By R.L. Bynum
CHAPEL HILL — Hubert Davis has spent the week trying to keep North Carolina’s preparation like any other game ahead of Saturday’s showdown with No. 4 Duke, even when everyone around the program knows “the circus” is coming.
Davis, who has lived the rivalry from nearly every angle imaginable, acknowledged the unique spotlight that comes with the matchup and the challenges it creates.
“The main thing that I’ve tried to communicate to the guys is our preparation, our process, the way that we practice and the way that we play is no different,” Davis said during a Thursday press conference at the Smith Center ahead of Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. matchup (ESPN). “The only difference is, you know, the circus is coming to town.”
Adding to that circus is the annual arrival of ESPN’s “College GameDay,’ which Davis was part of before becoming an assistant coach under Roy Williams.
“Being a part of the circus for seven years prepared me for here,” Davis said. “Being in front of the camera and having to do a ton of public speaking. Maybe it put me in a position to feel comfortable [in front of the media].”
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For the No. 14 Tar Heels, winners of four straight games, the challenge is balancing that atmosphere with the urgency of the season’s stretch run. Davis said much of his message has centered less on the rivalry’s rich history and more on where UNC (18–4, 5–3 ACC) stands now.
“With nine games remaining in the ACC regular season, and how fast this has gone, it is required of us to compete and to play at our highest level right now,” Davis said.
Still, the weight of Carolina-Duke is never far away, especially for the Tar Heels’ only veteran, guard Seth Trimble, who will play in his final home rivalry game at the Smith Center.
“My emotions this year have been high,” Trimble said. “I’m really just cherishing this matchup, this opportunity.”
Trimble has taken on the responsibility of helping a roster full of new faces understand what’s ahead.
“You don’t really understand the stakes of it and what this really means, until you’re out on that court Saturday and you see it’s like no other home game all year,” he said.
Freshman forward Caleb Wilson, meanwhile, is about to experience the rivalry firsthand after watching it as a recruit. He still remembers the scene from two years ago when he visited Chapel Hill for the Tar Heels’ 93–84 win over Duke.
“Everybody was really excited, pouring water on Coach Davis,” Wilson said. “Just seeing that atmosphere? It was just exhilarating.”
Wilson insists his approach won’t change once the ball goes up, even with the frenzy surrounding the matchup.
“Honestly, I approach the game like I approach every other one,” he said, adding that he’s not going to be thinking about the crowd. “No matter the atmosphere, no matter the antics before or after the game, it’s just a basketball game.”
The opponent, of course, is as formidable as ever. Duke (21–1, 10–0), winners of 10 consecutive games, is led by freshman Cameron Boozer, Wilson’s former AAU teammate, and Davis made clear the Blue Devils are more than a one-man problem.
“There’s a reason why they’re 21 and 1,” Davis said. “It’s not a matchup between one person. It’s a matchup against Duke, and we’re very excited about the challenge.”
For Trimble, the key is staying locked into what UNC has built over the season while tuning out the noise.
“You have to approach it like another game,” Trimble said. “But then you also have to … block out the circus, what Coach Davis calls it.”
That circus arrives Saturday in Chapel Hill, but UNC’s focus remains on turning the rivalry’s emotion into execution to end a three-game skid against Duke. And to get another statement win in a season that’s beginning to build momentum.
| Team | League | Overall | NET* | WAB* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 Duke | 17–1 | 29–2 | 1 | 2 |
| No. 10 Virginia | 15–3 | 27–4 | 13 | 11 |
| Miami | 13–5 | 24–7 | 32 | 28 |
| No. 19 North Carolina | 12–6 | 24–7 | 23 | 19 |
| Clemson | 12–6 | 22–9 | 36 | 33 |
| No. 24 Louisville | 11–7 | 22–9 | 14 | 25 |
| N.C. State | 10–8 | 19–12 | 35 | 45 |
| Florida State | 10–8 | 17–14 | 69 | 74 |
| California | 9–9 | 21–10 | 65 | 49 |
| Stanford | 9–9 | 20–11 | 59 | 51 |
| SMU | 8–10 | 19–12 | 39 | 50 |
| Virginia Tech | 8–10 | 19–12 | 53 | 52 |
| Wake Forest | 7–11 | 16–15 | 64 | 81 |
| Syracuse | 6–12 | 15–16 | 83 | 92 |
| Pittsburgh | 5–13 | 12–19 | 109 | 146 |
| Notre Dame | 4–14 | 13–18 | 93 | 121 |
| Boston College | 4–14 | 11–20 | 159 | 217 |
| Georgia Tech | 2–16 | 11–20 | 167 | 210 |
* — Through Sunday games
Saturday’s results
No. 1 Duke 76, No. 19 North Carolina 61
Boston College 77, Notre Dame 69
Clemson 79, Georgia Tech 76
No. 24 Louisville 92, Miami 89
Florida State 92, SMU 78
Stanford 85, N.C. State 84
Wake Forest 80, California 73
Pittsburgh 71, Syracuse 69, OT
END OF REGULAR SEASON
ACC tournament
Spectrum Center | Charlotte
Tuesday through Saturday
| Date | Month/day | Scores | Opponent/event (current ranks) | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | ||||
| 24 | Friday | L, 78–76 | vs. BYU in SLC | Exhib. |
| 29 | Wednesday | W, 95–53 | vs. Winston-Salem St. | Exhib. |
| November | ||||
| 3 | Monday | W, 94–54 | vs. Central Arkansas | 1–0 |
| 7 | Friday | W, 87–74 | vs. No. 17 Kansas | 2–0 |
| 11 | Tuesday | W, 89–74 | vs. Radford | 3–0 |
| 14 | Friday | W, 97–53 | vs. N.C. Central | 4–0 |
| 18 | Tuesday | W, 73–61 | vs. Navy | 5–0 |
| Fort Myers Tip-Off | ||||
| 25 | Tuesday | W, 85–70 | vs. St. Bonaventure | 6–0 |
| 27 | Thursday | L, 74–58 | vs. No. 11 Michigan State | 6–1 |
| December | ACC/SEC Men’s Challenge | |||
| 2 | Tuesday | W, 67–64 | at Kentucky | 7–1 |
| ————————— | ||||
| 7 | Sunday | W, 81–61 | vs. Georgetown | 8–1 |
| 13 | Saturday | W, 80–62 | vs. USC Upstate | 9–1 |
| 16 | Tuesday | W, 77–58 | vs. ETSU | 10–1 |
| CBS Sports Classic in Atlanta | ||||
| 20 | Saturday | W, 71–70 | vs. Ohio State | 11–1 |
| ————————— | ||||
| 22 | Monday | W, 99–51 | vs. East Carolina | 12–1 |
| 30 | Tuesday | W, 79–66 | vs. Florida State | 13–1, 1–0 ACC |
| January | ||||
| 3 | Saturday | L, 97–83 | at SMU | 13–2, 1–1 |
| 10 | Saturday | W, 87–84 | vs. Wake Forest | 14–2, 2–1 |
| 14 | Wednesday | L, 95–90 | at Stanford | 14–3, 2–2 |
| 17 | Saturday | L, 84–78 | at California | 14–4, 2–3 |
| 21 | Wednesday | W, 91–69 | vs. Notre Dame | 15–4, 3–3 |
| 24 | Saturday | W, 85–80 | at No. 9 Virginia | 16–4, 4–3 |
| 31 | Saturday | W, 91–75 | at Georgia Tech | 17–4, 5–3 |
| February | ||||
| 2 | Monday | W, 87–77 | vs. Syracuse | 18–4, 6–3 |
| 7 | Saturday | W, 71–68 | vs. No. 1 Duke | 19–4, 7–3 |
| 10 | Tuesday | L, 75–66 | at No. 25 Miami | 19–5, 7–4 |
| 14 | Saturday | W, 79–65 | vs. Pittsburgh | 20–5, 8–4 |
| 17 | Tuesday | L, 82–58 | at N.C. State | 20–6, 8–5 |
| 21 | Saturday | W, 77–64 | at Syracuse | 21–6, 9–5 |
| 23 | Monday | W, 77–74 | vs. Louisville | 22–6, 10–5 |
| 28 | Saturday | W, 89–82 | vs. Virginia Tech | 23–6, 11–5 |
| March | ||||
| 3 | Tuesday | W, 67–63 | vs. Clemson | 24–6, 12–5 |
| 7 | Saturday | L, 76–61 | at No. 1 Duke | 24–7, 12–6 |
| 10–14 | Tues.-Sat. | ACC tournament | Spectrum Center, Charlotte | |
| 12 | Thursday | L, 80–79 | Quarterfinals: vs. Clemson | 24–8 |
| NCAA tournament | ||||
| 19 | Thursday | L, 82–78, OT | First round: vs. VCU in Greenville, S.C. | 24–9 |
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics
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