Coming into the latest iteration of the Tobacco Road rivalry, Duke was looking to make yet another statement atop the ACC while North Carolina desperately needed a focal point on which to turn around its season. Through 20 minutes, the Blue Devils have gotten their way, storming out to a 47-25 halftime lead:

Maliq Brown returns

After missing four games with a knee sprain, Duke’s defensive specialist was finally back in action Saturday. Brown may not lead the Blue Devils in any major statistical category, but his ball pressure and relentless hustle were sorely missed by head coach Jon Scheyer and company. The Syracuse transfer’s return also meant that freshman center Khaman Maluach could shoulder a lighter load and play more freely on both ends of the court.

For his part, Brown picked up right where he left off. He checked in for the first time with 14:51 remaining and immediately poked the ball away from North Carolina center Jalen Washington. Brown’s defense sparked what Scheyer calls Duke’s red-zone offense, which saw Cooper Flagg maneuver for an and-one in transition. 

Not-so small ball

Despite all five of Duke’s starters checking in at 6-foot-6 or above, head coach Hubert Davis opted to start four guards — all of which were under 6-foot-5. This magnified the Blue Devils’ height advantage, which the home team immediately took advantage of. Graduate guard Sion James slammed home a dunk on the opening play of the game, and freshman Kon Knueppel — who was guarded by 6-foot RJ Davis to start — also looked to exploit his larger frame by driving to the hoop. While his first drive was unsuccessful, the Milwaukee native found Flagg on a roll the next time down the court for a foul.

No player was more pleased with the size discrepancy than Maluach, who lept skywards for two early offensive rebounds. While it took a few minutes for the Blue Devils to settle in, as they started just 3-for-7 from the field, an 8-0 burst forced Hubert Davis to call his first timeout with 14:51 remaining.

Making it rain

Hubert Davis’ timeout did little to quell the fire Duke was fueling, and the Cameron Crazies only poured gasoline on things during the stoppage. Undeterred by a hand in his face, Knueppel nailed a 3-pointer from the wing, and the shifty rookie drove to the lane for a paint bucket the next time down.

Knueppel played with a comfort emblematic of the Blue Devils’ entire first-half offense. North Carolina tried what it could to pressure ball handlers — even switching to zone at times in an attempt to slow things down — but Duke’s guards were able to look over the heads of their defenders to make the right reads. By the time the final buzzer of the first half sounded to finally give the Tar Heels a reprieve, the Blue Devils had compiled 47 points on an efficient 55.6% shooting.

Lockdown Devils

The story could not be more different on the other end. It has been no secret that North Carolina has struggled in half-court offense at times this season, but Duke’s suffocating defensive unit made the basket feel 12-feet tall. With the Blue Devils’ offensive successes limiting the Tar Heels’ opportunities in transition, the visitors were forced to try to run sets. A deafening home crowd, combined with Duke’s length, spelled a 8-for-27 mark from the floor that included a 5:53 scoring drought.

One play that encapsulated North Carolina’s first-half woes perfectly came about midway through the period. Sophomore Elliot Cadeau tried to drive down the lane as the shot clock dwindled, but both Flagg and Maluach eclipsed the smaller guard for a brutal rejection. On the other end, Maluach leaped for yet another rebound off the offensive glass for a second-chance bucket, stretching Duke’s lead to 21 with 8:51 left. 

Player of the half: Cooper Flagg

Eager to write his chapter in the Duke-North Carolina history books, it did not take long for Flagg to take out his pen. Despite missing his first two free throws of the game, the Newport, Maine, native did not hesitate on two early 3-pointers. Flagg’s first triple came off an offensive rebound from Maluach, which gave him the confidence to step into a long ball in transition that capped an early Blue Devil run. 

From there, Flagg played like the National Player of the Year candidate he is. His 13 points came along with four rebounds and five assists. The Tar Heels’ lack of a true five made the paint into Flagg’s playground, as he got his way whenever he pleased in the opening frame. North Carolina was just as troubled by Flagg on the other end, as No. 2 compiled two steals and two blocks on defense.

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Dom Fenoglio | Sports Managing Editor

Dom Fenoglio is a Trinity junior and a sports managing editor of The Chronicle’s 120th volume.