Duke-North Carolina play for ACC Championship
DUKE BLUE DEVILS (29-4, #2 seed in ACC)
vs. NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS (26-6, #1 seed in ACC)
ACC Tournament – Championship
Tip-off: Sunday, 1:00 p.m. EDT – Greensboro, NC
Line: Duke -3
No. 5 Duke and No. 6 North Carolina will face each other for the 11th time in the ACC Tournament Championship game on Sunday afternoon in Greensboro, N.C.
Since losing at Duke on Feb. 9, the Tar Heels have won nine straight games, including an 81-67 home victory over the Blue Devils on March 5. In that contest, Harrison Barnes (15.0 PPG, 5.7 RPG) scored 18 points, while Kendall Marshall (6.0 PPG, 5.8 APG) added 15 points and 11 assists. Carolina, which is 14-1 since Marshall became its starter, shot 52.4% from the field (33-of-63) against Duke, while limiting the Blue Devils to 35.5% (22-of-62) and 6-of-27 from long range (22.2%). The Tar Heels survived a couple of close calls in the ACC Tournament to advance to the title game. They defeated Miami 61-59 on Friday, overcoming a 19-point deficit and winning at the buzzer on Tyler Zeller's (14.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG) layup. On Saturday, North Carolina beat Clemson, 92-87, in overtime behind Barnes' ACC freshman tournament record 40 points on 12-of-17 shooting and eight rebounds. The Tar Heels fell behind by 14 points in the first half and by seven with four minutes to go in regulation before rallying to force OT. North Carolina ranks 20th in the nation in scoring (77.3 PPG), 25th in assists (15.6 APG) and first in rebounds (42.5 RPG).
Since winning seven straight games, Duke is just 3-2 in its past five contests. But the Blue Devils have coasted to the conference championship game by defeating Maryland, 87-71, and Virginia Tech, 77-63. Kyle Singler (17.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG) broke out of a shooting slump and scored 29 points on 10-of-15 shooting against the Terrapins and had 13 points and 11 rebounds against the Hokies. Nolan Smith (21.3 PPG, 5.1 APG, 4.6 RPG), who suffered a toe injury versus Maryland, scored 27 points against Virginia Tech. Smith had a career-high 34 points in the 79-73 victory over UNC in Durham on Feb. 9, while Seth Curry (9.4 PPG, 43.6% three-pointers) finished with a season-high 22. But Singler was just 6-of-31 in the two games versus North Carolina for a combined 18 points. In their February win over the Tar Heels, the Blue Devils outscored UNC 50-30 in the second half to erase a 14-point halftime deficit. Duke ranks 10th in the nation in scoring (81.2 PPG), 26th in rebounding (38.3 RPG) and 32nd in field-goal percentage (46.8%).
The Tar Heels will be looking for their 18th ACC Tournament title, while Duke is aiming for its ACC-record 19th conference championship. Carolina has won six of the 10 head-to-head matchups versus the Blue Devils in the championship game, but Duke has won the past two contests, including a 79-53 victory in 2001. The Blue Devils have also won seven straight and 12 of the past 13 tournament games at Greensboro Coliseum. This season, UNC is 15-13 ATS overall and 10-7 ATS in conference play, while Duke is 18-14 ATS and 9-9 ATS against ACC teams. The Blue Devils are 18-13 ATS as a favorite, while the Tar Heels are 3-1 ATS as an underdog. Duke has more experience in these title games and has played much better in this year’s ACC Tournament. This should be another classic in the storied rivalry, but in the end, Duke will execute better down the stretch and take home the ACC title. This FoxSheets trend also supports picking the Blue Devils to win and cover.
Play On - A favorite (DUKE) - revenging a loss vs. opponent, playing their 2nd road game in 3 days. (100-49 over the last 5 seasons.) (67.1%, +46.1 units. Rating = 3*).
DUKE BLUE DEVILS (29-4, #2 seed in ACC)
vs. NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS (26-6, #1 seed in ACC)
ACC Tournament – Championship
Tip-off: Sunday, 1:00 p.m. EDT – Greensboro, NC
Line: Duke -3
No. 5 Duke and No. 6 North Carolina will face each other for the 11th time in the ACC Tournament Championship game on Sunday afternoon in Greensboro, N.C.
Since losing at Duke on Feb. 9, the Tar Heels have won nine straight games, including an 81-67 home victory over the Blue Devils on March 5. In that contest, Harrison Barnes (15.0 PPG, 5.7 RPG) scored 18 points, while Kendall Marshall (6.0 PPG, 5.8 APG) added 15 points and 11 assists. Carolina, which is 14-1 since Marshall became its starter, shot 52.4% from the field (33-of-63) against Duke, while limiting the Blue Devils to 35.5% (22-of-62) and 6-of-27 from long range (22.2%). The Tar Heels survived a couple of close calls in the ACC Tournament to advance to the title game. They defeated Miami 61-59 on Friday, overcoming a 19-point deficit and winning at the buzzer on Tyler Zeller's (14.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG) layup. On Saturday, North Carolina beat Clemson, 92-87, in overtime behind Barnes' ACC freshman tournament record 40 points on 12-of-17 shooting and eight rebounds. The Tar Heels fell behind by 14 points in the first half and by seven with four minutes to go in regulation before rallying to force OT. North Carolina ranks 20th in the nation in scoring (77.3 PPG), 25th in assists (15.6 APG) and first in rebounds (42.5 RPG).
Since winning seven straight games, Duke is just 3-2 in its past five contests. But the Blue Devils have coasted to the conference championship game by defeating Maryland, 87-71, and Virginia Tech, 77-63. Kyle Singler (17.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG) broke out of a shooting slump and scored 29 points on 10-of-15 shooting against the Terrapins and had 13 points and 11 rebounds against the Hokies. Nolan Smith (21.3 PPG, 5.1 APG, 4.6 RPG), who suffered a toe injury versus Maryland, scored 27 points against Virginia Tech. Smith had a career-high 34 points in the 79-73 victory over UNC in Durham on Feb. 9, while Seth Curry (9.4 PPG, 43.6% three-pointers) finished with a season-high 22. But Singler was just 6-of-31 in the two games versus North Carolina for a combined 18 points. In their February win over the Tar Heels, the Blue Devils outscored UNC 50-30 in the second half to erase a 14-point halftime deficit. Duke ranks 10th in the nation in scoring (81.2 PPG), 26th in rebounding (38.3 RPG) and 32nd in field-goal percentage (46.8%).
The Tar Heels will be looking for their 18th ACC Tournament title, while Duke is aiming for its ACC-record 19th conference championship. Carolina has won six of the 10 head-to-head matchups versus the Blue Devils in the championship game, but Duke has won the past two contests, including a 79-53 victory in 2001. The Blue Devils have also won seven straight and 12 of the past 13 tournament games at Greensboro Coliseum. This season, UNC is 15-13 ATS overall and 10-7 ATS in conference play, while Duke is 18-14 ATS and 9-9 ATS against ACC teams. The Blue Devils are 18-13 ATS as a favorite, while the Tar Heels are 3-1 ATS as an underdog. Duke has more experience in these title games and has played much better in this year’s ACC Tournament. This should be another classic in the storied rivalry, but in the end, Duke will execute better down the stretch and take home the ACC title. This FoxSheets trend also supports picking the Blue Devils to win and cover.
Play On - A favorite (DUKE) - revenging a loss vs. opponent, playing their 2nd road game in 3 days. (100-49 over the last 5 seasons.) (67.1%, +46.1 units. Rating = 3*).
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