updated 11:09 p.m.

NEWARK, N.J. -- This time a year ago, North Carolina didn’t quite know whether to celebrate or hibernate as it packed its bags for the NIT semi-finals.

Now, just one win away from the NCAA Final Four, there is no question.

“I’m just so happy, so glad,’’ Tar Heels sophomore Leslie McDonald said, grinning earlobe to earlobe after UNC’s dominating 81-63 victory over 11th-seeded Marquette. “It’s a [180] turnaround… a year ago, I don’t know whether anyone would have expected us to be in the Elite Eight.”

Especially in such dominating fashion.

North Carolina’s basketball players were up and moving by mid-morning today in preparation for tonight’s NCAA East semifinal game against Marquette in The Prudential Center (7:15 p.m., CBS).

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - With three senior starters gone from last season, Duke’s players and coaches like to say they have a new team that’s still figuring out how to play.

In the top-ranked Blue Devils’ first real challenge, they learned that sophomore center Mason Plumlee is capable of carrying the team to an extent that wasn’t possible a season ago.

Plumlee, who’s been elevated to the starting lineup this season, scored 18 of his career-high 25 points in the second half Monday night as Duke defeated a tenacious Marquette team 82-77 in the semifinals of the CBE Classic.

• UNC's schedule
• Duke's schedule
• Composite ACC schedule 

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