Blue Blood 4.0: The Battle

Chapel Hill, N.C. So few cities in the United States carry the swagger such as the home of the North Carolina Tar Heels. When you hear Chapel Hill, you think of powder blue glossed across the campus of the university, you think of Michael Jordan, you think of beautiful scenery painted with pine and timber. Most of all, you think of Chapel Hill as the baby blue counterpart to the empire of the north: Durham, N.C.

Durham, N.C. A city known for business, technological research, grand scenery left over from the days of tobacco plantations. More importantly, you think of the boys in blue who dwell on the campus of Duke University. The likes of Christian Laettner, the Cameron Crazies, and Mike Krzyzewski. These are the Duke Blue Devils; these are the arch-rivals who counter the Tar Heels of the University of North Carolina. These are the legendary programs of the prestigious North Carolina universities- this is Tobacco Road. THIS is the greatest rivalry in the world, where the camps live 8 miles apart on a road painted two shades of blue.

The UNC Tar Heels come into this game ranked 5th in the nation, followed by the Duke Blue Devils ranked 9th. Duke comes off of an embarrassing loss at home to the Miami Hurricanes, who have never won in Durham in their program's lifetime. Meanwhile, the Heels are on a 5 game win streak since losing horribly at Florida State. For round 1 being played in Chapel Hill, here is the tale of the tape:

• Opening game since 2000: Duke leads, 9-3 (all 3 losses in Cameron)
• Opening game played in Chapel Hill since 2000 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010:
  Duke 6-0.
• Games played in Chapel Hill: Duke leads, 7-5
• UNC vs. Duke with Hansbrough: 6-2
• UNC vs. Duke post-Hansbrough: 1-4
• Teams played eachother 8 times since 2000 when both are ranked: Duke leads 6-2.

As you may see, history favors Duke heavily in this matchup. Throughout the season up until this point, the numbers between the two teams have been identical. However, there are departments in which both teams excel while the other trails. Keys to the game:

UNC

• Second chance points through their superior front court
• Perimeter shooting; living without Strickland or McDonald complimenting Marshall.
• Stopping the Dunk-a-thon; when the Plumlees get rolling, they're incredibly difficult to stop.
  
  
  
• Duke

• Good passing; UNC's strength is the transition. Poor passes will allow UNC to get out on the fast break, leaving Duke in the dust.
• Rebounds; limiting Zeller & Henson on the boards will be HUGE if the Devils are to continue their round 1 dominance.
• 3-Point Shooting; going up against Barnes, Henson, and Zeller means more perimeter shooting, and essential shots made from beyond the arc.

That is my take on tonight's game. This and the 2nd game played between the two teams are the biggest nights of my entire year. Bigger than the new year, more exciting than the Super Bowl, more fun than my birthday, THIS is what I live for. Broken hearts, rough days in the office and the classroom, and generally hard times come and go- but no matter what, Duke basketball is always there. It is my saving grace, this is what powers me throughout the year. And now, it is finally here, the greatest moments of my life are found in this rivalry: NORTH CAROLINA-DUKE! LETS-GO-DUKE!!!