Clears: Elite 8 opponents Duke and NC State are

• Adam Teicher, ESPN Staff WriterMar 30, 2024, 08:30 PM ET

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DALLAS– The Duke Blue Devils and NC State Wolfpack did all of their regular preparation for Sunday’s Elite 8 matchup in the South Region in terms of video research study and game planning.Each team probably could have opted for a lot less work. With both remaining in the ACC, the teams have played two games versus one another in March. The schools are separated by only 25 miles, so the Blue Devils and Wolfpack have to do with as knowledgeable about one another as 2 teams can be.

“It’s not like there are a lot of secrets out there in between either one of us,”Duke coach Jon Scheyer stated on Saturday. “I think it’s quite clear both methods.

“We’ve constantly had big-time games against them, very competitive. They have actually had their style of play. So have we. It’s going to be a big-time battle regardless of whether it’s in the NCAA tournament, ACC competition, regular-season game. There’s constantly a lot at stake and this is no exception.”Editor’s Picks

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Each team won among the two earlier games. Duke won 79-64 at NC State on March 4. NC State returned the favor with a 74-69 success at the ACC competition in Washington D.C., 2 weeks ago.Scheyer stated

NC State, winner of 8 straight games, is better defensively and a much better rebounding team than it was earlier in the season. He said the biggest modification in the Wolfpack is that it is now a positive group that expects to win every game.NC State is at times buried by the distance and success of not only Duke however the North Carolina Tar Heels. Up until the Wolfpack started their eight-game winning streak, this season was a case in point. The Tar Heels were the No. 1 seed in the NCAA competition’s West Region. Duke was ranked all season.NC State needed

to win five ACC competition games in five days to get into the NCAA tournament.”You need to carve out your own space,”Wolfpack coach Kevin Keatts said.”I never wanted to be compared to Duke or Carolina. It’s simply not who I am. We do things a little bit differently.2024 Men’s College Basketball Championship Chances”We’ve done a

excellent job. We’re champs … and we have an opportunity to win another championship and another tournament.”Given the expectations of the respective teams heading into the NCAA competition– Duke a 4-seed, NC State an 11-seed– it’s simple to conclude all the pressure is on heaven Devils in the Elite 8 game.But Duke, with its roster regularly equipped with leading employees, can fairly expect to make a deep tournament run again next season. NC State hasn’t been to the Elite Eight considering that 1986. So this may be a once-in-a-generation chance for the Wolfpack. “We don’t take a look at it as [

having fun with] home cash,”Keatts stated.”We do think we have

something to lose. I understand that’s how it looks when you come in as an 11-seed [but] these guys are here to win.” Here’s a closer take a look at the 2 earlier games between Duke and NC State.March 4 at NC State: Duke 79, NC State 64 Duke led 33-30 at halftime however broke the game open in the second half. DJ Burns Jr. led all scorers with 27 points

though the Blue Devils had the edge in points off turnovers (20-9)and points off the bench (17-7 ). March 14 in the ACC tournament quarterfinal: NC State 74, Duke 69 The Wolfpack this time had balanced scoring, with five players tape-recording double figures. NC State had 21 points

off the bench; Duke had none. Kyle Filipowski led all scorers with
28 points.