UNC Basketball: 3 keys to beating Duke in Final Four matchup

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 05: Head coach Hubert Davis of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts during the second half of the game against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 05, 2022 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

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UNC Basketball (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

Foul limitations

Watching North Carolina you will realize Coach Davis does not use a deep lineup at all. He will sometimes only bring one or two players off the bench depending the game intensity. Like it was aforementioned before, you can see Coach Davis has figured out what works best so if that means playing the key guys for long periods of time then so be it.

Since it is such a short lineup there is no room for error. Key players cannot miss crucial time on the court. Going back to the Baylor game where there was a 25-point lead just for all of that to slip away because Manek got ejected and Love fouled out meant North Carolina had to work 10x harder to secure the win. Picking up ticky-tack fouls is useless in this type of setting. Aggressive defense can be played but the unnecessary contact cannot be issued.

Duke’s star freshmen Paolo Banchero, AJ Griffin, and Trevor Keels are all brute forces and will ensure contact in some way or fashion. North Carolina players are going to need to be disciplined. Players cannot get in foul trouble early for the Tar Heels, especially in the frontcourt. Duke has a dominant frontcourt, they will be looking to dominate inside-out.

Duke’s strategy will more than likely search to get Bacot or Manek in quick foul trouble within the first 20 minutes. Limiting the opportunities to get in foul trouble will come down to defensive awareness and discipline. Win the foul battle and North Carolina has a good chance.

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