We keep hearing that center Brian Zoubek is going to be a bigger factor. It’s not happening. He averages 5.6 points and 4.4 rebounds in 19.4 minutes. The Blue Devils do not have an inside game.

We’ve heard about the sacrifice made by senior Greg Paulus. He stepped aside to make way for Nolan Smith. Now the Blue Devils have a point guard who averages 1.7 assists. Smith had four ACC games without an assist. Jon Scheyer leads Duke with 2.9 assists a game. Smith hasn’t taken charge at his position and with 40 assists and 44 turnovers, he’s actually become a headache for Krzyzewski. That’s why Paulus started against Miami and he’ll start again against North Carolina. Duke’s defense won’t be as good, but it’s a move that has to be made until Smith shows signs of life.

The Blue Devils have balanced scoring from Kyle Singler (15.8), Gerald Henderson (15.2) and Scheyer (13.0), but Scheyer picked a horrible time to go into a slump. In his last nine games, Scheyer is 23-for-86 (26.7 percent) from the field. In games against Virginia and Clemson, he didn’t even get to the free-throw line and there were games earlier in the season when he took 10, 11 or 13 freebies.

Scheyer did score 22 in the win over Miami. His five field goals were a high since he made six against Davidson on Jan. 7. But he needed 13 attempts against the Hurricanes. The Blue Devils need Scheyer to play with confidence and toughness. If North Carolina’s defense takes Scheyer out of the game early, this could be a blowout.

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North Carolina isn’t as bad defensively as most people think. A lot of that is coach Roy Williams talking and playing with the minds of opponents. If the Tar Heels play well defensively, Duke’s confidence will be crushed even more.

Ty Lawson should be able to force the tempo. Wayne Ellington is on a hot streak, shooting well and scoring. If he continues to have the hot hand, the Blue Devils won’t be able to double team Tyler Hansbrough the way they want to.

There is every reason to believe North Carolina will win this time around. That would put them back in the driver’s seat in the ACC. But things don’t always go as planned in college basketball, especially this season. That’s why you need to watch.

After all, it is Duke vs. Carolina.

More on Duke  |  North Carolina

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