Duke vs. UNC: What Showdown Means for the Blue Devils

Here's the first thing the showdown means for Duke: the chance to beat their hated rivals, North Carolina. Anytime you can do that, it's a good day at the office.

But the game has serous ACC significance for the Blue Devils as well, now third in the ACC after losing at home, 78-74, to Miami in overtime on Sunday. It's Duke's second loss in their past five games, and a win over the Tar Heels would tie the two squads in the ACC with a 7-2 conference record.

And the game should act as a huge indicator of where Duke's defense is at this point in the season. North Carolina scores the most points per game, and the Blue Devils have been struggling to keep teams from doing just that. From CBS:

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Defense has been an issue all season. Duke ranks 10th in the ACC with an average of 69.1 points allowed per game—its worst since the 2007-08 team gave up an average of 69.4 points. The Blue Devils allow teams to shoot 43.8 percent—last in the league.

They had serious trouble containing Miami's Reggie Johnson, who finished with a career-high 27 points and a season-best 12 rebounds while setting the tone in overtime by scoring his team's first four points. Afterward, junior Ryan Kelly said the Hurricanes' big man "got whatever he wanted around the basket."

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Duke—12th in the nation in points per game—can survive against most teams in a high-scoring affair. But against North Carolina, relying solely on the offense to keep the game close could be a recipe for disaster.

A win, and Duke will remind everyone—including themselves—that they are still an elite team this season. Another loss, and doubts about this team's potential will start justifiably creeping toward the surface in Durham.

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