Things to watch as Duke, UNC renew rivalry in Chapel Hill

Saturday night in Chapel Hill brings another chapter of college basketball’s premier rivalry.

North Carolina (18-4, 6-3 ACC) welcomes league-leading Duke (21-1, 10-0) to a packed Dean Dome, where Carolina blue will dominate but Duke fans will still make their presence felt. The Blue Devils won all three meetings with the Tar Heels last season, so North Carolina enters this one with plenty of motivation to make sure that doesn’t happen again.

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The Tar Heels, once wobbly after a rough West Coast trip, have responded with four straight wins: Notre Dame, Virginia, Georgia Tech and Syracuse.

Duke enters looking every bit like a title threat. The Blue Devils are led by Cameron Boozer, who powers the Blue Devils with 23.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.9 steals per game, putting him squarely in the national awards conversation. Isaiah Evans has emerged as a steady No. 2 option at 17.0 points per game in ACC play, while Patrick Ngongba adds efficient interior scoring, strong rebounding and top-tier shot-blocking numbers.

With that being said, here are some things to watch.

Caleb Wilson vs. Cameron Boozer

Feb 3, 2026; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) drives to the basket as Boston College Eagles forward Aiden Shaw (23) defends during the second half at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-Imagn Images

Easily the most high-profile matchup of the evening, most of the attention will be on the two freshmen stars: Duke’s Boozer and North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson.

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At 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds, Boozer has been a force for Duke this season. He is the favorite to win the ACC Player of the Year award and is projected to be a top-five pick at power forward. He is averaging 23.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.9 steals per game — all team highs — and has helped lead the Blue Devils to a 21-1 overall record and a 10-0 start in ACC play.

Wilson, also a projected top-five pick, has had one of the most…

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Publish date : 2026-02-07 14:30:00

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