Duke Blue Devils vs North Carolina Tar Heels Picks and Predictions February 1st 2025

No. 2 Duke, Cooper Flagg Set for Showdown Against North Carolina

The biggest rivalry in college basketball takes center stage Saturday night as No. 2 Duke hosts North Carolina in a highly anticipated ACC clash. While the Blue Devils are riding a 14-game winning streak, the Tar Heels are searching for a marquee victory to boost their NCAA Tournament hopes.

Duke’s Dominance and Flagg’s Impact

Duke (18-2, 10-0 ACC) has been the most consistent team in the conference, winning 14 straight games—the longest active streak in the country. The Blue Devils are making a strong case as the best team in the nation, already owning a win over top-ranked Auburn earlier in the season.

Freshman sensation Cooper Flagg has been at the center of Duke’s success. The projected No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft has been dominant, averaging 19.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. Over his last five outings, he has elevated his play even further, averaging 27.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 5.2 assists.

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Despite his stellar numbers, Flagg admitted he needed to be more aggressive after Duke’s 74-64 win over North Carolina State on Monday.

“I felt like that led to most of our first-half troubles, just me being soft,” Flagg said. “It’s hard to initiate the offense if I’m not being strong with the ball. It’s not really a choice anymore. I have to be aggressive. What Coach has told me is that that’s going to create for everyone else.”

Flagg responded in a big way, scoring 23 of his 28 points in the second half while getting to the free-throw line 11 times.

Duke’s defense has also been elite, ranking fifth in the nation in scoring defense (59.6 points per game) and field-goal percentage defense (37.2%). According to KenPom.com, the Blue Devils also lead the nation in 2-point percentage allowed (41.0%), which could pose a major problem for North Carolina’s inside-heavy attack.

North Carolina Looking for a Signature Win

North Carolina (13-9, 6-4 ACC) is in an unfamiliar position—needing a quality win to solidify its NCAA Tournament resume. The Tar Heels have just one Quadrant 1 victory, making this matchup a golden opportunity.

Head coach Hubert Davis is staying level-headed ahead of the rivalry showdown.

“We’ll prepare, we’ll practice, and we’ll play with the same type of competitive enthusiasm that we played with (Tuesday against Pitt),” Davis said. “I think every game is the Super Bowl. Whether it’s a preseason game or just any time you get a chance to step out there on the floor, you should be ready to go.”

The Tar Heels are coming off a 73-65 loss at Pitt, where they struggled with turnovers (14) and were outscored 16-6 at the free-throw line despite winning the rebounding battle.

North Carolina’s offense relies heavily on scoring inside the arc, which could be problematic against Duke’s interior defense. The Tar Heels have four double-digit scorers in RJ Davis (17.6 ppg), Ian Jackson (14.7), Seth Trimble (12.3), and Elliot Cadeau (10.7), but only Jackson shoots over 30% from three-point range.

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Recent History and What to Expect

This will be the first meeting of the season between Duke and North Carolina, with the Tar Heels having swept last year’s series—winning 93-84 at home and 84-79 in Durham. The year before that, Duke won both matchups.

Since Jon Scheyer and Hubert Davis took over for legendary coaches Mike Krzyzewski and Roy Williams, the rivalry has remained balanced, with each coach going 2-2 in head-to-head matchups.

North Carolina still holds the all-time series lead at 145-117, but the challenge of beating Duke on its home floor will be steep.

Will Duke continue its dominance and extend its winning streak? Or can North Carolina shake things up and secure a statement victory? The answer awaits in Durham on one of the biggest stages in college basketball.