CHAPEL HILL, NC – North Carolina concluded its regular season on Saturday night with a rare rivalry, sealing its invitation to the NCAA Tournament with an exciting 91-73 Senior Night win while canceling post- Duke’s season in Indianapolis.
The UNC’s 18-point winning margin was the biggest against Duke since an 88-70 victory at Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 3, 2012.
Tar Heels (16-9, 10-6 ACC) copied his offensive game plan for the victory in Durham four weeks ago and added a defensive splash, scoring inside and out while avoiding the Blue Devils (11-11, 9- 9 ACC) to establish any kind of offensive rhythm at the other end. UNC built a 26-6 lead in the middle of the first half, making 11 of his first 16 field goal attempts (3 out of 4 3FG) and keeping Duke in 3 out of 14 shots and six turns.
The UNC’s 42-26 lead was the second biggest of the season and the biggest against Duke in nine years. Blue Devils reduced its deficit to 44-31 with 18:27 to play, before the margin increased to 24 points with 10:07 remaining.
Tar Heels reached 55.4%, while Blue Devils reached 40.6%. UNC scored 16 points on 15 turnovers and Duke countered with 23 points on 20 turnovers. The home team overcame their rivals by 38-31. The UNC concluded their home run with a 10-1 record, including a 7-0 mark in the ACC game.
Low low size advantage
Duke’s makeshift zone has been effective in recent weeks with the addition of 7-foot player Mark Williams to the starting lineup. Tar Heel’s attacking court, however, began to work off the edge by dismantling Mike Krzyzewski’s defensive scheme by scoring the first 11 points of the UNC and 26 of the first 42 points.
Armando Bacot had his second consecutive strong showing, scoring 18 points out of 6 out of 10 shots and catching six rebounds. Garrison Brooks scored 14 points out of 6 out of 9 shots, setting a new career record with a pair of 3 points.
Pumps dropped
If only Tar Heels players could play against the Blue Devils more often. Four weeks after setting or leveling the season highs at 3 points (10) and 3-point field goal percentage (66.7%) at Cameron Indoor Stadium, UNC was back on Saturday, taking down 8 of 18 attempts to long range.
Kerwin Walton scored 18 points out of 6 out of 9 shots, including a 4 out of 7 mark. It is a positive turnaround for the freshman guard, who had scored 5 out of 24 points out of 3 in his previous three games.
Caleb Love also scored 18 points out of 6 out of 12 shots (2 out of 6 3FG).
Tribute at night for the elderly
UNC veterans Andrew Platek, KJ Smith and Walker Miller joined Brooks to be honored during a pre-match ceremony with their families in the stands. Sterling Manley junior Redshirt, who played for the first time in two years, was also recognized as a member of the 2017 autograph class.
While all four veterans are eligible for a super senior season following an NCAA eligibility exception due to COVID-19, Roy Williams told reporters on Friday that any conversation about an additional year would take place after the season.
Featured game
That thing @__garro ??
?? @ESPN – https://t.co/SoKalgIMMX #CarolinaFamily pic.twitter.com/yBJeYNjHfR
– Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) March 6, 2021
Sweep of rivalry
Tar Heels swept the regular season series with the Blue Devils only for the second time in 12 years.
Next
UNC won the sixth position in the ACC tournament and will start playing postseason on Wednesday (9pm / ACCN) at the Greensboro Coliseum. Tar Heels will face the winner of No. 11 Notre Dame and No. 14 Wake Forest.