Duke Tops UNC In Rivalry Showdown; Caleb Wilson’s Season Ends Early + NC State Struggles Down Stretch Ahead Of ACC Tournament
Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss Duke's win over UNC on Saturday night, Caleb Wilson's injury, NC State's late season decline and more.
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball 76-61 in their regular-season finale at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Duke, ranked No. 1 in the country, led 39-34 at halftime before taking control in the second half with a strong defensive performance and a 24-2 scoring run that helped seal the victory. Duke freshman Cameron Boozer led the Blue Devils with 26 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists, playing a major role on both offense and defense. For North Carolina, Derek Dixon led the team with 17 points, including several three-pointers that kept the Tar Heels competitive early in the game. The win allowed Duke to finish the regular season 29-2 overall and 17-1 in ACC play, and it also meant the teams split the season series in the long-running Carolina–Duke rivalry.
Caleb Wilson is a freshman standout for the North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball and one of the most highly regarded young players in college basketball. During the 2025-26 season, Wilson quickly became one of the team’s most important players, averaging about 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game while shooting roughly 58% from the field. Because of his size, athleticism, and ability to impact the game on both offense and defense, many analysts view him as a potential lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. However, his freshman season ended early after he first fractured his left hand during a game against Miami on February 10, and then broke his right thumb during a non-contact drill in practice, which required surgery and kept him out for the rest of the season. How distraught was Reese when he heard the news?
The NC State Wolfpack men's basketball finished the 2025-26 regular season 19-12 overall and 10-8 in ACC play, earning roughly the 7th seed in the ACC Tournament. The team struggled down the stretch, losing six of their last seven games, including a close 85-84 loss to Stanford and earlier defeats to Duke, Virginia and Notre Dame, though they had a strong 82–58 win over North Carolina in mid‑February. Under head coach Will Wade, this was a notable improvement over their 12-19 finish in 2024–25. Expectations were high for Darrion Williams, who transferred from Texas Tech after averaging 15.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists and earning All-Big 12 First Team honors. Williams was voted ACC Preseason Player of the Year, and media picked NC State to finish fourth in the ACC, reflecting the belief that his scoring, leadership, and experience could make the Wolfpack a contender. Heading into the ACC Tournament, the team looks to regain momentum and meet those high expectations, despite the late-season slump. Can NC State catch fire in the ACC Tournament?
