Bacot and Davis Recall Memorable Victories
For Armando Bacot and RJ Davis, the rivalry between Duke and North Carolina holds a special significance. Both players were part of the 2021-22 North Carolina team that handed legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski a loss in his final game before retirement. The Tar Heels also defeated Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Krzyzewski’s last home game. Bacot and Davis recently shared their thoughts on which victory they cherish the most during an appearance on ESPN’s “College Gameday.”
Davis: “To me, it has to be Coach K’s last game at Duke. We went into that game with no one thinking we’d be able to win it. But we came out on top, and we were super confident going into that game.”
Bacot: “Definitely the one at Duke for me. Seeing former players like Jay Williams and JJ Reddick come back wearing their ‘K’ shirts, and the look on their faces after the game…one of the best feelings. They thought they would have a good night out in Durham that day. So, we got it done.”
The ACC Race and Last Chance for Bacot
The upcoming Duke vs. North Carolina game carries significant implications for the ACC race. North Carolina aims to avoid a second consecutive loss, while Duke seeks to even the score in the loss column against the Tar Heels.
Bacot: “This is my last time playing Duke here. So, we have to make sure we get that W.”
Containing Filipowski: The Key to Victory
To snap a two-game home losing streak to Duke, the Tar Heels will need to contain Duke’s sophomore, Filip Filipowski. He currently ranks seventh in the ACC with an average of 17.5 points per game.
Hubert Davis, North Carolina head coach, praises Filipowski’s offensive abilities: “Just his ability on the offensive end as a five is just very difficult because he can handle the basketball. He’s almost…he’s a point guard. His ability to be able to pass, he can get a rebound [and] advance the ball up the floor and make plays. Anyone with that size, he’s aggressive. He can draw fouls. He can shoot from three. He can post up. He can put the ball on the floor. So, it’s hard to get the ball out of his hands. [It’s] hard to double him because he can catch the ball and attack in so many different areas.”
The Battle Begins at 6:30 p.m. ET
The highly anticipated Duke vs. North Carolina game is scheduled to tip off at 6:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. Fans of both teams are eager to witness the latest chapter in this enduring and storied rivalry.
