It's On

Welcome to Hype City. Oh, sorry...Welcome to Hype City, Baby! Better? Yes, this is what ratings, uh, rivalries, are made of. Don't get us wrong, our address puts us within a short drive of Chapel Hill and Durham, so we pretty much bite into all of this hype (except, of course, Duke Vitale), because that's all we've known all of our lives. You live around these parts you either like Carolina or Duke. Period. And if you like one, then, by God, you HATE the other one. So be it.

However, we understand that out on the Plains that the Kansas-Missouri rivalry is also pretty hot, and how about Kentucky-Louisville? It's all relative to location, isn't it? Army-Navy; UCLA-USC; Manhatten-Iona; you get the picture.

But, for some reason, everyone will be talking this game up tomorrow around your office or quarry or school or jail, so we're here to help give you the tools to speak decisively and intelligently about this game. Join us, won't you?

The 2006 Stats:

UNC (ACC stats in italics)

• 20-3 overall
• Ranked 5 in Coaches' Poll
• 6-2 ACC (3rd)
• 5-0 vs. top-25
• 9-2 vs. top-50
• 14-1 vs. non-conference
• 4-2 on road
• 3-1 neutral court
• 13-0 at home
• 8-2 last ten games
• 88.1 scoring offense (1rst in ACC)
• 19.4 assists per game (1rst in ACC)
• 50.6% FG per game (1rst in ACC)
• 37.4% 3-pointers per game (4th in ACC)
• 42.7 rebounds per game (1rst in ACC)
• 16.7 fouls per game (8th in ACC)
• 9.0 steals per game (4th in ACC)
• 4.8 blocks per game (6th in ACC)
• 14.6 turnovers per game (7th in ACC)
• 69.6% FT per game (8th in ACC)

Duke

• 18-5 overall
• Ranked 16 in Coaches' Poll
• 5-4 conference (5th)
• 4-2 vs. top-25
• 6-5 vs. top-50
• 13-1 vs. non-conference
• 2-2 on road
• 2-1 neutral court
• 14-2 at home
• 6-4 last ten games
• 69.4 scoring offense (12th in ACC)
• 13.7 assists per game (8th in ACC)
• 47.2% FG per game (8th in ACC)
• 37.6% 3-pointers per game (3rd in ACC)
• 36.1 rebounds per game (7th in ACC)
• 16.7 fouls per game (8th in ACC)
• 7.5 steals per game (7th in ACC)
• 5.1 blocks per game (4th in ACC)
• 15.4 turnovers per game (4th in ACC)
• 70.4% FT per game (6th in ACC)

All pretty mind-numbing, isn't it. And, it would be easy to say that the Tar Heels are the better team, right? Well, they seem to be on paper. But, of course, this IS Carolina vs. Duke, so you can throw all of the stats away. Let's take a look at what will really matter for each team.

UNC

1. Shock and Awe: The Heels have to score fast and decisively to quiet down the 8,000 or so New Jersey transplants (i.e. Duke students) who have camped out all night to see their beloved, albeit average, Blue Devils. Once Carolina can stop these future day-traders from bouncing up and down and shouting "classy" chants, then it will be all over. A large component to the "shock and awe" strategy will be to dunk often and to dunk with emotion (SEE: Jerry Stackhouse).
2. Play tight defense at the three-point line: nothing makes a Dookie bounce like a three from the corner (SEE: J.J. Reddick) so if you can shut down the scoring beyond the arc, you limit the Duke momentum.
3. Keep the pressure on Paulus: Greg Paulus couldn't lead his team to the bathroom, so if you pressure him he will cave.
4. Draw the Foul: with a host of large players, Carolina should be able to force McRoberts into having to foul. Carolina's goal should be having McRoberts with 3 fouls in the first half and fouling out with 12 minutes to go.

Duke

1. Home Court: yes, they are the underdog, but if the Crazies start bouncing and get into the heads of the young Heels, it could be a long night for Carolina.
2. Cry: Coach Cry will undoubtedly cry and cuss about every foul called on the Devils. Depending on who the refs are, he may be able to get an edge here. Watch for Mike's "stare" during several time-outs. He likes to try and stare down the refs.
3. The 3's: as we have noted, if Duke can start hitting the three-pointers, then they could have a good chance.
4. Motivation: Mike Cry is an excellent motivator, if you like streams of four-letter words, and he will have this undermanned team believing that they are all-world and that everyone is out to get them.
5. Cameron: good place to play only if you are a Blue Devil. It is hot and humid, the floor is slick, and there are a bunch of weird and ugly people (SEE: Duke Cheerleaders) jumping up and down and waving their hands and chanting things about opponent's body-parts or mothers or dogs or SAT scores. It is surreal (SEE: Clockwork Orange).

So, the time has come to name the victor. Let's just go ahead and say North Carolina will win this game. They are deeper, better-coached, and smarter than Duke. It could really go either way, though. But, we'll go out on a limb for UNC.