I am sure that the last thing Duke wanted leading into the first of two battles with North Carolina was to lose for the first time ever at home against Miami. <\/p>\n
Wednesday February 8<\/strong> Matchup<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Preview<\/a><\/p>\n Duke<\/strong><\/p>\n That now makes two in-conference Florida teams that have come into Cameron Indoor and won, forcing one to consider that the balance of bower may have shifted south from the Carolina…at least for a second.<\/p>\n Sunday\u2019s loss to Miami was a setback but probably said more about the potential of the Hurricanes than anything else.<\/p>\n Against Miami the Blue Devils had no answer for massive Miami center Reggie Johnson. \u00a0Sure they have lots of bigs in the Plumlee brothers and Ryan Kelly but they just couldn\u2019t handle Johnson\u2019s bulk. \u00a0UNC may have a prize front line of NBA lottery picks but they don\u2019t present the same kind of problems.<\/p>\n Still, how effectively the brothers can neutralize the Tar Heels up front will go a long way towards determining the outcome of this annual hoops war. \u00a0[soliloquy id=”82219″]<\/p>\n North Carolina<\/strong><\/p>\n Since getting embarrassed by Florida State the North Carolina Tar Heels have won 5 straight, but they have not covered in their last three as this team still seems to be playing below expectations. \u00a0This is a very talented group of players but it just may not be a great team in the traditional sense of the word. \u00a0Watching it play it makes you wonder if recruiting has become more about rankings than how players actually could fit and play together.<\/p>\n Harrison Barnes, Tyler Zeller and John Henson all average more than 14 points per game so it is clear where the Tar Heels will go for production. \u00a0In this one, the best matchup is for Barnes as the Blue Devils don\u2019t really have someone on the perimeter with a defensive prowess and enough size to disrupt his game. \u00a0There is no Battier out there for Duke.<\/p>\n A game like this is the perfect stage for a command performance from Barnes who has been a non factor when UNC has faced elite competition this year.<\/p>\n
\n Dean Dome – Chapel Hill, North Carolina<\/strong>
\n 9:00PM<\/strong>
\nMoneyline: No money line currently listed<\/strong>
\n Spread: \u00a0\u00a0North Carolina -7<\/strong>
\nO\/U: 160.5<\/strong><\/p>\n