- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
No. 14 North Carolina Set to Host No. 4 Duke in Storied Rivalry
The two ACC powerhouses meet for the first time this season in a highly anticipated matchup.
Feb. 6, 2026 at 2:15pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
No. 4 Duke and No. 14 North Carolina are set to face off in a highly anticipated ACC matchup on Saturday evening in Chapel Hill. The Blue Devils are alone atop the league standings, while the Tar Heels are tied for fifth with four consecutive wins. The game features a matchup of star freshmen in Duke's Cameron Boozer and North Carolina's Caleb Wilson, who are both averaging over 20 points per game this season.
Why it matters
The Duke-North Carolina rivalry is one of the most storied in college basketball, with the two programs meeting for the first time this season. Both teams are ranked in the top 15 nationally, making this an important early-season clash that could have major implications for the ACC standings and NCAA Tournament seeding.
The details
Duke (21-1, 10-0 ACC) is alone atop the league standings, while North Carolina (18-4, 6-3 ACC) is tied for fifth. The Tar Heels have won all 13 of their home games this season. The key matchup will be between freshmen stars Cameron Boozer of Duke (23.3 ppg) and Caleb Wilson of North Carolina (20.0 ppg). Duke coach Jon Scheyer and North Carolina coach Hubert Davis both have experience in the rivalry as former players.
- The game will be played on Saturday, February 6, 2026 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
The players
Cameron Boozer
A freshman forward for Duke University who is tied for second in the country in scoring with an average of 23.3 points per game.
Caleb Wilson
A freshman guard for the University of North Carolina who is averaging 20.0 points per game and could be on track to set the Tar Heels' freshman scoring record.
Jon Scheyer
The head coach of the Duke Blue Devils, who previously played in the Duke-North Carolina rivalry as a player.
Hubert Davis
The head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels, who is a former player for the team and is familiar with the intensity of the rivalry.
What they’re saying
“It's what dreams are made of. That's all I can really say. It's what dreams are made of. I can't wait. It's going to be an exciting environment. The game speaks for itself, the history of the game, and the amazing players that played in it.”
— Caleb Foster, Duke guard
“Obviously, we know how big a deal the rivalry is.”
— Cameron Boozer
“As a player you appreciate the challenge. And as a coach, you do, too.”
— Jon Scheyer, Duke head coach
“I've always watched on TV. Always heard it since I was little. So being blessed with this opportunity to be on this team and to go out there and to compete with my guys. I'm ready.”
— Johnathan Powell, North Carolina freshman guard
What’s next
The winner of this game will take a big step towards securing a higher seed in the upcoming ACC Tournament and NCAA Tournament.
The takeaway
This matchup between two of college basketball's most storied programs is sure to be an intense and highly anticipated affair, with both teams looking to gain an early advantage in the ACC standings and establish themselves as national title contenders.
