SHOWDOWN ON TOBACCO ROAD

UNC TAR HEELS UPDATE
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   A perennially historic ACC rivalry has taken on new meaning as Duke and Carolina meet on Thursday night in a snow makeup game in Chapel Hill.  Both teams struggled at times in the beginning of the season.  But these powerhouses come into this big game as two of the hottest teams in the country, Carolina having won seven games in a row, and Duke winning 9 of their last 10.

   After an up and down start, UNC has come on of late, showing signs of greatness during their recent winning streak.  At one time tied for last place in the ACC, the Tar Heels are now fourth (8-4, 18-7), inching ahead of Pittsburgh after beating them on Saturday, and can pull into a practical tie with Duke for third place by winning on Thursday night.  Undefeated Syracuse (25-0) and Virginia (12-1 ACC) remain in first and second place in the league standings.

TAR HEELS GAME SUMMARIES
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   On Saturday, Feb. 8, the Tar Heels traveled to play Notre Dame.  Carolina stayed in their normal mode of starting slow and finishing fast.  The only lead the Tar Heels had in the first half was 2-0 until the last two minutes, when Marcus Paige sparked an 11-2 run to go ahead at intermission, 27-23.  The Heels pulled away in the 2nd half, winning by double digits, 73-62, led by McAdoo with 18 points and Paige with 16.   

    A week later, on Saturday, Feb. 15, the Tar Heels were at home against Pittsburgh.  

Pitt led early, but steals and breakaway dunks by James Michael McAdoo and Isaiah Hicks in the last five minutes of the first half, and by J.P. Tokoto in the first two minutes of the second half, put UNC ahead for good, and set the tone for the rest of the game.  The Tar Heels led by as many as 12 in the second half, but Pitt closed to within two before the Heels pulled out their sixth straight win, 75-71.  McAdoo led the way with 24 points and 12 rebounds.

   On Monday night, the Tar Heels eeked out a victory over less talented, but scrappy Florida State, 81-75, winning their seventh game in a row, and giving Coach Roy Williams his 300th win at North Carolina.    A cold and sloppy start for UNC allowed the Seminoles to get out to an early 15-point lead, 21-6.  Neither team looked exceptional, but the inside play of Kennedy Meeks, who scored 21 of his 23 points in the first half, kept the Heels in the game, and brought them within three at 36-33.  Meeks, who recently became a freshman starter, made up for a poor performance by McAdoo, who was held scoreless, breaking his 16-game streak of scoring in double figures. McAdoo spent much of the game on the bench in foul trouble, and eventually fouled out with four minutes to go in the game.  Marcus Paige added 20 points, hitting several key shots to put Carolina in the lead for the first time at the mid-point of the second half.

CAROLINA vs DUKE : THE SHOWDOWN 
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DUKE-UNC SHOWDOWN

    After struggling but winning over several average opponents, UNC now faces #5 Duke at home.  If Carolina doesn't play to their capabilities, Duke will win.  As previously noted, BOTH teams are playing well and on winning streaks.  UNC must shoot and rebound well, and also protect the basketball.  Turnovers and poor free throw shooting could spell doom for the Heels.  However, we have played excellent basketball in spurts, and if we can put together a complete game, we have a great chance of beating Duke.   A win over the Blue Devils would not only give us our eighth win in a row, but also motivate the Heels and go a long way toward paving the way to a good seed in the NCAA Tournament.

  
 What do you think?   Heels or Devils?   Who will win tonight?   We'll find out soon enough.. and bring you a report.   


  

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