DURHAM -- Tonight's matchup between Duke and North Carolina will be a bounce back for one team and a downer for the other.
Both teams come into the game having lost in their previous outings -- something that last occurred in 1997. UNC dropped its second straight game on Thursday night, an 80-69 setback at Miami, while Duke lost 61-57 at Boston College. But Duke (18-4, 6-1 ACC) sits atop the conference standings, while North Carolina (16-5, 4-3) is mired in the middle.
The game, at Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium, will be televised nationally at 7 p.m. by ESPN2.
The Blue Devils are led by junior guard Jasmine Thomas and senior forward Joy Cheek. The Tar Heels are guided by the backcourt duo of Italee Lucas and Cetera DeGraffenreid.
Last season the teams split their regular-season games with each team winning at home. It was the first time since 2000 that this occurred. Since then, the teams have generally been able to put together winning streaks against the other, starting with 12 in a row by the Blue Devils. UNC responded with five straight wins before Duke came back with two in a row. The Tar Heels then won the next four before Duke snapped the string in the regular-season finale last year.
Duke has won its last 11 ACC games at home, while the Tar Heels have struggled a bit on the road this season with a 2-4 mark.
But history may be on the side of the Tar Heels, who hold a 7-1 record against Duke when both teams come into the game after a loss.
