“The thing that I’ve learned is the previous games don’t matter. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve won or lost. It doesn’t matter what your record is or what your ranking is. I’ve been on both sides of it. The thing I’ll tell you about them is they have a lot of talent.” These were the words of Duke’s head coach before their last meeting with UNC. Cooper Flagg was the hero once again, delivering a stellar performance with 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists to lead Duke to an 87-70 win over the then-struggling Tar Heels.

One month later, here they are, set to clash again on March 8 at 6:30 PM ET in Chapel Hill. But this time, the fortunes have shifted for the Tar Heels. Hubert Davis’ squad is firing on all cylinders, winning six straight games for the first time this season. The Tobacco Road rivalry just got even more intense, and fans couldn’t have asked for a better matchup to close out the regular season.

Key stats and players to keep an eye on beyond Cooper Flagg

Let’s take a look at how both these teams match on paper. Offensively, both teams are neck and neck. Duke is putting up 83.1 points per game while shooting 38.5% from beyond the arc. The Tar Heels aren’t far behind, averaging 82.1 points per game and hitting 35.4% of their three-point attempts.

Defensively, however, it’s a different story. Duke has been one of the best teams in the country, holding opponents to just 61.1 points per game while committing only 9 turnovers per game. North Carolina, on the other hand, has struggled on that end, allowing 76 points per game and turning the ball over 10 times per game. A big reason for their defensive woes stems from their guard-heavy lineup.

Cooper Flagg will undoubtedly be the center of attention, but Kon Knueppel will also be another player to watch out for as he absolutely went on a rampage last time these two sides played going 7-11 from the field. For North Carolina, a lot will depend on how RJ Davis and Seth Trimble play.

Injury report for both Duke and North Carolina

There’s not much to talk about injuries for the upcoming match. Hubert Davis will welcome the Blue Devils to Chapel Hill with the luxury of a fully healthy squad at his disposal. Meanwhile, Jon Scheyer received a major boost as Tyrese Proctor returned in Duke’s last game against Wake Forest after hurting his knee a game before against Miami.

However, Duke will still be without forward Maliq Brown, who remains questionable after dislocating his shoulder against Virginia last month. While there is optimism about his return before the season ends, the exact timeline remains uncertain. Aside from Brown, the Blue Devils have no fresh injury concerns heading into this matchup.

Projected starting lineup

Here are the projected starting lineups for both teams:

North Carolina Tar Heels: 

• 3 Elliot Cadeau
• 4 RJ Davis
• 9 Drake Powell
• 22 Ven-Allen Lubin
• 24 Jae’Lyn Withers

Duke Blue Devils : 

• 2 Cooper Flagg
• 5 Tyrese Proctor
• 7 Kon Knueppel
• 9 Khaman Maluach
• 14 Sion James

Can Cooper Flagg and co snap Hubert Davis’ impressive streak?

The Duke-North Carolina rivalry needs no introduction. The Tobacco Road rivalry is one of the most storied and celebrated rivalries in all of sports. It is set to renew for the 264th time this Saturday. These two blue-blood programs have been battling it out on the hardwood since 1920, delivering decades of unforgettable moments.  While North Carolina holds the edge in the last 10 matchups, leading 6-4, a win for Duke on Saturday would mark their second sweep in three years.

Cooper Flagg has been sensational throughout the season, and he’ll want nothing more than to cement his Duke legacy with a season sweep against the Tar Heels. But it won’t be easy. Hubert Davis has finally found form, and his small-ball lineup is finally showing its true potential.

However, they’ll face one of the best defenses in the country, and the Tar Heels’ lack of big men could be a significant disadvantage. Duke, on the other hand, is unbeaten in their last 7 games and ranks as the second-best team in the country heading into the game.

But that’s not the end of Hubert Davis’ problems. They’ve only won once against a Quad 1 team this season, going 1-10 in 11 attempts. As a result, even ESPN gives Duke an 80% chance of leaving the iconic Dean E. Smith Center with a victory. Who do you think will come out on top? Can UNC script an unlikely comeback, or will the Blue Devils, led by Cooper Flagg, dominate once again? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!