BY ALEJANDRO LOPEZ
The classic rivalry matchup between Duke and North Carolina had been anything but exciting for the Tar Heels so far in 2025; this game was not one of those games.
Duke had dominated UNC in both of their previous matchups since the turn of the new year, yet this game was anything but dominant late. The Blue Devils hung on to win 74-71 in a contest where they led by as many as 24 points on a crushing lane violation call for North Carolina, which negated the game-tying free throw with 4 seconds on the clock.
Freshman guard Kon Knueppel led the shorthanded Blue Devils with 17 points, including three from long distance and the game-securing free throws. Khaman Maluach also contributed 13 points and 9 rebounds.
“It took everything for us we had two guys down, so we had to pick our teammates up and dig deep to win this one,” Maluach told ESPN. “We trusted our work, and we trusted what we do, and that’s what we did.”
Even with Duke’s recent dominance, one could argue that both teams had reason to play with a chip on their shoulder tonight. UNC was one game away from the ACC championship game and had a chance to force its way into the NCAA tournament. Duke, on the other hand, had a chance to show the country that with or without Cooper Flagg, who suffered an ankle injury on Wednesday, they are a team no one in the country wants to see in March.
While Duke capitalized on its chances, the Tar Heels’ failure to make a statement may very well mean their season has come to an end.
North Carolina hanging on by a thread per @ESPNLunardi pic.twitter.com/6dAkbyiQfu
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) March 15, 2025
UNC has been clinging on to their hopes of making the tournament, but with a 1-12 record against Quad 1 teams this season they were relying on an ACC championship run more than anything else. However, the fight that they showed in this semifinal game could win them the graces of the selection committee come Sunday.
ESPN’s Joe Lunardi had North Carolina as his “Last Team In” as of Friday night, but Jimmy Dykes wasn’t having it.
ESPN’s Jimmy Dykes isn’t having it.
“There’s just no way,” Dykes said on air during Alabama’s 99-70 drubbing of Kentucky, per On3.com. “There’s no way that that will hold up. North Carolina has one Quad 1 win, and 12 Quad 1 losses, if my math is right. You can’t get in just because you played 13 Quad 1 games. You have to beat somebody.
“Joe Lunardi’s great, and maybe he knows something I don’t. I don’t think that will hold up when that bracket’s released on Sunday. How can it?”
Duke will continue to roll on to the ACC championship game without Flagg, who isn’t expected to play. But they have proven that they are still capable of winning this tournament without him.
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