Duke’s dominant 87-70 win against North Carolina further cemented the Blue Devils’ status as one of the nation’s premier championship contenders. The Blue Zone discusses how much the victory really means for Duke’s chances of winning it all come March.

Duke rivalry tends toward equilibrium, but the Blue Devils’ dominance and the Tar Heels’ struggles have thrown it out of balance as the two programs appear headed in opposite directions.

"Ummm, I don't really remember, but he seemed a little jacked up, a little nervous," Knueppel said after No. 2 Duke had smashed rival North Carolina, 87-70. "In warmups, I'm not t