“I’ve never liked anything from Duke.” Michael Jordan’s words ring true for UNC fans as they head into their last regular season game tonight. The Tobacco Road showdown between Duke and UNC is serious business. From buzzer-beaters and close games, to Final Four fatalities, this rivalry has seen it all, and fans have loved every minute of it. Surely, they must be filling the stadiums right now in anticipation of greatness, right?

Well, not exactly. A recent tweet by the Barstool Blue Devils page showed a desolate UNC crowd in the Dean Dome stadium. “A deflated, seated crowd in the Dean Dome for college gameday. They know what’s coming tonight. You could hear a pin drop.” The caption said, painting a bleak picture for the UNC home game.

Normally, it’s tough to keep fans to their seats, but tonight? North Carolina fans seem to lack the energy they’re typically known for. Still, UNC boasts a proud history in this feud that they will try and live up to.

Historically, the Tar Heels have dominated this rivalry. But this year has been a different story altogether. With Cooper Flagg running the show at Duke, they beat their Blue Blood rivals 87-70 in their last encounter. After such a devastating loss, it could be that the Tar Heels fans are not keeping their hopes up for this game.

However, UNC has really picked up the pace since their last meeting with Duke. For the past six games, they’ve ran straight through every single team that has tried to stand in their way. Jon Scheyer’s team cannot afford to take it easy, because the Tar Heels certainly won’t be. But how will they slow down the otherwise unstoppable offense of Duke?

UNC’s defensive woes, how will they stop Cooper Flagg?

How do you slow down Cooper Flagg? Can he be stopped? There are at least sixty-seven teams in the nation who are trying to find answers to these questions. For UNC, it’s a matter of pride and honor. Their school pride won’t accept a loss, and Duke is not an easy team to beat.

According to John Fanta, national analyst and the show host of The Field of 68: After Dark, the Tar Heels need to force Duke to the perimeter. If they leave Cooper Flagg unchecked inside the arc, they won’t know what hit them. The thing about Flagg is that he’s not a ball-hog. He runs the offense for Duke, and UNC needs to stop him before he can catch his rhythm.

But Duke’s perimeter players are what got UNC the last time. Kon Knueppel is a sniper from deep, and was responsible for the Blue Devils’ past victory over the Chapel Hill boys. Not to mention, he has been on fire recently! The six-foot-seven guard has been averaging over 16 points in the last five games, shooting a staggering 51% from three.

There’s no doubt that this game will be one for the ages. Duke will look to retain its momentum heading into March, while UNC is looking for a way out of the ACC. What do you think? Will Cooper Flagg and his squad defeat the Tar Heels? Or will they stage an incredible comeback? Only time will tell.