UNC hoping to carry previous experience in Battle of the Blues environment

Orange County, N.C. — It doesn't take long to learn the Battle of the Blues rivalry.

"The expectations, the hype around it...it's the biggest college basketball rivalry there is," said North Carolina guard R.J. Davis.

UNC guard Caleb Love said he didn't grow up hating Duke, "but I don't like them now."

Duke fans don't appreciate how Carolina spoiled Mike Krzyzewski's last game at Cameron Indoor Stadium last year and ended Coach K's career a month later at the Final Four.

Four of the Tar Heels starting five from last season are back this year. Duke only has one player, Jeremy Roach, who has played many minutes in a Battle of the Blues.

The previous experience "helps us a lot, just being in that environment and knowing what's at stake," said Love.

"It one of those things you just have to experience," added UNC center Armando Bacot. "It's hard to really tell somebody how to control their feelings on something they've never been in."

Even though UNC coach Hubert Davis played in eleven Duke-Carolina matchups, he downplays how previous experience in that environment could affect Saturday's game.

"As a player, you're so into the game...you don't recognize, you don't hear, you don't pay attention to the environment. It's just a non-factor," Davis said.

After the Tar Heels' home loss to Pittsburgh on Wednesday, Davis has his players' attention. "I went at them. I just did," Davis said. "I asked them three questions. I always do. I said, 'Have you been told what to do? Have you been taught what to do? And are you talented enough to do it? And so if you're told and taught and talented enough to do it, tell me consistently why we aren't doing this.'"

As Heels showed last year, and win against Duke in Cameron can jumpstart a season.