Duke Welcomes Key Player Back for Rivalry Game Against UNC
The UNC basketball team will face a tough challenge when they take on the Duke Blue Devils in Durham. Duke (18-2, 10-0 ACC) will be at full strength for Saturday’s rivalry game against the struggling UNC squad (13-9, 6-4 ACC), set to tip off at 6:30 p.m. ET at Cameron Indoor Stadium (ESPN).
On Saturday afternoon, just before noon, the No. 2-ranked Blue Devils announced that forward Maliq Brown would be available to play for the first time since injuring his right knee during Duke’s home win over Notre Dame on January 11.
SO BACK @MaliqBrown1 pic.twitter.com/EIX5NEnVxw
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) February 1, 2025
Brown, a 6-foot-9, 222-pound junior who transferred to Duke from Syracuse, has averaged 2.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in his 15 appearances this season. Despite his modest stats, Brown leads the Blue Devils with 3.3 steals per 40 minutes. Duke head coach Jon Scheyer recently highlighted Brown’s impact, noting it’s not just his defense but his ability to disrupt the opponent, leading to fast-break opportunities.
Meanwhile, UNC head coach Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels, who have already surpassed their total losses from last season, are in urgent need of an upset to secure their third consecutive win in the rivalry.
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