The stakes are always high for Duke vs. North Carolina, but this season's first meeting between the Tobacco Road rivals carries significant meaning for both squads. The No. 2 Blue Devils (18-2, 10-0 ACC) enter Saturday's tilt with the nation's longest winning streak at 14 games but fresh off a pair of close calls vs.

No. 2 Duke plays the North Carolina Tar Heels after Cooper Flagg scored 28 points in Duke's 74-64 win over the NC State Wolfpack.

With North Carolina falling to 13-9 with a mid-week loss at Pitt, it could be argued there's no worse time for the Tar Heels to be facing the sizzling Duke Blue Devils. On the road. But perhaps America's best sporting rivalry can energize the Heels.

North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick offered to buy pizza for North Carolina fraternities ahead of the rivalry basketball game vs Duke:

This week's Starting Five detailing the biggest games of the men's basketball weekend has six matchups due to an impressive schedule Saturday.

Duke hosts North Carolina in the first rivalry basketball game of the 2024-25 season. Here's how to get the best prices on tickets for the Feb. 1 game in Durham.