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GAME NOTES: What is typically one of the marquee matchups of the season has lost a little of its luster, as the struggling North Carolina Tar Heels play host to their biggest rival this evening, in the eighth-ranked Duke Blue Devils.

The defending nationally champions have not only taken a step back, but two or three for that matter, as the Tar Heels are 13-10 overall and just outside of the ACC cellar at an ugly 2-6. The team has lost three straight games and an unbelievable six of its last seven, including Sunday's 92-71 blowout loss at Maryland.

The Blue Devils are at the other end of the conference spectrum, sitting atop the standings at 7-2. Duke has won two straight games and four of its last five overall, including a hard-fought 66-63 road win at Boston College on Saturday. Despite the victory, Duke has had problems on the road this year, posting just two wins in six outings as the visitor.

North Carolina has won seven of the last nine meetings in this longstanding rivalry and holds a 130-97 advantage in the all-time series.

Duke has shown the ability to win games at both ends of the floor this season and that is the reason the team is sitting atop the ACC standings at this time. The team is getting it done with an efficient .463 shooting percentage that has lent to a scoring average of 81.4 ppg. Duke boasts of a trio of potent scorers in Jon Scheyer (18.9 ppg), Nolan Smith (18.1 ppg) and Kyle Singler (16.5 ppg). Scheyer (62 three-pointers) and Smith (.442 from behind the arc) form quite the long range tandem, while Singler (7.0 rpg) provides balance up front. The team was solid at both ends against Boston College this past weekend, holding BC to a .414 shooting clip, including a mere 2-of-14 from behind the arc. Offensively, Duke was paced by Scheyer and Smith, who poured in 21 points apiece. Singler added 12 points to the cause, as Duke shot .479 from the field in the game.

The loss of most of last year's talent has caught up with the Tar Heels, who simply haven't had the luxury of quality depth this season. Regardless, the team remains a solid offensive squad, averaging 80.0 ppg. However, the All- Americans that have frequented the team over the last few years are all gone. Deon Thompson and Ed Davis form a nice frontcourt duo. Thompson leads the team in scoring at 14.4 ppg and ranks second in rebounding with 6.4 rpg. Davis is a close second in the scoring column (13.9 ppg) and is averaging a near double- double with 9.8 rpg. Will Graves (9.4 ppg) and Larry Drew II (8.7 ppg, team- high 142 assists) provide limited support. The Tar Heels allowed Maryland to shoot a ridiculous .515 from the field, including 12 three-pointers and delivered on only 37.7 percent of their own shots in an embarrassing performance in College Park. Marcus Ginyard led the way with 17 points. Thompson added 16, followed by Graves and Davis, with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Davis completed a double-double with 16 rebounds.

While this game does not carry the usual weight in terms of ACC title implications, these rival squads will fight tooth and nail to earn the win. The Tar Heels are home, but even the Smith Center has provided little relief this year. Duke is simply the better team and a tight win here may be the final nail in UNC's ACC coffin.