Advantage: Duke
Forwards: Player of the Year Shane Battier might be gone, but the even more versatile Mike Dunleavy isn't. Dunleavy averaged 17.3 points against the Tar Heels last season and causes serious matchup problems for North Carolina. A wiry 220-pound junior standing 6-foot-9, Dunleavy can burn opponents from downtown and glide between them inside. Mike Krzyzewski's second-ever transfer, Dahntay Jones, has fit in nicely as a strong slasher. UNC's Capel and Williams should struggle to keep up with their counterparts defensively. Both need to be more active offensively.
Advantage: Duke
Centers: Boozer has only played in three games against UNC and has been limited to 14 rebounds and 27 points on 33.3 percent shooting. But this isn't the same Boozer. Since losing to Florida State, the athletic center has shot 66.7 percent from the floor and averaged 23 points. Lang continues to be a stable workhorse inside for the Tar Heels, but they need more from him tonight. He's strong enough to contain Boozer so long as he keeps his eye on him at all times -- including when Duhon, Williams, Dunleavy and Jones penetrate. Lang has averaged 19 points in the last five outings, but Boozer is a player-of-the-year candidate for a reason.
Advantage: Duke
Bench: Freshman Daniel Ewing is Duke's lone significant contributor off the pine, but the Blue Devils don't lose a step with him on the hardwood. The 6-3 guard shoots 49.4 percent from the field and 38.2 percent from 3-point land. He also grabs 2.3 rebounds in 17.9 minutes. Doherty, meanwhile, spreads the love a little more, but largely because he's struggled to find a combination that gets the job done. Plus, Jackie Manuel will likely sit out his third straight contest. He shot around and ran dummy offenses in practice Tuesday for the first time in more than a week. If Morrison can keep himself in control, he could prove invaluable against faster Duke, but Will Johnson, Brian Bersticker and Jonathan Holmes will be of little use.
