By R.L. Bynum
DURHAM — Jon Scheyer knows that it doesn’t matter that Duke is ranked No. 4 and is rolling on a 10-game win streak.
The third-year Duke coach has been around the rivalry for enough years to know that the Blue Devils’ 21–1 record will be irrelevant when his team arrives at the Smith Center for Saturday night’s 6:30 game (ESPN) against No. 14 North Carolina (18–4, 5–3 ACC).
“You understand in this game, rankings go out the window,” Scheyer said at a Thursday press conference at Cameron Indoor Stadium. “Records go out the window. Whether you’re playing home or away doesn’t matter.”
That reality is part of why sustained success in the series is so rare, although Duke won all three matchups last season. Scheyer views every meeting as its own isolated battle, one that demands complete focus from his group.
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“You really learn to appreciate each game, and it’s isolated,” said Scheyer, whose team leads the ACC at 10–0. “Each game is precious, and it’s difficult to win.”
For Duke’s freshmen, Saturday will bring their first true taste of the rivalry’s intensity. Scheyer wants them to embrace the spotlight while still understanding what it requires.
“You can play more games going forward where people care and there’s spotlight and there’s noise and there’s attention,” he said, calling it “an amazing opportunity.” But he added that “there’s a sacrifice that needs to be made in attention to detail with the preparation.”
That preparation has been shaped by Duke’s growth over the past month. Scheyer said January revealed his team’s ability to respond and adapt, even when things didn’t look exactly as expected.
“Our guys handle the adversity really well,” he said, noting how the group has accepted tough coaching even after wins. Stylistically, Duke has also found efficiency in a different way than originally envisioned.
“We’re not playing crazy fast right now,” Scheyer admitted, “but we played our most efficient basketball the slower we played, ironically.”
Now, as the season moves deeper into February, Scheyer believes the focus shifts from discovery to elevation.
“If January is the time for learning,” he said, “February is a time for elevating.”
That elevation will be tested immediately by the challenges North Carolina (18–4, 5–3) brings, starting with Caleb Wilson. Scheyer has followed Wilson for years and sees him as one of the most impactful talents in the matchup.
“He’s really progressed,” Scheyer said. “He’s an explosive athlete. He’s dynamic. He can do a lot of different things on offense and defense.”
What stands out most to Scheyer is Wilson’s ability to influence winning beyond just scoring.
“The ability to impact winning in a bunch of different ways has been really impressive watching him on film,” Scheyer said.
But Carolina’s threat extends well beyond one player. Scheyer pointed to the Tar Heels’ size and length, especially the way they attack in the paint.
“They put a lot of pressure on the paint,” he said, citing their post play, transition, offensive rebounding and trips to the free-throw line. “And then they’re also capable from [3-point range]. They’re a better shooting team, no question, than last year.”
Scheyer also noted the overall length UNC brings inside, something that makes this version of the rivalry battle particularly demanding.
“Their length and their size inside is a big strength that’s different,” he said.
Even with Duke playing some of its best basketball, Scheyer emphasized his team is still evolving, still chasing the details that decide games in March.
“It’s less about one specific skill,” he said. “I think it’s more about understanding how you win in March, how you win in the margins.”
Saturday night in Chapel Hill will offer another reminder that in this rivalry, nothing is ever guaranteed. It’s only earned, possession by possession, under the brightest regular-season spotlight college basketball has to offer, regardless of rank.
Photo via goduke.com
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