we should dominate inside either way, but it would be easier with Plumlee on the bench).

I agree with Roy, our bench also needs to provide moe than they have.  I'm glad round 1 is at the Dean Dome.  I say UNC pulls away at the end and wins by 12.


GO HEELS!!        
 

Looks like Coach K is trying to use mind games ahead of the game.  In a recent interview he called UNC the best overall team in the nation, the best offensive team and the best front court.  He also called out his own team saying they just aren't that good right now.  They lack intensity and have not been consistent on defense.

Not only is Duke coming off the Miami loss but their coach is calling them out.  I'm guessing they are going to come out with alot of intensity, so UNC needs to match that to avoid Duke running out to an early lead and building confidence.  We have seen Marshall does not play as well from behind, so I think it is critical that UNC answers the bell and comes out quick.

I can't wait for this one!!


GO HEELS!!     

Crystal I was hoping you would get this thread started early. I am pumped up for this game and can't wait to get it started. We are the more talented team but Duke is the deeper team and they have a lot of great scorers from the perimeter. I think this game will be decided by the three point line or as you said foul trouble. If Duke comes out on fire from three this game will go down to the wire but if they are cold I think we win by 15 or more.

I think Rivers will be a problem for whoever we having guarding him but I hope we don't try to double him off dribble penetration. I would much rather see Rivers take a tough floater then kick it out to a wide open shooter for three. I don't think Rivers will consistently make those tough shots and I also expect Zeller to draw several charges on Rivers flying in. We have to defend the three point line and not bail Duke out with stupid fouls and put them on the line.

I think the Dean Dome is going to be electric and our guys will feed of the crowd a lot like they did against state.  I know Barnes will not be 100% but I still expect him to have a big game with the smaller duke guards trying to guard him.  I expect the game to go back and forth for a little bit but then Duke will start missing some threes and we will take advantage of the game. I think we will win this one by 13 and put Duke in a really tough spot to get back into the ACC race. Go Heels !!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, I just couldn't wait for tomorrow for the thread.

I think we will see Barnes on the block posting up smaller defenders if we get into half court sets.  He has really worked on that part of his game and has been pretty effective.  I agree with not helping so much on Rivers.  He is lightning quick, but we can't let their three point shooters get hot with open looks.  Rivers could beat Miami off the dribble, but settled for jumpers more often.  He also gets a bit out of control so I would rather take my chances with him, even if he scores 30.  This is a game where he may try to do too much to show how good he is.

It would be nice for Hairston to actually get hot again too.


GO HEELS!!      

Harrison should be able to dominate whoever Duke throws at him. He is too big for their guards and too skilled for their bigs. Hopefully he will regain the killer instinct that he has shown glimpses of in the past. Harrison needs to demand the ball and not worry about being too selfish. Much like LeBronce on the pro level, I think Harrison's fear of being labeled a "Ball-Hog" prevents him from becoming the dominant player he should be.


Anything off the bench would be nice! At some point Roy is going to have to put reputations aside and take McAdoo out of the rotation. I like what I've seen from Desmond Hubert; 5 fouls, tall, doesn't shoot (Henson should take note of the last one). Just what the doctor ordered.


As far as our defensive gameplan goes, DO NOT LET THEM SHOOT OPEN 3s!!!!!! I know it seems simple but all you Heel fans know where I'm coming from- one of our guards rushes in to double team Henson's man leaving the best shooter for the opposition wide open for 3. Again. And again. And again. I swear one ACC guard gets drafted every year because of his memerable 30 point effort against the Heels. Duke has so many candidates to be that guy. They are a team full of those guys. This makes me very nervous.     


Prediction- Heels come out lackluster. Duke's diving all over the place. One of or both of our bigs pick up an early foul that would only be called with Coach K leering from the opposing bench. Molasses Marshall is struggling with the pressure. John Henson is getting fouled and going to the line. Just when it looks like all hope is lost, Harrison Barnes does his best Keanu Reeves impression and says, "No." He recognizes what's happening. He takes the ball to the basket accumulating fouls on Plumlees, he pulls up over smaller defenders, he says to himself, "I'm the best player on the floor. Hell, I'm the best player in the nation. And if I play like it...maybe...just maybe....." 


Tarheels 83      Devils 74


Go Heels!!!!!!!!!!!      

Over the last 75 games between the Tar Heels of the University of North Carolina and the d00k blue devils the Tar Heels have won 38 and the devils have won 37.  If you add the total scores of the contest over the 75 years d00k has 5858 total points and the Heels have 5857.  Now my fellow basketball fans that is a rivalry.  Lets change the numbers tomorrow night.

Go Tar Heels 

Wow Tom, thats some great info. Leave it to you to come up with this.

Lets Go Tarheels, beat the stuff out of the dookies.  

Hi.............sorry I followed T-Girl over here eh.......are we doing the Tar Heels Brackets again ???



I have a good feeling the Lava is going to win this year......lol 

Yeah Crystal it would be great to see Hairston come out of his slump and give us a game like he did against Kentucky. From what Roy has said Hairston is pretty banged up right now and that could be affecting his shooting from the perimeter. I feel like Hairston can be a big time scorer for us off the bench this year he just needs to see some shots start falling. I also would love to see McAdoo really come to play against Duke. McAdoo has so much potential but so far we haven't seen much of it. If McAdoo and Hairston reach their potentials for this year I think we will be the best team come March. If they don't I hope Kentucky goes down before we have to play them again because it will be a toss up in that game. Go Heels !!!!!!!

Gentlemen and Lady – I believe dook is questioning their confidence!  They will come out like fire the first 5 minutes but they will fade. Marshall will make mincemeat out of them.  Rivers will be great but for only 5 minutes then the Heels will take over. dook’s bigs will start to foul anybody that drives and we’ll make our free throws, even Henson.  If he does not, we’ll rebound under our basket.  I think Marshall will play one of his finest games!  And Barns will say “what sprained ankle”.  Zeller will play like a first team All American. 

Plus this is pay back for no Tar Heel making First Team All ACC last year.  Carolina will play their finest defensive to date. If our team believes, it will be so.  Confidence is ours.  UNCle has spoken, make it so.  

GO CAROLINA – GO TO HELL dook

 

 

 

I hate the fact Dukes coming in off a loss.  I'm sure they will be focused and energized.  I'm not overly concerend about Rivers.  I think Rivers will get his points one way or the other.  I just want to see his FG% under 40% and his usual 3-5 TO's.  Seth Curry was the Carolina killer last year and must be contained.  K has changed his lineup 6 times now so who knows who's going to be on the floor at tipoff. 

I say P.J. breaks out of his slump and lights Duke up.  P.J.'s a long time UNC fan that has been around this rivalry his whole life.  I would say he's chomping at the bit to fire away from 3.  I'd love to see P.J. and Reggie drive the ball more and create fouls.  Both are very good FT shooters and could manufacture lots of points that way.  I totally expect Z to have his usual solid stat line.  Henson needs to focus on defense and quit the BS on offense.  It's such a waste seeing him at the FT line.  Barnes will be huge.  Duke doesn't not have a player on their roster that matches up with him.  Let's hope his ankle is close to 100%.  Which Marshall will show up?  Let's hope not the one from the first half against Maryland or the one against Duke in ACC tourney last year.  We all remember what happened with Nolan Smith raping him from the get go in ACC championship.  I'm sure K will employ a similar tactic, of course with a different player.

Anyways, look for UNC to come out strong and confident.  Z, Barnes, and Hairston will be huge on offense.  Reggie and Henson will be big on defense and UNC will take this one 82 to 66. 

Coach Rat will try to beat us with 3 pointers. Roy said yesterday we need to defend the 3 and do it from the beginning and not from behind. We need A games from everyone and strong defense from Bullock and Henson.

Go Tar Heels beat d00k 

Honest opinion from a Duke fan:  Right now to me UNC is playing better team ball and rebounding a lot better.  Defend the three point line versus Duke and you have an excellent chance to win.  Austin Rivers is a very good player but I see UNC knocking him around and rattling the heck out of him which in turn will lead him to making evenmore horrible decisions.

Either way it should be a good game and I am hoping it comes down to the wire!  

Best of luck....yes I hope UNC losses but it will be a fight and I am looking forward to it!! 

I'm sitting here watching Sportscenter and Bob Knight just predicted a double-digit win for the Heels after breaking down our defense and showing how we'll match up with the d00kies.

I at least like to think he knows what he's talking about.

Haven't done this in a while, let's get the day started off right:

TAR!!!!!

H E E L S !!!!!!!

Can't stand it. I'm so ready for this game! Let's go HEELS! I want to beat d00k so bad I can't stand it!!!!!

I'm sitting here watching Sportscenter and Bob Knight just predicted a double-digit win for the Heels after breaking down our defense and showing how we'll match up with the d00kies. 

It would absolutely piss me off if this were to happen but I would not be shocked if it did.  I wonder if Dickie V is predicting a double digit victory for Duke?

I wonder if Dickie V is predicting a double digit victory for Duke?

Would not suprise me red. I also heard that Len Elmore was predicting that Maryland would somehow be the winner...

As much as I love Duke..  Dickie V really can be an obnoxious prick and a little over the top when it comes to Duke.  And I am using the term "a little over the top" lightly.....

I saw some amazing stats regarding the rivalry:

1.  The last time neither team was ranked nationally entering this game was 1955. Usually, as in tonight's game, both are.

2.  Either North Carolina or Duke has made the Final Four 22 times in the past 31 seasons. That's ridiculously good.

It's going to be hard to get anything done today, I'm so amped for the game.


GO HEELS!!