Duke guard JJ Redick is somewhat of a historian of the Duke/Carolina
rivalry. Long before he hit his 1st shot at Cameron Indoor Stadium, Redick
recorded many of the Duke/Carolina games and watched them over and over.
He's seen Steve Wojciechowski's senior day win over the Heels in 1998 so
many times, "I can tell you right now which plays happened when and how Duke
got back in that game."

As a player, Redick has a 5-2 record against the
lighter shade of blue but as the historian pointed out, "I haven't had great
games over there." Redick's freshman year in Chapel Hill he was 4-13
shooting, 3 of 12 as a sophomore and last year 5 of 13 with 17 points.

So will Redick continue his chill on the Hill or will he follow the pattern
of his senior season? No one has been able to reel in Redick but Carolina
has a few guys to send his way. Coach Roy Williams said Bobby Frasor, Wes
Miller, Marcus Ginyard and Reyshawn Terry will get their opportunities and
I'm sure they will get plenty of help. Carolina has shown a knack for
playing defense this year but this match up could be their most difficult.
Not just because of Redick but the big boys on the block.

Shelden Williams is playing some of his best basketball, according to Coach
Mike Krzyzewski. If Josh McRoberts can find any kind of consistency, that's
a heck of a 1-2 punch in the post. I just don't think McRoberts is
comfortable playing at the same time as Williams. Tuesday's match-up will be
the 1st time McRoberts and Tyler Hansbrough have shared the court in this
great rivalry. Krzyzewski said "Hansbrough is just the rookie of the year in
our conference but he's rookie of the year nationally as well." isn't just
the best freshman in the ACC but in the country. He doesn't roam a lot from
the basket which will help Shelden Williams defend.

Last year's National Defensive Player of the Year has a hard time against non-traditional big
men....(See Al Thornton of FSU and Marco Killingsworth of Indiana).

Does Carolina have a shot to beat Duke??? Absolutely...but they CAN'T turn
the ball over 20 times like they have in the last 2 games. They have to move
their feet and defend until their Nike's melt. Feed the frenzy. Long gone
are the days of fans at the Dean Dome using their hands as seat cushions and
in this kind of game, a rocking home court could be an energy bar the Tar
Heels need.

Tar Heel Senior David Noel tried to tell the media that his
message to the freshmen will be that it's just another game. But Noel knows
and we know that won't be the case when 11 newcomers from both teams take
the floor for the first time in the greatest rivalry in sports.

Jeff Gravley