Duke and North Carolina meet for the first time ever in the NCAA Tournament, facing off in a historic Final Four matchup in New Orleans. Duke enters as a 4-point favorite after splitting their regular season series.

The 8th-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels reached the Final Four by defeating Marquette, Baylor, UCLA, and St. Peter's. They showed tremendous resilience in their overtime win against Baylor, overcoming a 25-point collapse and multiple player ejections.

Duke's path included victories over Michigan State, Texas Tech, and Arkansas. Led by Paolo Banchero, the Blue Devils aim to send Coach Mike Krzyzewski into retirement with a national championship. Duke dominated UNC by 20 points in their road matchup this season, though UNC spoiled Coach K's final home game.

Keys to Victory:

• North Carolina must limit turnovers, as they did with just 5 in their win at Duke
• Duke needs Paolo Banchero to establish an early offensive rhythm
• The Blue Devils' defensive intensity and multiple scoring options have been crucial in late-game situations
• Mental toughness will be essential for both teams given the historic rivalry and stakes

This matchup represents more than just a Final Four game - it's the ultimate chapter in college basketball's greatest rivalry, with Coach K's legacy and a national championship game berth on the line.

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