North Carolina at Duke: Gameday Open Thread

North Carolina and Duke renew hostilities at Cameron Indoor Stadium to close out the ACC regular season.

TONIGHT: The Best Rivalry in Sports. Round 2.#HereComesDuke 🔵👿🏠 pic.twitter.com/oEeHWmT5S1
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) March 7, 2020

The Tar Heels are headed for their first opening-round Tuesday game in ACC Tournament history after a 10-17 start to the season. The Heels have won three straight, however and crowned themselves the team that no one wants to play.

Duke is part of a four-team logjam at the top of the ACC standings. The Blue Devils are tied with Virginia, a game behind Louisville and FSU, with all four teams in action on Saturday afternoon/early evening.

UNC is hoping to have freshman big man Armando Bacot, who missed the last game with an ankle injury and was limited in practice this week. When he fouled out in the first game, Duke was able to get a pair of offensive rebounds on missed free throws, setting up buzzer beaters to tie in regulation and win in overtime.

Duke beat NC State on Monday and used the early game this week to get some rest. Coach Mike Krzyzewski gave the Blue Devils two days off from practice, including one completely away from basketball--no meetings or anything. The hope is the team will recharge its batteries for a tournament run.

The Carolina Game is always a big recruiting day for Blue Devils basketball and football, and both programs will have some top-flight prospects in for visits today.

Duke 2020 signees Jeremy Roach and Jaemyn Brakefield will be visiting, along with Trevor Keels. The five-star shooting guard is a 6-foot-5 210-pounder in the class of 2021 who is Roach’s teammate at Paul VI Catholic in Fairfax, Virginia. He’s currently rated the No. 18 prospect in the class and the No. 2 shooting guard, according to 247Sports. Duke is fighting Virginia, Michigan, Ohio State and Villanova for him.

Durham Academy’s M.J. Rice will also visit. The local prospect is a five-star small forward in the class of 2022. He is 6-foot-5, 210 pounds and is rated the No. 23 prospect in the class and No. 6 at his position. Rice has offers from NC State, Boston College and Pitt, among other schools. He’s been to other Duke games this season but is still waiting on an offer.

Among the football recruits reportedly on hand for the game will be Trent Broadnax (three-star, WR, 2021), Trevion Cooley (three-star RB, 2021), Tre Freeman (2021 commit, LB), Michael Gonzalez (three-star OT, 2021), Aaron Hall (2021 commit, three-star DE), Ahmari Huggins (three-star WR, 2021), Brandon Johnson (CB, 2021), Drew Kendall (four-star guard, 2021), Tra Price (three-star DE, 2021), Bryce Steele (three-star safety, 2021), Christian Veilleux (four-star QB, 2021)

The officiating crew today will be led by veteran Roger Ayers.

Armando Bacot is warming up for UNC

UNC is Team Handshake today

The seniors: Justin Robinson, Jack White, Javin DeLaurier all get the start, along with Cassius Stanley, Tre Jones.

Robinson becomes the eleventh Blue Devil to start a game this year

Seniors were in for 2:30, gave Duke a 7-2 lead (scoring five of the points). Carey, Hurt, Goldwire now in.

Goldwire gets called for a charge sending us to the under 16. Duke up 12-11. Carolina shooting 5-of-7. Duke shooting 4-of-6. Every Duke basket has had an assist so far.

Brandon Robinson hits a three to end a 7-0 Duke run. Blue Devils are beating UNC down the court in transition. Stanley has a dunk, Carey got fouled on a breakaway. Duke up 19-14.

Over and back against Duke takes us to the under 12. Duke up 21-16. Justin Robinson has two threes to lead all scorers.

Bacot picks up his second foul. He has six points and seven rebounds, so that'll hurt UNC. DeLaurier also has two for Duke.

UNC triple team forces a turnover on Cassius Stanley sending us to the under eight. Duke up 28-24. Duke shooting 10-of-17, 4-of-8 from three.

Bacot gets a loose ball and lays it in to tie the score at 28.

Duke turns on the transition as we hit the under four. Blue Devils lead 33-28.

Garrison Brooks picks up his second foul. Bacot and Black also with two for the Tar Heels.

Brandon Robinson slow to get up after committing a foul on a collision under the basket. He's taken to the locker room.

Cole Anthony with a charge for his second foul. Trouble mounting for UNC. Jeremiah Francis hits a jumper with seconds left to keep UNC in single digits. 42-34 Duke at the half.

UNC ended the half with Francis, Justin Pierce, Christian Keeling, Walker Miller and Andrew Platek on the floor.

Jones leads Duke with 12 points, 4 assists. Stanley has 8, Carey and J Rob 7.

Duke leads 15-0 in fast break points

Brandon Robinson not out of the locker room for start of second half. UNC opens the half on a 7-2 run. Duke calls time with 16:27 left. Duke up 44-41. UNC outworking Blue Devils on the boards this half.

.Justin Robinson's scoring totals:

Freshman year: 1 point

Sophomore year: 23 points

Junior year: 20 points

Senior year through Feb. 24: 13 points

Last three games he's played: 26 points

Robinson back in the game for UNC. Duke up 54-47 with 13 to go

Bacot picks up his fourth foul on a very soft call against Carey.

Wendell Moore drives to the hoop for the first time this game and picks up a charge that sends us to the under 12. UNC hanging around, down just 55-51. Brooks has 18 and 9, Bacot has 13 and 11.

UNC gets a tip in from Justin Pierce. Brandon Robinson with a steal. Garrison Brooks misses a chance to tie it at the line. 55-54 Duke, 11:07 to go.

Duke goes Jones to Carey three straight possessions for points. UNC responds each time. Duke up 63-59

Carey with the layup and draws the foul sending us to the under eight. He'll go to the line to try to finish the three-point play after the break. Duke up 68-61. Carey has 20. Brooks has 25.

Duke with the daggers. Justin Robinson outfights everyone on UNC to get a rebound then knocks down a three. Stanley follows with a three and Roy Williams gets time out. Duke up 80-67, 3:43 to go

It’s a final. Duke wins 89-76

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