UNC-Duke rivalry returns with pressure high on the Heels

In their first meeting of the season in Durham, Duke dominated North Carolina, winning by 17 points in a game that never once felt close.

Why it matters: The Feb. 1 win demonstrated everything that is going right for the Blue Devils this season, with imposing athletes in nearly every position, a generational player leading the way in Cooper Flagg and dominance on offense and defense.

• The Blue Devils have remained dominant since, losing just once at Clemson and winning all of its other games by double figures.

For the Tar Heels, the game demonstrated its weaknesses — and the reasons it might miss the NCAA tournament for the second time under coach Hubert Davis — with an offense that felt dysfunctional and a roster that appeared unable to match the athleticism of Duke's.

The intrigue: When the two meet again tomorrow night, the Heels will enter the game on a 6-game winning streak that has seen its offense and defense improve significantly, after Davis tweaked the starting lineup to include Jae'Lyn Withers.

• A win against Duke in Chapel Hill would likely punch UNC's ticket to March Madness.

• A loss ensures it will need a strong showing in the ACC Tournament next week and raise intense speculation about its status on the tournament bubble.

State of play: The betting markets have the Tar Heels with a roughly 49% chance of making the NCAA Tournament, according to Bet Carolina, while the Blue Devils are vying the for the No. 1 overall seed.

What's next: The game starts at 6:30pm tomorrow night at the Dean Smith Center and will stream on ESPN and Fubo.

• The ACC tournament runs March 11-15 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte.