DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — Welcome to the 263rd edition of the Battle for Tobacco Road.
No. 2 Duke (18-2 overall, 10-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) hosts archrival North Carolina (13-9, 6-4) Saturday at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Tipoff for the latest matchup between the two storied programs is set for 6:30 p.m.
The Blue Devils are cruising into this latest rivalry game, having won 14 in a row and most by double-digit margins. Top recruit and national player of the year candidate Cooper Flagg leads the team in three categories: points (19.9 per game), rebounds (7.9 per game) and assists (4.1 per game). In Duke’s last win — a hard-fought 74-64 win over another Triangle rival, NC State, on Monday — Flagg scored 28 points and pulled down seven boards. Fellow freshman Kon Knueppel also chipped in 19 points and six rebounds.
The Tar Heels, meanwhile, are having a rollercoaster season. After a tough non-conference schedule full of Top 25 opponents, UNC seemed to right the ship as the ACC season started, stringing together four wins in a row. But a loss at home to Stanford in the last few seconds has put them back in a spin, and including that game, the Tar Heels have dropped three of their last four. In Tuesday night’s 73-65 loss at Pitt, RJ Davis — who in the past has had success at Cameron Indoor — led the Tar Heels with 16 points, five assists and four rebounds. Seth Trimble also contributed a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Duke hits the road after this for a midweek matchup at Syracuse on Wednesday night. UNC doesn’t play again until next week when Pitt comes to Chapel Hill for a late Saturday afternoon tilt.