3Uje fiaily (Ear Heel
1 The
THRILLAj.,
Chapel Hilla.
Duke and North Carolina have ruled college basketball for
the last 10 weeks. Tonight the two teams face off to settle the
dispute over conference and national supremacy.
BY ALEC MORRISON
SENIOR WRITER
When the opening tip goes up in tonight’s
Duke-North Carolina contest at the Smith
Center, the history and hype around college
sports’ biggest rivalry will no longer matter.
At that point, the sense of urgency sur
rounding college basketball’s top two teams
will exist entirely on the court. That’s because
whoever takes this game gains confidence and
momentum for the ACC’s stretch run valu
able commodities considering the teams face
off again in Durham in less than a month.
“That’s why we need this game more than
| JR
DTH/MATT KOHUT
North Carolina forward Antawn Jamison
scored 33 points in UNC s home win
against Duke last season.
RIVALRY
FROM PAGE 1
prep star turned Tar Heel forward
Antawn Jamison. Jamison played at
Providence High in Charlotte and grew
up watching the long-running rivalry.
As with Langdon, the rivalry left an
indelible memory with Jamison.
“Being from North Carolina, I can
remember in junior high and high
school just looking at the games and just
dreaming about being in that type of sit
uation,” he said. “Now I’m in that situ
ation. It’s very special for me.”
But tonight, the Duke-UNC tradition
takes on anew
twist with the 1-
vs.-2 contest.. The
last time the two
teams faced as
No. 1 and No. 2
wjs 1994, when
the second-ranked
T>r Heels topped
Duke 89-78 at the
Smith Center.
- Four years
laier, the stage is
sS once again.
'Duke and
f'fprth Carolina
have been on an
apparent collision
course since the
1
UNC senior guard
SHAMMOND
WILLIAMS
is shooting 40.5
percent from behind
the 3-point arc.
beginning of the season. Both were
r#iked in the top four of the preseason
prills and have combined to sit atop the
A3 5 Top 25 poll for the last 10 weeks,
ifiike and UNC have held the No. 1
ranking for all but three weeks of the
1597-98 season.
j“ Fans across the state circled Feb. 5 on
the calendar weeks ago, waiting for the
two titans to collide.
?The media quickly joined in, calling
tshight’s contest a potential preview of
March’s national championship game in
Sgn Antonio.
£ They frequently probed the players
far opinions on their rival’s success. Blue
Oevils and Tar Heels alike avoided the
inquiries with much the same ease they
(flopped their foes.
; But out of sight didn’t equal out of
rtgind.
; “You have to be lying if you say
you’re not really thinking about a team
they do," UNC point
guard Ed Cota said.
“Right now, I think it’s
our advantage to be at
home.”
Playing at home might
give UNC the only clear
advantage in this contest.
The teams balance each
other almost perfectly in
size and speed, though
the styles in play tonight
will contrast vividly on
the basketball court.
Duke will place an
imposing pressure
defense and lightning
strike of a fast break on
the table against the sharp passing of UNC’s
coolly efficient offense. Since neither team has
a glaring weakness for the other to exploit,
both teams will simply execute as well as pos
sible and see where the chips fall.
"I don’t draw anything from their other
games on how to defend them, because we
don’t play like any of those teams,” Duke
coach Mike Krzyzewski said.
“I don’t think I’m giving away secrets. We’re
gonna go man-to-man, and v/e’re gonna run.”
To do that, Duke must force turnovers and
rebound against the Tar Heels, the ACC’s best
rebounding team. In recent seasons, Duke has
lacked the size to cope with UNC inside. But
with 6-foot-8 forward Shane Battier and 6-8
Roshown McLeod swelling the front line, the
Devils are much bigger and faster.
The duo combines to average 11.9 rebounds
per game. Center Taymon Domzalski who
replaced injured leading scorer Elton Brand in
Duke’s starting lineup has 31 rebounds in
his last five games. Battier and McLeod also
give Duke considerable range on defense and
will take turns matching up with UNC forward
Atttawn Jamison, who averages 22.3 points per
game.
“That’s been one of our strengths all year—
versatility,” Battier said. “Even the big fellas
can go out on the perimeter and defend some.
... (UNC’s) been so used to having mismatch
es.”
Jamison could still cause problems if only
one player guards him. At 6-9, he has size
equal to or greater than the players who will
defend him, and his quick release has forced
teams to double-team or foul him -or both.
The Devils won’t foul, and they probably
won’t double down on Jamison, either.
like Duke,” Tar Heel forward Antawn
Jamison said. “It’s always going to be in
the back of your mind because Duke is
a great team.”
Yet, despite all the intense show
downs over the years, the players main
tain personal ties across school lines.
Blue Devil and Tar Heel players admit
to holding friendships with the rival
players, often getting together during the
summers to play basketball in Durham
and Chapel Hill. The result is a rivalry
sans hatred.
The same cannot always be said for
the fans, who often approach the game
with venomous anticipation.
“Yeah, the fans are kind of brutal,”
UNC guard Vince Carter said. “It’s just
a basketball game, you know? You’d
think it was a wrestling match.”
summers to play basketball in Durham UNC forward
and Chapel Hill. The result is a rivalry an
The same cannot always be said for launch *
the fans, who often approach the game “ e lrst | ,
with venomous anticipation. verbal | -v*
“Yeah, the fans are kind of brutal,”
UNC guard Vince Carter said. “It’s just _ _
a basketball game, you know? You’d ' Rnß|^
think it was a wrestling match
But once the ball is tipped, all .
the pre-game talk, friendship
and hype will be put on .
Duke and North I|f uf/ flj&
Carolina will square oft' Jr**
one of the most antic
meetings in the
history of the series.
By the end of the contest, the current H
crop of players will go down in Duke- H |
UNC lore with names like Michael
Johnny Dawkins.
“That’s what makes the rivalry so
special," Blue Devil guard Steve
Wojciechowski said. “The names and
the faces change, but I don’t think
the intensity or competitiveness
ever does 4
Jamison added, “You vQ J 0
feel like a part of histo- m) '
ry A great history 9L'
“Just to be a
part of it is some
really put into
words.” S&tKSw
/* • 'Sj * \
T DTH/ERKPERH.
t Duke point guard Steve Wojciechowski •**'
But once the ball is tipped, all J
the pre-game talk, friendship Jm
and hype will be put on
hold. jBBw
Duke and North si
Carolina will square off
for the 199th time in
one of the most antic
ipated meetings in the
history of the series.
By the end of the contest, the current
crop of players will go down in Duke-
UNC lore with names like Michael
Jordan, Grant Hill, Phil Ford and
Johnny Dawkins.
“That’s what makes the rivalry so
special,” Blue Devil guard Steve
Wojciechowski said. “The names and
the faces change, but I don’t think
the intensity or competitiveness M
ever does.”
Jamison added, “You *
feel like a part of histo
ry. A great history.
“Just to be a
part of it is some
thing you ™
really put into flHw
words.” eSHHSw
THE LOWDOWN ON TONIGHT'S GAME
Instead, the best plan of attack will be to put a
good inside defender on Jamison and then pres
sure the wings and point to cut off an entry
pass.
“You step up your intensity, and you pray,”
McLeod said.
For UNC’s offense to work against Duke,
the Tar Heels need another
brilliant passing game out
of point guard Ed
Cota. He leads the
league with a 3.1
assist-to-turnover
ratio, and he has
adapted his passing
style to fit whichever
player he is trying to
feed.
Duke forward
ROSHOWN
MCLEOD
led Duke with 23
points against Georgia
Tech on Sunday.
“(Cota) passes to the qH
post in a personalized man- B
ner,” Krzyzewski said. “He \
personalizes everything to
Jamison. And that’s to his credit.
It makes him a better player.”
If Duke eliminates Jamison, Cota
still has swingman Vince Carter and
shooting guard Shammond Williams as
viable options. UNC can keep Duke from
jumping to an early lead as long as Cota can
avoid turnovers and get the ball to someone
with an open look.
The Blue Devils, though, allow few glances
at the basket. Their defense smothers opposing
offenses, and they often run away with games
by halftime. Should Duke get out in transition,
the Tar Heels must beat a quick retreat down
court to keep Trajan Langdon from taking an
open 3 or McLeod from getting an easy look
inside.
“We haven’t played against any- jM
body that comes close to the type of
pressure that Duke will put on us,”
UNC coach Bill Guthridge said. ; v r;
Since Guthridge can’t simulate -.uaj
Duke's pressure or depth in prac
tice. he must rely on the Tar Heels’ I
experience to keep them above YH|IH
water The Blue Devils will bring a
vicious attack to the court tonight,
but UNC is fully equipped to fight
back and turn this game into a brilliant
display of college basketball.
“I’m not worried aoout tLouce s pressure;,
Carter said. “That’s their style of play, they’re
good at it, and you can’t take that away from
them. I hope we’re capable of handling it. I
think we are.”
Fans’ feud not shared by players
All this week, North Carolina and
Duke players have had a gor
geous opportunity to tell each
other, through die media, exactly what
they think of each other.
UNC forward
' attack will be to put a
Jamison and then pres- RV ilfllJTU
nt to cut off an entry Wm H|i| IPM |
tensity, and you pray," J RHRR
o work against Duke. HR -gO
lother j K?
mm
amison. Cota T v A
ice Carter and •<-./
lond Williams as
in keep Duke from
and as long as Cota can
:t the ball to someone v.
mgh, allow few glances \ . I 4 I
ense smothers opposing yftl
n run away with games \ ~
ike get out in transition, TP- V sjjK'm
it a quick retreat down- ® S
angdon from taking an •.
i getting an easy look % j ||| RP
1 against any- 1
to the type of J
put on us," MlHr K
ft simulate (' v J
prac- 1
hem above >
iurt J f ‘ *
to fight t
e into a brilliant
etball. d™ ms photo ! 1 ‘ - j
'OuuLnuce s pressure;, UNC swingman Vince Carter ( /
eir style of play, they’re
n’t take that away from \ aM . > -*7
pable of handling it. I
assault.
“It’s one of those relationships where
you get tighter and tighter as friends,”
Jamison said.
Um...
“Once you’re out there on the court,
you have that friendship relationship.
After the season, we’re probably gonna
go over there and play ball, and they’re
probably gonna come over here.”
Jamison’s teammate, Shammond
Williams, was also more than happy to
sling some mud at his arch-nemeses. A
reporter asked him which Duke player is
his favorite. Everyone in the press room
scooted up a few inches in their seats as
Williams furrowed his brow, presumably
thinking of the perfect wise-crack.
“That is hard to say,” he said,
“because those guys are great individu
als as much as people. They all have a
good attitude. It is hard to pick one over
another.”
Hold on a minute isn’t tonight the
199th meeting between UNC and Duke,
marking another chapter in one of the
most passionate rivalries to be found
anywhere?
Shouldn’t the Tar Heels be talking
pre-game smack? Spewing venom at
Mike Krzyzewski (pronounced Krzy-
ZEW-ski) for failing to recruit them as
Bill Guthridge and Dean Smith did?
Boldly predicting that Brendan
Haywood could beat Steve
Wojciechowski (pronounced Krzy-
ZEW-ski) in a game of H-O-R-S-E?
That would be the general percep
tion. Duke students hate UNC students,
and vice-versa. Tar Heel fans, young and
old, hate Blue Devil fans, and vice-versa.
Past players in the series exchanged
elbows, not niceties, back and forth.
Shouldn’t these guys be just as ready to
kill each other as shake hands before
tipoff?
No.
This batch of players is different.
They get along. They compliment each
other. They play basketball and work
out together every summer. Some of
them even have the same barber.
The way these players see it, they
DESIGN BY LESLIE WILKINSON
could have
ended up
playing ball at
the other uni
versity down
the highway,
or some other
part of the
country. Their
loyalty to
either royal or
baby blue did
n’t arise until
the two
schools came
j KURI TONDORI
SENIOR WRITER
calling late in their high school careers.
“I didn’t even know where Duke was
until my sophomore year,” said Duke
guard Trajan Langdon, who came all
the way from Alaska.
Some players still can’t make sense of
it after they take part in it. UNC forward
Vince Carter, who as a high school
senior had Duke on his short list, said
Wednesday, “I don’t really see this bitter
rivalry like everyone says. I think it’s
more of a bitter rivalry with the fans,
because they have their opinions, and
they’re gonna stick by it.”
It’s ironic, then, that those who are
the focus of all this attention, those
whose jump-shots and blocked shots
will represent the sentiments of Duke
and North Carolina fans everywhere,
seem to imply that they have less of a
stake in this rivalry than anybody else.
The generations-old madness and mutu
al hate that has taken root in this area
swirls around them. They just don’t let it
suck them in.
Both teams very badly want to play
this game not to add another chapter
to the rivalry, but because once on the
court, they’ll find peace.
They already have perspective.
“It’s just a basketball game, you
know?” Carter said. “You’d think it was
a wrestling match. (The fans) want us to
win because of who we’re playing, and
Duke wants their players to win because
of who they’re playing.
“It could be us playing with no fans.
It’d be the same thing to me."
Thursday, February 5,1998
1W....
RR Location: Smith Center
Wg Radio: WCHL 1360-AM
Rf Teisvieion: Rayeom, espn2
W Series record: UNC leads 119-79
f Tonight’s starting lineups
Duke (20-1,94 ACC) PPG RPG
G S. Wojciechowski 7.S 2.0
G Trajan Langdon 14.5 3.0
C Taymon Domzalski 3.7 3.4
F Roshown McLeod 12.5 5.2
F Chris Carrawell 9.9 3.4 gj
Blue Devil bench
G William Avery 9.3 1.9
G Mike Chappell 9.9 2.4
F Shane Battier 8.1 6.7
UNC (22-1,8-1) PPG RPG
G Ed Cota 9.1 3.3
G Shammond Williams 15.4 2.9
C Ademola Okulaja 8.6 5.6
F Antawn Jamison 22.3 9.8
F Vince Carter 16.7 6.0
Tar Heel bench
C Makhtar Ndiaye 5.6 3.9
C Brendan Haywood 3.2 2.7
G Max Owens 1.8 0.9
Tidbits
■ UNC owns a 5-0 record in games
3
fix
between No. 1 and
No. 2. The Tar
Heels are 4-0 as
the No. 1 team and
1-0 as the No. 2.
a UNC has been
ranked No. 2 seven
times when facing
Duke, winning five.
■ UNC has won six
straight meetings
with Duke in
Chapel Hill.
UNC coach
BILL GUTHRIDGE
has a 64-25 record
against Duke in his
30 years as an
assistant.
Key Matchups
■ The battle at point Ed Cota leads the
ACC with 7.7 assists per game. Duke's
Steve Wojciechowski leads the Devils
with 47 steals.
■ Hitting the boards: UNC's Antawn
Jamison averages 9.8 rebounds per
game. But Duke rebounds by commit
tee, and the Devils trail UNC by only
0.3 boards per contest.
Analysis
To win, Duke must disrupt UNC with
pressure defense and get loose in tran
sition. But the Tar Heels' fast break
might be the best-kept secret heading
into this game. UNC can augment its
inside scoring by gaining some points
on the fast break. A wired home crowd
doesn't hurt, either.
Prediction
UNC 86, Duke 82
COMPILED BY ALEC MORRISON
Showdown for No. 1
Tonight marks the 14th time the
top two teams have played since
1980.
*3/30/96 No. 1 UMass 74
No. 2 Kentucky 81
2/3/94 No. 1 Duke 78
No. 2 UNC 89
2/10/91 No. 1 UNLV 112
No. 2 Arkansas 105
"3/10/90 No. 1 Oklahoma 95
No. 2 Kansas 77
2/13/90 No. 1 Kansas 71
No. 2 Missouri 77
*3/29/86 No. 1 Duke 71
No. 2 Kansas 67
2/4/86 No. 1 UNC 78
No. 2 Ga. Tech 77
"3/9/85 No. 1 Georgetown 92
No. 2 St. John's 80
2/27/85 No. 1 St. John's 69
No. 2 Georgetown 85
12/15/84 No. 1 Georgetown 77
No. 2 DePaul 57
*4/12/83 No. 1 Houston 94
No. 2 Louisville 81
1/9/82 No. 1 UNC 65
No. 2 Virginia 60
12/26/81 No. 1 UNC 82
No. 2 Kentucky 69
* NCAA Tournament.
” - Conference tournament.
9