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One-on-One SI's Davis: Duke-UNC unlike any other collegiate rivalryPosted: Thursday February 01, 2001 1:34 AMUpdated: Thursday February 01, 2001 2:09 PM
Both Duke and North Carolina are ranked in the top five and both are undefeated in ACC play. That will change after Thursday night's tilt at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Sports Illustrated college basketball writer Seth Davis joined Sports Tonight's Kara Henderson Wednesday to talk about the Duke-UNC rivalry. Kara Henderson: How do you describe what makes the Duke-North Carolina rivalry what it is? Seth Davis: Well, Kara, the first thing that jumps out at you is the close geographic proximity. It really is amazing when you realize these two schools are eight miles apart. That's something you just don't see with Ohio State-Michigan, for example, or Florida-Florida State. I think there has always been this cultural rivalry going on. North Carolina is a big, state school. Most of the students are from the state of North Carolina. Duke is a small, private university. You have a lot of Yankees, like myself, going to school there. So you are always feeling like you are re-fighting the Civil War. Of course the stakes are going to be much higher tomorrow night. And, of course, the fact is that both teams are really, really good. Thirteen of the last 15 Final Fours have had at least one of these two teams in it. I just think it is a really good night for college basketball and college sports in general. Henderson: How does the fact that there are always a ton of students camping out for tickets effect the players and how they get ready for the game? Davis: It is interesting. I talked to Chris Collins, an assistant at Duke and a former player there, and he said they have really tried to keep the practices short this week. When the players walk into the gym, they can see all the tents outside and there is a lot of excitement about the game. Often times, this can make players very tight, and Chris told me they were worried that the players might feel like they have played the game before it actually began. I think that Mike Krzyzewski and Matt Doherty are going to have to really guard against players getting overly excited and overly tight before the game beings, because a game like that, you really have to be loose, patient and poised. Henderson: Matt Doherty has played in this game, what did he say is the biggest difference of being on the other side now as a coach? Davis: Matt pointed out that when he played in this game, he got to go in there with Michael Jordan, James Worthy and Sam Perkins , so it might be a little different without those guys this time around. But having been through it, I think it will really help prepare his players to go into Cameron Indoor, especially his younger players, his point guard Ronald Curry, who doesn't have has much experience as his counterpart, Jason Williams . But there is only so much you can do to prepare your players for Duke-Carolina. At some point they are going to have to figure it out on their own. Henderson: What weaknesses do you think Carolina has seen in Duke that they can prey on? Davis: First of all, they understand the importance of stopping Williams. Arguably, Williams has been the best player in college basketball this season. That's going to be a major point of attack -- for Curry to defend against Williams, and defending him without fouling him. When Carolina goes to its bench at the point-guard position, the Tar Heels are not only not as talented, they are very young. So what I think you will see is a contrast in styles and I think Duke is going to try to force the tempo and take advantage of the 3-point shooting, which has been its strength all season. I think Carolina, with Curry, is going to try to slow it down and punch it inside to Brendon Haywood and Kris Lang , because Carolina's big men are its strength.
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