Duke-UNC Clash Means More Than Usual Tonight

Tonight marks the 229th time that the North Carolina Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils will be opponents on the basketball court. Both teams have had different paths this season, Carolina has struggled mightily after losing the core of their national championship team, while Duke has a strong group of seniors propelling them to a possible number one seed.

Both teams are also looking to win the game for different reasons. If the Heels win, it will be the high spot in a disappointing season and for Duke it would be a win over the most hated team in all the land.

For North Carolina, this game is the Super Bowl of the 2009-10 season. After starting the season 4-0, the non-conference schedule got tough and the young group of players were not able to contend with Syracuse, Texas, and Kentucky.

Then, after a loss to Charleston at home right before ACC play, things went haywire. Roy Williams' team is 5-10 in the ACC and 16-14 overall and on the verge of not making the NIT. If there is any good news, they are on a two game win streak beating Wake Forest and Miami in those games. With only two players with double digit points per game, the Heels are struggling to find someone to step up and take the big shot.

The Blue Devils have had an excellent season under Coach K and going in to this week had a chance at a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament but that chance fell off the radar with a loss to Maryland on Wednesday. They will no doubt be motivated to win on Jon Scheyer's senior night against the Heels but they will face a challenge since it is a rivalry game.

Tonight's game has the feel of any rivalry game that features a struggling team and a very successful team. The most recent example is the Ohio St.-Michigan football games with Ohio St. being the winner and the more successful team in the regular season. Duke would love that outcome but this rivalry means way more to both teams than a Big 10 football game.

If North Carolina wins, their season will have a better taste at the end and could give them momentum to make a good run at the ACC Tournament. Duke wants to win this game for Scheyer and fellow seniors Lance Thomas and Brian Zoubek and to take the ACC regular season title from Maryland.

Key Players To Watch:

North Carolina: G Will Graves

Graves needs to step up his game from beyond the arc and also become a leader on the floor tonight. Graves is the best three point and free throw shooter on the team and will need to score way more than his average of 9.9 points per game to give his team a shot tonight.

Duke: G Jon Scheyer

Not only is it his senior night, Scheyer is playing in a rivalry game he has never won at home, he can possibly win ACC Player of the Year and win the ACC regular season title all in one night. The pressure will be on Scheyer to lead the Blue Devils on the perimeter and will have knock down his free throws tonight at Cameron Indoor.

Prediction: Duke 81, UNC 77

This game will be close because how much this game means to both teams' seasons. But Duke has too much experience and will want to win the game at Cameron Indoor for the first time in five years.