By: Mike Rifkin
North Carolina and Duke is the best rivalry in College Basketball and one of the best in sports as a whole. For the first time in history the Blue Devils and Tar Heels will play in the Final Four with a spot in the National Championship on the line. It will be the tiebreaker for the season series as each team won on the other’s home court, including Carolina defeating Duke in Coach K’s final home game. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said Tuesday “ I haven’t looked at it as us vs North Carolina, I’ve looked at it as we’re playing in the Final Four, so the history of the rivalry I have not paid attention to. Saturday is the most amazing day in College Basketball to bring four champions together and to play for another championship.”
Krzyzewski said before the season that he would retire after the season has his team playing their best basketball of the season. Freshman Paolo Banchero is averaging 18.5 points per game in the tournament. In the two prior games against the Tar Heels Banchero shot 16-40 from the field. Duke defensively is going to have to slow down Armando Bacot who has had a double double in each game of the tournament including 20 points and 22 rebounds against Saint Peters in the Elite Eight. Bacot is averaging 12.5 rebounds per game in the tournament.
In the second matchup whoever won the turnover battle won the game. In the second meeting Carolina shot 22 free throws to Duke’s eight. With the series tied at one and both teams playing their best basketball of the season this should be a great game.
Prediction: The Duke players have to be angry after losing Coach K’s final home game to the Tar Heels, and they get revenge and move on to play for the National Championship.
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