Duke’s freshmen shined on Saturday, delivering a strong performance that quickly took the excitement out of the rivalry with North Carolina.
The game, which was expected to be a dramatic renewal of the Duke-North Carolina rivalry, turned into a one-sided affair with second-ranked Duke dominating early. By halftime, it was clear the Blue Devils were in control, and they went on to win 87-70.
This result highlighted Duke’s impressive potential, while also showing the struggles that UNC faces as they try to stay on track for an NCAA Tournament spot.
“I think it just shows when we come locked in and ready, and we stick to our game plan, what we can do,” said Duke’s standout freshman, Cooper Flagg.
Flagg, who is considered a top NBA draft prospect, and fellow freshman Kon Knueppel led the charge for Duke. Knueppel scored a game-high 22 points, while Flagg added 21 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and two blocks. Neither player appeared nervous in their first Duke-UNC game. By the time the game began, it was clear Duke was already in control.
“We whupped us, they kicked us — straight and back, right from the jump,” UNC guard Seth Trimble said bluntly.
Duke (19-2, 11-0 ACC) made an early statement with a 16-0 run in the first seven minutes. Shortly after, they put together an 11-0 run, taking a 40-13 lead. The Blue Devils were up by 32 points midway through the second half.
There was no chance for a memorable moment like Austin Rivers’ buzzer-beater for Duke in 2012 or the more recent drama of coaching changes at both schools. In 2022, UNC stunned Duke in the Final Four, ending Coach K’s career with a victory, and they’ve had some success in recent years, including a win in the first meeting of the 2023 season.
But on Saturday, there was no such drama. Duke’s offensive efficiency and defensive pressure forced UNC to take difficult shots and make mistakes. The Blue Devils played with intensity and focus, outclassing the Tar Heels in every way.
“We just kept talking about: our edge, our focus. And these guys had it,” said Duke head coach Jon Scheyer, reflecting on the team’s preparation and energy.
Duke’s performance was a complete team effort. Flagg displayed his playmaking ability by finding open teammates after drawing double teams. Knueppel was sharp from the outside and also drove to the basket. Tyrese Proctor, who had been struggling in recent games, scored 17 points. Duke’s defense was tight, with 23 deflections, a season-high according to Scheyer.
“It feels awesome to get a big-time win like this and do it at home in front of the fans,” said Knueppel, who is from Milwaukee and had studied up on the rivalry for his first taste of it.
For North Carolina (13-10, 6-5), it was another tough loss. The final seven minutes of the game were mainly about trying to make the score more respectable. In the first half, UNC had more turnovers (nine) than field goals (eight).
UNC, which started the season ranked No. 9 in the AP Top 25, has now lost four of its last five games. Their only win in that stretch came in overtime against Boston College, which entered the weekend with just one ACC victory. With a poor nonconference record, the Tar Heels are running out of opportunities to improve their NCAA resume.
Despite the setback, UNC head coach Hubert Davis remained hopeful.
“Yes we’re discouraged, but we’re going to move forward,” Davis said. “We’re going to get back up, move forward and continue to get better, and try to become the team that I think we all know we can be.”
