The Tar Heels host Duke on Saturday, February 7, at 6:30 p.m. in the 263rd game between the two teams. Saturday’s game is the 88th Duke (4th) vs UNC (14th) game in which both teams are ranked in the Associated Press poll. Duke (79.4”) and UNC (79.3”) are two of the three tallest teams in the country. (KenPom)
Dan Shulman, Jay Bilas and Kris Budden will call the action on ESPN.
About Duke
- The Blue Devils have played eight nationally-ranked opponents this season (7-1 record). Duke has secured top-25 victories over No. 7 Michigan State, No. 15 Florida, No. 20 Louisville (twice), No. 22 Arkansas, No. 24 SMU and No. 25 Kansas.
- Duke is one of two teams ranked in the top-five nationally in both offensive efficiency (127.0, 5th) and defensive efficiency (91.2, 4th) ratings. (KenPom).
- The Blue Devils lead the ACC and are seventh nationally in scoring margin (+20.5). Duke tops the conference and ranks 10th in the country in rebounding margin (+9.8). The Blue Devils rank seventh in the nation and first in the ACC in scoring defense (63.6 ppg).
- Cameron Boozer is the nation’s fourth-leading scorer with an ACC-high 23.3 points per game, and tops the ACC in rebounding (9.9 rpg), is fourth in steals (1.9 spg), 12th in assists (4.1 apg) and fourth in field goal percentage (.583).
- Isaiah Evans ranks third in the ACC in free-throw percentage (.880), and is the ACC’s 12th-leading scorer in conference play, averaging 17.0 points per league game. Duke has a 27-0 record the past two seasons when Evans scores in double figures.
About UNC
- The Tar Heels are 13-0 at home this season, with an average margin of 21.3 points. That includes an 87-77 win over Syracuse on Roy Williams Court on Monday, a game the Tar Heels led by 32 midway through the second half.
- North Carolina leads the conference and ranks 10th nationally in assist/turnover ratio (+1.80). The Tar Heels commit the fewest fouls (14.9) and turnovers (9.5) per game in the ACC. North Carolina tops the league and is 12th in the nation in defensive rebounding, averaging 28.4 per contest.
- Junior center Henri Veesaar and freshman forward Caleb Wilson are combining for 36.8 points and 18.8 rebounds per game. They have blocked 57 shots, have 107 assists, shot 60.0% from the floor and attempted 264 free throws. They account for 44.3% of Carolina’s scoring, 47.1% of the rebounds and 47.0% of the field goals made.
- Caleb Wilson Wilson leads the Tar Heels in scoring, rebounding, offensive rebounds, steals, free throws (made and attempted) and blocks and is second in assists (four off the lead) and field goal percentage. His scoring average of 20.0 points per game is on pace to set the UNC freshman record.
- Red-shirt junior center Henri Veesaar, a transfer from Arizona, leads the team in field goal shooting (62.4%) and three-point accuracy (45.9%), and is second in scoring (16.8), rebounding (9.0) and blocks (28).
Duke vs UNC
- Carolina is 145-120 against Duke, including 66-40 at home and 21-19 in the Smith Center.
- The Blue Devils won all three times the teams played last season, including 87-70 in Cameron Indoor Stadium, 82-69 in the Smith Center and 74-71 in Charlotte in the ACC Tournament semifinals.
- Carolina and Duke are No. 1 and 2 all-time in the ACC in wins, ACC regular-season wins, ACC Tournament wins, NCAA Tournament wins, Final Fours and NCAA championships.
- This is the 88th time both teams are ranked in the AP poll, the first since the 3/9/24 game, an 84-79 Tar Heel victory in Durham.
Per Release