Duke: Ryan Young
The lone figure on Duke’s campus is a 6-foot-10 graduate student, who, as a Northwestern transfer last year, won over the Cameron Crazies with his performance on the revered floor of Cameron Indoor Stadium. This season, he returns as a captain, podcaster, and occasional dunker, supporting preseason All-American sophomore center Kyle Filipowski. Following an impressive game against Virginia Tech on Monday, he aims to build on that success in a challenging matchup against one of the nation’s top teams.
In Saturday evening’s crucial top-10 clash in Chapel Hill, the graduate student’s role becomes pivotal. Duke has struggled with foul trouble this season, particularly Filipowski, who has accumulated at least four fouls in seven games and recently fouled out against Clemson. Facing off against preseason All-American Armando Bacot, Filipowski’s counterpart, presents a significant challenge. Bacot, with over four years of college basketball experience, is poised to exploit Filipowski’s relative youth and draw fouls. If Filipowski encounters foul trouble, the graduate student will be called upon to contend with Bacot. The outcome of these crucial minutes could determine the game, and if the graduate student successfully holds his own against North Carolina’s star, it could lead the Blue Devils to victory.
North Carolina: Elliot Cadeau
Cadeau stands in stark contrast to Young in terms of playing style for the Tar Heels, yet both are poised to play crucial roles in their team’s success on Saturday. The 6-foot-1 freshman accelerated his entry to join head coach Hubert Davis’ team a year ahead of schedule and has been a consistent presence in the starting lineup for 16 out of 21 games. Despite not boasting impressive scoring figures, his significance cannot be overlooked. Leading North Carolina in assists while averaging just 23.4 minutes, Cadeau’s impact is vital. For Davis’ squad to reach its full potential, Cadeau needs to deliver a strong performance, orchestrating plays and facilitating team dynamics.
Cadeau is expected to spend a considerable amount of time facing off against Duke’s freshmen duo, Jared McCain and Caleb Foster. Interestingly, Cadeau was ranked higher than both by 247 sports, yet McCain and Foster have held their own this season, showcasing dynamic offensive skills and solid defensive capabilities. Both players enter this matchup with a determined mindset, aiming to exploit Cadeau’s vulnerabilities on defense. If Cadeau can rise to the occasion in the most significant moment of his career so far and deliver an impressive performance against McCain and Foster, it could significantly tilt the odds in favor of the Tar Heels. Conversely, if the Blue Devils’ duo manages to outshine Cadeau, they are likely to leave Chapel Hill with a satisfying outcome.