We're running a tournament to find out who is the best ACC Team of all-time. Read more about it here.
Today's elite 8 matchup features the 12 seed North Carolina Tarheels 1980-81 against the 13 seed Duke Blue Devils 1998-99.
Duke 98-99 Path
UNC 80-81 Path
Game 1
Duke 98-99: 90
UNC 80-81: 59
Duke leads the series 1-0
Notes: Elton Brand led Duke with 23 points and the Blue Devils made an amazing 70% of their shots from the floor in game one. The score was really never close, as the Blue Devils jumped out of the game on a 15-0 run. Corey Maggette added 15 points and William Avery added 14 points, while Trajan Langdon and Chris Burgess also scored double-figures with 13 and 10, respectively. James Worthy led the Heels with 21 points and Sam Perkins added 12 points in the game one loss.
Game 2
UNC 80-81: 74
Duke 98-99: 61
The series is tied 1-1
Notes: A game after Duke shot 70% from the floor, Dean Smith's team made a few adjustments and forced 11 Duke turnovers and held the Blue Devils to 42% shooting in game two. Sam Perkins led the UNC offense with a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds and Jimmy Black (15 pts, 4 asts) and James Worthy (14 pts, 6 rebs) also added double-figures. The Heels decided to swarm Elton Brand every time he touched the ball, and forced Brand into a 1-6 shooting night where he was held to just 7 points. Shane Battier led Duke in scoring with 12 points, although 10 of his 12 were scored from the free throw line.
Game 3
Duke 98-99: 86
UNC 80-81: 77
Duke leads the series 2-1
Notes: Elton Brand bounced back after a tough game two, to score 18 points and add 11 rebounds to lead a balanced Duke attack. Trajan Langdon added 14 points, while William Avery (13 pts), Shane Battier (13 pts), and Corey Maggette (12 pts) also added double-figures. Al Wood scored 29 points on 12-15 shooting to lead the Heels and keep them remotely close, but Wood didn't get enough help in game three.
Game 4
UNC 80-81: 73
Duke 98-99: 63
The series is tied 2-2
Notes: James Worthy scored 19 points and dominated the boards grabbing 16 rebounds to keep UNC alive in the series. Sam Perkins added 14 points and 5 rebounds and Jimmy Black scored 10 points to provide scoring balance for the Heels. UNC held Trajan Langdon and Elton Brand to a combined 17 points on 5-14 shooting and the team to 45% shooting in the win. Chris Carrawell kept Duke close for most of the game as the versatile forward scored 21 points to lead the Blue Devils.
Game 5
Duke 98-99: 80
UNC 80-81: 76
Duke wins the series 3-2
Notes: Elton Brand finished with 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks and 4 big free throws that proved to be the difference in the series deciding fifth game. Trajan Langdon (14 pts), Corey Maggette (12 pts), and William Avery (12 pts) also added double-figures in the win. Al Wood scored 28 points on 10-15 shooting and Sam Perkins finished with a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds. Duke 98-99 moves on to the final four to face the #1 seed Duke 91-92 team.
Tomorrow, #2 UNC 08-09 takes on #10 NC State 82-83 with a chance to go to the final four on the line.
