TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A couple of months ago, most folks had Duke penciled in as the ACC regular-season champ. But after reeling off its sixth straight victory on Wednesday night at Florida State – thanks to a game-winning 3-pointer by Harrison Barnes – No. 13 North Carolina could take the title, and the top seed in the ACC tournament, with a win over the Blue Devils on Saturday.
Shooting guard Dexter Strickland, for one, seems certain it will happen.
“I’m glad it’s home; that will give us a little advantage,’’ the shooting guard said after Wednesday’s victory. “I feel like the last time we played them, we just made mental errors that can be mentally corrected. I think that on Saturday, we’re going to win. I know we’re going to win on Saturday. I have a lot of confidence in myself and in my teammates. And if everybody has the same attitude I do, I know we’re going to win.”
Strickland said his belief isn’t anything new; even back when UNC was struggling, he said he “absolutely” knew his team could be in this position.
“ I knew my potential, and my team’s potential,’’ he said. “All-Americans … we just have to play to our potential. If everyone plays to our potential, who’s going to stop us?”
Robbi Pickeral has covered ACC sports for The News & Observer since 2003. She can be reached at
Comments
I agree with that
Fri, 03/04/2011 - 10:33 — unc098I agree with that
Dexter, Discretion Is The Better Part Of Valor
Thu, 03/03/2011 - 23:49 — Z33221Sometimes he makes a good play, others like in the final 18 seconds last night Dexter shows he's still got a "learning curve." Just show up and play smartly Dexter and forget about comments.
Heels are motivated for national television prime time. CBS Sports gets perfect lead in to March Madness and Heels give Coach K, Singler and Smith an L by five to eight points.
Who's afraid of the big, bad Dukies??? Not Kendall Marshall and the Tar Heels
hahahahaha ol UNC1998 again ....
Thu, 03/03/2011 - 23:46 — TheMambaSTRIKESunc 1998 wrote
"I just can't help but ask just one question of all the Duke fans posting here. Where were you all during football season?"
=========
You cannot be serious !!!!!!!
who gives a flying xxxxxx about the AWFUL and IRRELEVANT ACC football ? Obviously you have way tooooo much time on your hands to follow that ROT GUT football conference!
Immature
Thu, 03/03/2011 - 22:27 — unc098Its like Dexter going 1 on 3 or 4 when he has the option to pass to a wide open teamate. I hate this type of trash talk via the media. Better put up or shut up in my opinion. Heres hoping the Heels bring their A game for 40 minutes because I am sure Doook will. Ok GO HEELS.
I'm not usually one to call opposing fans names...
Thu, 03/03/2011 - 20:53 — UNC1998I just can't help but ask just one question of all the Duke fans posting here. Where were you all during football season? Seriously..... I mean are you Duke fans or just Duke mens basketball fans? This is not an inidictment of any alums of Duke or any of the 2000 Duke fans I saw when attending UNC's victory at WW "stadium" this past football season.
I don't really like what Strickland said, but I think it's good he's confident enough to say it. There is the whole mentality of "saying it on the field of play", and I generally think that more effective. Not that it really matters a great deal, but I also believe UNC will win Saturday. If I'm wrong so be it. If I'm right so be that. ACC champs is a good accomplishment for a team with only one player leaving from the top 7/8 (depending on injuries). The future is very bright for UNC basketball. The present isn't too shabby either.
Can't speak for everyone
Thu, 03/03/2011 - 22:13 — duke_blueCan't speak for everyone else, but I was here posting just as much during football season as I do during basketball. No fair-weather fan here. Duke fan thru all of the seasons.
As far as the article is concerned...I don't care what Strickland states. We will see who shows up Saturday and who doesn't. Just keep poking that bear.
Duke blue
Fri, 03/04/2011 - 09:45 — gvillegatrI think I speak for every single poster who has ever posted here: you are the only Duke poster anyone gives any credence to. You are the exception to UNC1998 post.
Indeed...
Fri, 03/04/2011 - 17:51 — UNC1998I know a couple of those Iron Dukies, and they're Duke all the way through. Those are not the ones I was asking about. As for who cares about ACC football... for one, I do. I care a great deal..... more than I do about ACC basketball (which is a declining product).
g-alligator-aka redpussy!!!!!!
Fri, 03/04/2011 - 11:46 — bluecat69bluecat69WHAT ABOUT ME? DUKE BY 20 SAT. GO CHAMPS!!
stupidity
Thu, 03/03/2011 - 20:29 — saltydawg1to keep suggesting that K faked his back problem, is the heighth of stupidity!!!
Gvillegator is sore cause K has whipped his tar holes 20 out of the last 29, and three in a row, with a whipping last year this time, worse than anything the holes have ever been able to do to Duke.
The holes have lucked out two two-point wins recently now that's really awesome!!!
Ignorance is bliss
Fri, 03/04/2011 - 09:41 — gvillegatrWhere has anyone said anything about "faking a hip issue?" I've never said that. It was simply CONVENIENT that he decided to leave for his replacement at that time. He'd had problems for yrs. What's another couple of months ? ...
Game on
Thu, 03/03/2011 - 18:48 — jimmyveritasshould be fun. It's the way rivalries should be and lets hope for a good game. How many flops with Ryan Kelly have during the game? UNC just needs to make it a 2 on 5 game. Smith and Singler, and let us see if Curry shows up this time. That's the difference right there. It's great playing on Saturday night as well. Glad Singler and Smith went out on top at Hansborough Indoor Stadium!!!
Pete Gaudet
Put up or...
Thu, 03/03/2011 - 17:50 — Fedup09Talk is cheap Dexter. Thanks for the inspiration.
What's cheap is ...
Thu, 03/03/2011 - 18:11 — gvillegatrwhen The Rat bagged the 95-96 season after he figured out his team sucked. Then having that teams records wiped from his record bc it was an embarrassment. That's what's cheap !
wasn't that last year.....
Thu, 03/03/2011 - 23:49 — TheMambaSTRIKESwhen the team kicked Roy to the curb and vice versa.....on the way to the ACC outhouse by way of the NIT?
MAMBY!!
Fri, 03/04/2011 - 11:49 — bluecat69bluecat69VERY WELL PUT!!!! GO DUKE-CHAMPS--BY 20 SAT.
You guys don't get it
Fri, 03/04/2011 - 09:33 — gvillegatrUNC makes no excuses for last season and Coach Williams didn't "run for the Hills" when he easily could have with vertigo (worse than a hip bc there is no sure fire procedure).
UNC fans and anyone really will never forget the way that season went down including the handling of Pete Gaudet which is the worse of it all.
In addition
Fri, 03/04/2011 - 13:17 — SurferAnd shoulder surgery, as well, IIRC.
Really gville?....You have
Thu, 03/03/2011 - 22:11 — duke_blueReally gville?....You have absolutely nothing else to talk about so you try to drag up old stupid dribble. It's 2011 get over it already.
Heels v Devils
Thu, 03/03/2011 - 16:47 — kdm98I doubt that Duke needs any motivation other than the ACC Championship, #1 Tournament Seed and #1 NCAA seed. This game means more to Duke than UNC. Even with a win, I don't see UNC higher than a #3 seed, but a Duke loss could easily mean a #2 seed for them.
Heels win out
Thu, 03/03/2011 - 18:05 — gvillegatrand they are easily a 2 seed. If "crazy" happens, (and it does) UNC could possibly be a 1 seed. And, yes, a whole lot of "crazy" has to happen.
g-alligator-aka redpussy!!!!!!
Fri, 03/04/2011 - 11:53 — bluecat69bluecat69WHAT ARE U SMOKING? NO 1 SEED, U NEED TO START LINING UP YOUR EXCUSES FOR THE 20 PT. BEATING THAT CARAWHINA IS ABOUT TO RECEIVE, GO DUKE-CHAMPS!!!!!
hahahahahaha
Thu, 03/03/2011 - 23:51 — TheMambaSTRIKESYou can not be serious....you're talking about the gang that can't shoot straight.......
Good to see you !
Fri, 03/04/2011 - 09:17 — gvillegatrWe sure have missed you over the last couple of months. Your presence is always warm and accurate. UNC has been predictability terrible since your gloom and doom posts of late December. Thx for coming back to the fold to give us a "I told you so." Damn, you were so right.
Sincerely, ACCNow posters !
Ridiculous
Thu, 03/03/2011 - 16:53 — heelsno1It is Dook v. Heels...it means a lot to both sides!
Yes sir !!
Thu, 03/03/2011 - 13:18 — gvillegatrI'm walking around The Magic Kingdom with a little more of a "chip on my shoulder" today with the UNC bball shirt on !
No problem with this
Thu, 03/03/2011 - 13:12 — Heels20As long as he backs it up.
Strickland
Thu, 03/03/2011 - 11:52 — SweetsieYou are right heelsno1. Dexter's dumb shot with about 18 seconds left last night almost cost the Heels the game. This mouthing is also a huge mistake. Do you think that you can find a press clip of this article in the Duke locker room as we speak. You can safely bet on it. It is stupid to provide the other team with motivation. Some never learn. Whooping Dook is like whooping Festus Hagan in the old Gunsmoke episodes. When threatened with a whooping, ol Festus responded by saying that, "it will take a heap of doing". Whether home or away "whooping the dookies" will take a heap of doing. All I can say is shut up Dexter and Go Heels!
Dexter, Dexter...
Thu, 03/03/2011 - 10:20 — heelsno1Your late-game mental error and turnover almost cost the FSU game. Perform first...talk later.