University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina Hosts Duke Wednesday
February 17, 2016 | Men's Basketball
THE MATCHUP
♦ North Carolina (21-4, 10-2 ACC) will try to win its third game in a row and stay atop the Atlantic Coast Conference standings when it hosts Duke (19-6, 8-4) on Wednesday night in Chapel Hill.
♦ The Tar Heels and Blue Devils will tip off at 9:10 p.m. in the Smith Center.
♦ Dan Shulman (play-by-play), Jay Bilas (analyst) and Shannon Spake (reporter) will call the game for an ESPN national TV audience.
♦ Tim Brando (play-by-play) and Mike Gminski (analyst) will call the contest for the ACC Network. See GoHeels.com or TheACC.com for a list of stations in the ACC footprint carrying the game.
♦ Compass Media Networks will carry the game nationally on radio with Chris Carrino and Rick Mahorn on the mic.
TAR HEEL STORYLINES
♦ Carolina enters the game atop the ACC standings at 10-2. Miami is a game back at 9-3, and Virginia and Notre Dame are tied for third at 9-4.
♦ Wednesday is the second game of a three-game homestand for the Tar Heels, who beat Pitt on Sunday and will host No. 11 Miami on Saturday afternoon.
♦ UNC is ranked No. 5 in the Associated Press poll and No. 4 in the coaches' poll this week. Duke is No. 20 and No. 19, respectively, in the same polls.
UP NEXT
♦ Carolina will complete its three-game homestand by hosting Miami on Saturday afternoon.
♦ The Tar Heels will play back-to-back road games at N.C. State and Virginia next week.
♦ UNC has six regular season games remaining on its 2015-16 schedule, three at home and three on the road.
A TAR HEEL WIN WOULD ...
♦ Improve UNC to 22-4, 11-2 ACC in 2015-16.
♦ Make UNC 14-0 in the Smith Center in 2015-16 and 377-67 there in 31 seasons overall.
♦ Snap the Tar Heels' three-game losing streak to Duke.
♦ Improve Carolina to 62-35 at home against Duke, including 17-14 in the Smith Center.
♦ Improve Roy Williams' career record as a head coach to 772-206 overall.
♦ Make Williams 354-105 at Carolina and tie him with Bobby Cremins for fourth-most wins in ACC history.
A TAR HEEL LOSS WOULD ...
♦ Drop Carolina to 21-5, 10-3 ACC.
♦ Make UNC 13-1 in the Smith Center this season and 376-68 in the arena overall.
♦ Give Carolina three losses in its last five games.
♦ Be Duke's fourth consecutive win over the Tar Heels.
♦ Drop Roy Williams' career record to 771-207 overall.
♦ Make Williams 353-106 at Carolina.
TAR HEELS LEAD LIST OF BEST NBA PLAYERS
♦ ESPN ranked the top 100 players in NBA history and North Carolina and UCLA shared the top spot with six players apiece, including UNC's Michael Jordan, the No. 1 player, and the Bruins' Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was No. 2.
♦ The other five Tar Heels who joined Jordan on the list included: James Worthy (43), Bob McAdoo (52), Vince Carter (69), Billy Cunningham (88) and Bobby Jones (96).
♦ Carolina's six players equal the number of other ACC players who made the list, including Duke's Grant Hill, Georgia Tech's Chris Bosh and Mark Price, N.C. State's David Thompson and Wake Forest's Tim Duncan and Chris Paul.
♦ The top five schools represented on the list of top 100 NBA players included: North Carolina (6), UCLA (6), Georgetown (4), Houston (3) and LSU (3).
TAR HEEL TIDBITS
TEAM NOTES
♦ Assist-Turnover Ratio: Carolina's assist-to-turnover ratio (1.69) ranks third in the nation and is the best of any Tar Heel team since turnovers were first recorded in 1981-82. The second-best figure is 1.53 in 1985-86. Other top-five seasons include 1.45 (2008-09), 1.45 (2011-12) and 1.42 (1997-98).
♦ UNC has four of the top 10 players in the ACC in assist/turnover ratio in Marcus Paige (second at 3.50), Justin Jackson (sixth at 2.79), Joel Berry II (eighth at 2.42) and Theo Pinson (10th at 2.17). No other school with more than one player in the top 10.
♦ Sharing the Ball: The Tar Heels had 26 assists on 32 field goals vs. Pitt, an ACC season high for assists by UNC.
♦ Cutting Down on Turnovers: UNC is averaging 10.96 turnovers per game, the lowest figure of any Carolina team since turnovers were first recorded in 1981-82. Last year, the Tar Heels averaged nearly 13 turnovers per contest.
♦ There have been seven seasons in which UNC has committed fewer than 13 turnovers per game. The current record was set in 2013-14 (11.94 per game). The other seasons below 13 are 2011-12 (11.95), 2012-13 (12.3), 2008-09 (12.4), 1994-95 (12.9) and 1981-82 (12.9).
♦ Shooting 50 Percent: UNC is 15-1 this year when shooting at least 50 percent from the floor.
♦ The Tar Heels shot a season-best 59.3 percent in Sunday's win over Pitt.
♦ Carolina shot 55.6 percent in the first half and 63.0 percent in the second half vs. Pitt. That was the seventh time this season and the third time in ACC play UNC shot 50 percent or better from the floor in both halves.
♦ The Tar Heels have shot 50 percent or better in the second half of 25 of their last 35 games (including 16 of 25 games in 2015-16).
♦ Pitt shot .353 in the first half and .394 in the second. That was the first time in ACC play and the second time this season UNC held an opponent below 40 percent in both halves.
♦ Carolina is 170-16 under Roy Williams when its opponents shoot under 40 percent.
♦ Carolina had 16 fast break points vs. Pitt, five more than it had combined at Louisville (six), at Notre Dame (three) and at Boston College (two).
♦ UNC's three-point percentage of 31.6 would be the lowest in school history if the season were to end today. The current low is 32.8 percent, set in 2010-11.
♦ Carolina has had seven different players lead the team in scoring in games this season.
♦ 80 or More: Carolina has scored 80 or more points in 18 of 25 games and is averaging 83.8 ppg this season.
♦ The Tar Heels are 230-28 in 13 seasons under Roy Williams when they score at least 80 points (17-1 this season).
♦ 90 or More: The Tar Heels have scored 90 or more points seven times his season after doing so five times all of last year.
♦ 100 or More: UNC is 49-1 under Williams when it scores 100 points or more.
♦ 25-Point Games: No Tar Heel player scored 25 points in a game last season, but the team has had seven 25-point performances already this year by four different players: Justin Jackson (25 vs. Northern Iowa), Kennedy Meeks (25 vs. Temple), Marcus Paige (30 at Florida State) and Brice Johnson four times (25 vs. Tulane, 27 vs. UCLA, 39 at Florida State and 27 vs. Wake Forest).
♦ Carolina is 2-1 vs. ranked opponents this season (wins over Maryland and UCLA and a loss to Louisville). The Tar Heels are 65-52 against ranked foes under Roy Williams.
♦ The Tar Heels are 3-1 this season when trailing at halftime.
♦ In the NCAA stats: The Tar Heels are 10th in the nation in scoring at 83.8 points per game, 13th in scoring margin at 13.7, third with an assist-turnover ratio of 1.69, fifth with 18.5 assists per game, 24th in rebounding margin (7.4) and 20th in field goal percentage (48.3).
♦ KenPom Ratings: Carolina is ranked No. 7 in the nation in the KenPom.com statistical rankings. UNC is fifth in the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency (118.8) and 40th in adjusted defensive efficiency (95.8).
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
♦ Roy Williams has 353 wins at Carolina, one behind Bobby Cremins for fourth place in ACC history.
♦ Williams is 771-206 as a head coach, including 353-105 at Carolina, 151-59 in ACC regular-season games, 383-43 at home and 181-26 in the Smith Center.
♦ Brice Johnson is among 20 late-season candidates for the Wooden Award, given to the national player of the year.
♦ Johnson has led UNC in scoring 10 times and in rebounding 16 times this season. Both figures lead the team.
♦ Johnson is 11th in the ACC in scoring (16.4 ppg), fourth in rebounding (10.0 rpg) and first in field goal percentage (61.4). He also leads the conference in defensive rebounding (7.72 per game).
♦ Johnson had 10 double-doubles in 108 games in his first three seasons and has 14 in 25 games as a senior.
♦ Johnson has 870 career rebounds, 12th in UNC history. John Henson is 11th with 885.
♦ Johnson has 1,448 career points, 31st in school history. Dennis Wuycik is 30th with 1,469 and Donald Williams is 29th with 1,492.
♦ Johnson is averaging a team-high 16.4 points and 10.0 rebounds per game this season. His previous career highs were 12.9 ppg and 7.8 rpg last season.
♦ Joel Berry II has the third-highest scoring increase in the ACC this season (+8.0 ppg) behind Duke's Grayson Allen and N.C. State's Cat Barber.
♦ Berry has stepped into a starting role this season and improved across the board statistically, including scoring (4.2 to 12.2 ppg), field goal percentage (40.4 to 42.1), three-point percentage (35.4 to 36.4) and assists (1.5 to 4.2 per game).
♦ Berry has scored in double figures in 15 of the last 16 games and 21 of 25 contests this season. As a freshman he scored in double figures one time.
♦ Berry leads UNC with 41 steals and is fourth in the ACC at 1.64 per game.
♦ Isaiah Hicks became the seventh different player to lead Carolina in scoring this season when he scored 21 points at Syracuse. He scored 10 points off the bench in the win over Pitt.
♦ Hicks has 263 career rebounds – 120 on the offensive glass and 143 on the defensive (46 percent offensive rebounds, the highest percentage among active Tar Heels).
♦ Marcus Paige has scored 1,663 points, 19th in Carolina history. Wayne Ellington is 18th with 1,694
♦ Paige has hit 11 three-pointers in his last three games.
♦ Paige is second in the ACC in assist/turnover ratio at 3.50 (70 assists vs. 20 turnovers).
♦ Paige is the ACC's top active career scorer with 1,663 points and Brice Johnson is fourth with 1,448.
♦ Paige has 544 assists, 10th in school history. Jeff Lebo is ninth with 580.
♦ Paige is the only Tar Heel and one of four players in ACC history with at least 1,500 points, 500 assists, 350 rebounds, 250 three-pointers and 175 steals. The other ACC players to reach those threshholds are Travis Best of Georgia Tech, Malcolm Delaney of Virginia Tech and Jason Williams of Duke.
♦ Paige is one of four Tar Heels with 1,500 career points and 500 career assists (joining Phil Ford, Jeff Lebo and Kenny Smith).
♦ Paige made three three-pointers vs. Pitt to extend his career school record to 265.
♦ Justin Jackson is shooting 22 for 37 (.595) in the last four games.
♦ Jackson has made multiple three-pointers in consecutive games for the first time this season entering the Duke game (2 for 3 vs. both PItt and BC).
♦ Jackson is sixth in the ACC with an assist/turnover ratio of 2.79 (78 to 28).
♦ Theo Pinson has 22 assists in the last five games. He tied for the team lead with six vs. Pitt (the seventh time this season he's led or shared the team lead in assists).
PREVIEWING THE BLUE DEVILS
♦ Duke enters Wednesday's game with a 19-6 overall record, 8-4 in the ACC.
♦ The Blue Devils have won four games in a row after losing three of four in a two-week stretch in mid-January. Last week, Duke beat No. 13 Louisville and No. 7 Virginia in Durham.
♦ Duke shoots 39.2 percent as a team from three-point range (second in the ACC), led by Grayson Allen (42.5 percent), Matt Jones (41.3) and Brandon Ingram (40.9).
♦ In the KenPom.com adjusted efficiency ratings, Duke ranks No. 11 overall, including No. 2 offensively (121.9) and No. 109 defensively (100.3).
♦ Wednesday's game will be a matchup of two of the best offensive teams in the nation, as Duke's offense is No. 2 in adjusted efficiency in the KenPom ratings (121.9) and Carolina's is No. 5 (118.8).
♦ Carolina (83.8 ppg) and Duke (83.4) are the top two scoring teams in the ACC this season.
SERIES HISTORY
♦ Carolina leads the all-time series with Duke, 133-107.
♦ The Blue Devils have won 10 of the last 13 meetings in the series (since the start of the 2009-10 season). UNC had won six of seven from 2006-09.
♦ UNC is 61-35 against Duke in Chapel Hill and 16-14 in the Smith Center.
♦ Head coach Roy Williams is 10-15 at Carolina against Duke, including 5-7 in the Smith Center.
♦ The Tar Heels have played more games against Duke than against any other opponent.
♦ Duke beat Carolina twice last year, including 92-90 in overtime in Durham and 84-77 in Chapel Hill.
♦ Two years ago, the teams split a pair of meetings with each team winning on its home court.
♦ Duke has shot 50 percent from the floor against UNC just four times in 25 games against Carolina in the Roy Williams era (the 2011 ACC final, in 2013 in Chapel Hill, in 2014 in Durham and in 2015 in Durham).
♦ Carolina is 40-42 against Duke since Mike Krzyzewski became the Blue Devil head coach.
♦ Carolina and Duke have accounted for 36 of the ACC's 62 Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament championships, including 19 by Duke and 17 by UNC.
♦ Carolina and Duke are No. 1 and 2 all-time in the ACC in wins, ACC regular-season wins, ACC Tournament wins and NCAA Tournament wins.
♦ Carolina has won the ACC regular-season title 29 times. The Blue Devils are second with 19 regular-season crowns.
♦ Either Carolina or Duke have played in the NCAA Final Four 23 times in the last 35 seasons (Carolina in 1981, 1982, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2008 and 2009). Both teams reached the 1991 Final Four.
♦ The Tar Heels and Blue Devils have won nine national championships in the last 34 seasons, four by Carolina and five by Duke.
♦ Carolina has played in an NCAA-record 18 Final Fours. Duke has played in 16 Final Fours.
♦The Sporting News called Carolina-Duke “the greatest rivalry in American sport” on Feb. 9, 2009.
ROY WILLIAMS VS. DUKE
♦ Carolina is 10-15 against Duke since Roy Williams became the Tar Heel head coach prior to the 2003-04 season.
♦ Williams went 1-3 vs. Duke while the head coach at Kansas. Williams' Jayhawks defeated the Blue Devils, 69-65, on March 27, 2003, in Anaheim, Calif., in the NCAA Tournament West Regional semifinals. Nick Collison had 33 points and 19 rebounds in the game.
♦ Prior to that win over Duke, Williams-led Kansas teams lost to Duke in the 1988-89 regular season (Williams' first year as a collegiate head coach), in the 1991 NCAA championship game in Indianapolis and in the 2000 NCAA Tournament in Winston-Salem, N.C.
♦ The Tar Heels were 16-11 against Duke during Williams' stint as a Carolina assistant coach from 1978-88.
CAROLINA VS. DUKE IN THE AP RANKINGS
♦ Wednesday's game is the 156th consecutive meeting in the series when at least one of the two schools was ranked in a national poll. The streak dates to Feb. 25, 1955.
♦ This is the 141st consecutive meeting in which at least one school has been ranked in the Associated Press Top 20 or AP Top 25. Of those games, 126 contests have featured a team in the AP Top 10.
♦ Two years ago on Feb. 20, 2014, in Chapel Hill, the unranked Tar Heels beat No. 5 Duke, marking the first time an unranked Carolina team had beaten a ranked Duke team in 11 seasons (since March 9, 2003, in Chapel Hill).
♦ The UNC win in 2014 was the first time that unranked Carolina beat a top-five ranked Duke team since March 4, 1990. That was an 87-75 UNC win in Durham over No. 5 Duke.
♦ The last time Carolina and Duke met when neither team was ranked by the AP was on Feb. 27, 1960. Frank McGuire and Vic Bubas coached the Tar Heels and Blue Devils, respectively, at the time.
♦ Carolina has been ranked in the AP poll in 114 of the last 141 meetings. Duke has been ranked in 97 of those 141 matchups.
♦ This is the 161st meeting between the two schools since the ACC began play in 1953-54 and the 158th time in that span at least one of those teams was ranked in the AP Top 20 or AP Top 25 (the only games in which both teams were not ranked were in 1955 and 1960).
♦ The longest stretch between being ranked for the Tar Heels was 12 games (the first 12 games Dean Smith was head coach). Duke's longest stretch of not being ranked in the series was 24 games from 1970-78.
