North Carolina’s Ven-Allen Lubin had spent several minutes Saturday fielding questions, dissecting the Tar Heels’ 82-69 loss to rival Duke, talking about the ACC tournament, when a final question was asked. Would the Heels like to face the Blue Devils again, one more time, in the ACC Tournament next week?
“Absolutely,” Lubin said. “I want to see them again.” Lubin said that with little emotion, said it matter-of-factly. As good as the Blue Devils are, and they’ve proven it twice against UNC this season, the Tar Heels would like another sh
It could happen. Seeded fifth in the ACC Tournament, the Tar Heels (20-12 overall, 13-7 ACC) would have to beat either Pitt or Notre Dame on Wednesday in their opener at the Spectrum Center, then get past Wake Forest on Thursday..
Duke, the ACC regular-season winner, has a double-bye in the tournament and should be waiting Friday in the semifinals. But to reach the NCAA Tournament, the Heels — No. 38 in the NET rankings Saturday and now 1-11 against Quad-1 opponents — likely would need to get into the game against Duke, find a way to win it, and then claim the ACC championship. “We can make some noise in the ACC tournament,” UNC guard R.J. Davis said. “That’s the right approach, the right mindset, to have. This team is fully capable of making it to the NCAA tournament and going far in it. That’s my full belief.”
The Blue Devils, a skilled and salty team, humiliated the Heels in the first game this season in Durham, winning by 17 points after leading by as many as 32. But Lubin said there was a difference in Saturday’s game at the Smith Center. “Our toughness on both ends of the floor,” he said. “We were pressuring their players to create turnovers to get on runs, and stops on the defensive end.”
The Tar Heels, energetic on Senior Night, fueled by their fans, were active on defense and did cause 14 turnovers that they converted into 16 points. “Whoever had the ball, I thought we were in their space and making it tough for them,” UNC coach Hubert Davis sa
