WRAL Sports Fan

With all the fury of Duke-Carolina about to begin, the staffs of WRAL and 99.9 FM The Fan give you our picks for the Duke-Carolina game.

Jeff Gravley, WRAL
My pick: North Carolina, 89-80

Jason Jennings, WRAL
My pick: North Carolina, 75-72

Here’s why: This game could go either way, but I'll take the team with more talent. Duke's only hope of winning is hitting its three-pointers. The Devils will definitely take threes, and Carolina has a tendency to give them up (see last year's loss to Duke AND UNC's two losses this year). But Duke's poor shooting in recent games doesn't lead me to believe it will happen this time.

Basically, Duke has to play an excellent game to win. Carolina can play a barely average game and still walk out with its fourth straight win in Durham.Here's how I see the game going down. Duke will feel the pressure of playing a game like this in front of its home fans early. Like in most games this year, the Devils will shoot poorly in the first half and Carolina - clearly not afraid of playing in Cameron - will build a double-digit lead. In the second half, Duke will realize it's just another basketball game and shots will start to fall. I don't think it will be enough, though. Henderson and Singler are the only ones who can score consistently, and Lawson will chew up Paulus off the dribble. Carolina holds off Duke to win.

Reporter Jason Jennings will be shooting the game Wednesday. 

Scott Jackson, The Fan
My pick: North Carolina, 88-78

Here's why: Duke's retooled lineup with Greg Paulus playing the point puts the Devils at a match-up disadvantage defensively when dealing with Ty Lawson. Paulus struggles with athletic point guards and Lawson is the quickest end line-to-end line in the ACC and perhaps the nation. To offset that, Paulus will have to bring it on the offensive end of the floor. Duke has been playing smaller lineups lately when facing faster paced teams. So David McClure has been logging lots of minutes, while Brian Zoubek has been watching mostly from the bench. That should be a big advantage for the Tar Heels front line led by "Psycho T," who looks to end his career a perfect 4-0 at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Scott Jackson is the co-host of The Insiders during weekday afternoons.

Mike Maniscalco, The Fan
My pick: Duke, 78-73

Here’s why: Round One of Duke-Carolina promises to live up to expectations. On paper the North Carolina Tar Heels are the better team - on paper, UNC is the best team in the country - but this game is going to be played in Cameron Indoor Stadium, where Duke always seems to have a bit extra for their opponents. Taking into consideration that the Heels have won three straight in Durham and have an advantage in the post and at point it should be an easy call who wins this game.

However, Duke and Carolina is never an easy game, which is why I agree with the Sporting News NCAA hoops insider Mike DeCourcy, who was on my show this week and said it is the best rivalry in American sports today. Tyler Hansbrough has not been his dominant self this year, and the Heels have had problems defending, and until recently UNC has not known what it is going to get from the perimeter offense.

Duke needs this win more than the Heels do right now. There is no way I can see Mike Krzyzewski losing four in a row at home to Carolina. While Greg Paulus will have trouble guarding Ty Lawson, the Blue Devils’ Gerald Henderson poses a huge match-up problem for the Heels. Duke also plays stifling defense at home and always seems to hit a big shot when needed. Kyle Singler has been quiet lately and this might be the game that he makes a big noise.

This is game comes down to the Tar Heels offense against the Blue Devil defense. Duke will have the sixth man on their side and after two lackluster performances I can’t see a third on Wednesday night.

Mike Maniscalco is The Fan's Sports Director and hosts the Sports Lunch during the week.

Adam Harris, The Fan
My pick: North Carolina, 88-78

Here’s why: I've said it, and I've heard others say it this week too. John Feinstein, Jay Bilas and I all agree that Greg Paulus will not be able to defend Ty Lawson. In fact, I'm not sure Duke has anyone who can defend Lawson or Tyler Hansbrough. The point guard match-up is a critical one. The quickness of Lawson on the offensive end will be instantly recognizable. The question remains, however, about Lawson's defense.

If North Carolina's offensive leader can show the same effort on the other end of the floor, the Heels will win big. It's no secret that UNC thrives on transition opportunities, and clearly that all starts with great effort on defense. If Duke can control the pace of the game, work their half court offense efficiently, and hit three's consitently they may have a leg up on Carolina. That would also require UNC to shoot poorly, which hasn't been a frequent occurrence this season. I think the Blue Devils are simply outmatched by the speed, size and athleticism of the Tar Heels.

Adam Harris will be writing a live blog from courtside at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Ken Medlin, WRAL
My pick: North Carolina, 74-69

Here’s why: Tyler Hansbrough tends to find another gear in these games. In his six showdowns with Duke, Hansbrough is averaging 21 points and 12 rebounds per game. He not only embraces the rivalry, he thrives in it, and Duke has yet to find an effective way of stopping him.

Ken Medlin is a veteran reporter and anchor who will cover the N.C. State-Wake Forest game Wednesday night.

Chris Morris, The Fan

My pick: North Carolina, 74-70

Here's why: Most everyone you talk to about this game gives Duke nearly no chance of winning. Obviously those people have not been paying attention to this rivalry over the years. Duke must be feeling good about themselves again after the emotional win over Miami on Saturday, and nothing fires up the Blue Devils more than seeing their neighbors down the road come into Cameron Indoor Stadium. With the momentum from that Miami win, coupled with the reemergence of Greg Paulus, I think you will see a supreme effort out of Duke, which will keep them in the game. But in the end, talent usually wins, and North Carolina is the more talented team. The Tar Heels provide matchup problems for Duke in the Devils' two most vulnerable spots: in the post and at the point. The Blue Devils don't have an answer for Tyer Hansbrough or Ty Lawson, and that will prove to be the difference in this game.

Chris Morris runs the board for The Fan's Sports Lunch and The Insiders

Ryan Craig, WRAL
My pick: North Carolina, 78-71

Here’s why: Now that Wayne Ellington has re-found his shooting touch, I don’t see how Duke can limit the Heels to fewer than 75 points. And unless Kyle Singler regains his stroke, which I don’t see happening in a game where he’s going to have to expend so much energy on the defensive end, the Devils won’t score that many.

Greg Paulus’ insertion into the starting lineup means more offense for Duke, but he will be exposed on defense, whether he’s guarding Ellington, or the fastest point guard in the country, Ty Lawson.

Hansbrough will get his, and so will Gerald Henderson. They’ll cancel each other out in terms of points, but Psycho-T will likely get the Duke big men in foul trouble, causing matchup issues and an early trip to the double bonus for the Heels.

The bench advantage actually goes to Duke in this one, but it won’t be enough. David McClure has been spectacular off the bench for Coach K, and having Nolan Smith to spell Paulus gives Duke a nice one-two punch at the point. Without Ginyard and Graves, and with Zeller still a few weeks away, Carolina gets very little out of its bench in terms of production other than Ed Davis.

Ryan Craig is the editor of WRALSportsFan and will be providing fresh information from Cameron.

Josh Hailey, WRAL
My pick: Duke, 76-72

Here’s why: The point spread is UNC -2, so it’s clear that the boys in Vegas are trying to entice the novice gambler to take the higher-ranked Tar Heels - so take the opposite. And does anybody out there really believe Duke is going to let the hated Tyler Hansbrough walk out of Cameron Indoor Stadium Wednesday night with an undefeated record?

I don’t think so. Roy Williams said Tuesday that this is Duke’s most dangerous team since he returned to UNC, and that they play the best defense in the ACC, and Carolina has shown lapses in concentration on the road that cost them at Wake, and almost cost them at Florida State. Gerald Henderson is playing lights-out basketball, and as good as the Heels are they don’t have anyone athletic enough to stop him. The rest of the Devils will feed off the energy of the Crazies to stop the higher powered Tar Heels, and be more focused than they have been all year. Duke’s pressure defense, the crowd, plus the determination to spoil Hansbrough’s bid to go unbeaten at Cameron will be the difference.

Photographer Josh Hailey will shoot Wednesday's game.

Tim Hall, The Fan
My pick: North Carolina, 92-80

Here's why: I went to Kansas, the basketball mecca of the Midwest. I also considered myself to be one of the die-hard crazy fans like everyone else. You know the type that holds irrepressible and maniacal grudges? Well, I never joined in those feelings on Roy Williams. Why should I? The man's dream job came calling and it was a chance to coach close to where he grew up. Plus I got to Kansas the first year of the Bill Self era and I didn't care! I have no problem picking Carolina in this game since Kansas pounded them in the Final Four, and Roy was classy enough to don a sticker of the program where he spent 15 years building into a college hoops power.

In this game Wednesday night, UNC will win despite its thin rotation. The starters will come into this game jazzed up and at least four of them will touch double figures. Wayne Ellington has been dangerous lately from three, and he continues to zone-in as each game passes. When Ty Lawson and Danny Green play well from outside, this team becomes the epitomy of a balanced offense.

Try this out, Tyler Hansbrough vs. Brian Zoubek: Hmmmmmmm

Tyler Hansbrough vs. Lance Thomas: Ehhhhh

Tyler Hansbrough vs. David McClure: Your're a great defender but sorry Dave.

Tyler Hansbrough vs. All three of em: Wayne Ellington knocks down wide open three-pointer.

Remember, you don't need depth if you don't get into foul trouble. So Heels.... don't get into foul trouble.

Tim Hall is the morning sports anchor on 99.9 The Fan.

Dane Huffman, WRAL
My pick: North Carolina, 82-74

Here's why: Greives Vasquz said Cameron Indoor Stadium was his house never found the key to the front door. But Cameron is a different place for Tyler Hansbrough. The UNC senior has won three straight at Cameron and is a tough matchup for the Blue Devils. I thought Brian Zoubek would be further along than this point, giving Hansbrough a tall defender in this game, but that hasn't been the case.

Duke's recent wobbles have made you wonder if another February swoon is ahead. Whatever the case, this won't be the game that turns the Devils season around.

Dane Huffman manages WRAL Sports.