Live Blogging: 2018 ACC Semifinals: North Carolina Tar Heels at Duke Blue Devils 03/09/2018

ACC Semifinals: North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Duke Blue Devils ESPN TV Broadcast 03/09/2018

Hello and welcome to another edition of 'Live Blogging on Shish on College Basketball'. Tonight it is a marquee matchup in the ACC Tournament, as North Carolina and Duke play in the ACC Semifinals. North Carolina comes in with wins over Syracuse and Miami (FL). While Duke comes into this game with a win over Notre Dame.  A win by either team plus a win in tomorrow's Championship Game, and either team could have a #1 seed in next week's tournament.

North Carolina won the first matchup at Chapel Hill by a score of 82-78 .  Duke won their home version of this rivalry with a score of 74-64.  The story about this year's versions of Duke and Carolina is that they switched their styles.  Duke known for their guard play and shooting, is known this year for their inside game. Whereas North Carolina known for their inside game, is more of a shooting team. 

Statisically the Tar Heels are led by Joel Berry II in scoring. Luke Maye leads North Carolina in rebounding. And Theo Pinson leads the team in assists. As for the Duke leaders they are: Marvin Bagley III in scoring and rebounding. While Trevon Duval leads the Blue Devils in assists. 

It is North Carolina and Duke in the ACC Semifinals. The winner will play the Clemson/Virginia tomorrow night. This 3rd installment of the Duke/Carolina rivalry will begin shortly.

Game Location: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY 

Possible Starting Lineups:
#6 North Carolina Tar Heels:
G: J. Berry II
G: K. Williams
G: C. Johnson
F: T. Pinson
F: L. Maye

#2 Duke Blue Devils:
G: T. Duval
G: G. Allen
G: G. Trent Jr.
F: W. Carter Jr.
F: M. Bagley III
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North Carolina in powder blue. Duke is in white.

1st Half:
20:00: Duke wins the tipoff. North Carolina will have the Possession Aroow, in their favor. 
18:56: Carter makes 1 of 2 free throws. UNC 0, Duke 1
18:43: Pinson with a layup. UNC 2, Duke 1
17:18: Injury Timeout: Trevon Duval is injured on the floor. Duval is going to have to be helped off the court. O'Connell will replace Duval.
16:12: Maye with a jump shot and a foul. Maye missed a free throw. UNC 4, Duke 1
15:42: Duke commits a shot clock violation. 
15:42: T.V. Timeout #1: UNC 4, Duke 1
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15:33: Johnson with a 3-point FG. UNC 7, Duke 1
15:02: Berry with a 3-point FG. UNC 10, Duke 1
14:49: Trent with a jump shot. UNC 10, Duke 3
14:31: Williams with a 3-point FG. UNC 13, Duke 3
14:01: Brooks with a jump shot. UNC 15, Duke 3
13:00: Brooks makes 1 of 2 free throws. UNC 16, Duke 3
13:00: Trevon Duval returns to the game. 
11;57: T.V. Timeout #2: UNC 16, Duke 3

11:57: Bagley makes both free throws. UNC 16, Duke 5
11:18: Maye makes a jump shot. UNC 18, Duke 5
10:58: Kenny Williams fouls Grayson Allen behind the 3-point FG. 
10:58: Allen makes 2 of 3 free throws. UNC 18, Duke 7
9:54: Bagley with a dunk. UNC 18, Duke 9
9:21: Trent with a 3-point FG. UNC 18, Duke 12
8:44: Bagley with a dunk to cut the Tar Heel lead to four. UNC 18, Duke 14
7:57: Maye stops the Tar Heel bleeding with a jump shot. UNC 20, Duke 14
7:02: Allen with a 3-point FG. UNC 20, Duke 17
6:48: Brooks with a dunk. UNC 22, Duke 17
6:38: T.V. Timeout #3: UNC 22, Duke 17
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6:20: Manley with a tip in . UNC 24, Duke 17
5:31: Trent makes both free throws. UNC 24, Duke 19
5:17: Manley with a jump shot. UNC 26, Duke 19
4:19: Bagley with a jump shot. UNC 26, Duke 21
3:47: Carter with a dunk. UNC 26, Duke 23
3:25: Trent with a jump shot. UNC 26, Duke 25
3:05: Tar Heels Timeout #1: UNC 26, Duke 25

2;02: Bagley with a jump shot. UNC 26, Duke 27
1:44: Berry with a 3-point FG. UNC 29, Duke 27
1:18: B​rooks makes 1 of 2 free throws. UNC 30, Duke 27
:54: Williams with a jump shot. UNC 32, Duke 27
:52.7: OFFICIAL REVIEW: Officials reviewing what caused Brooks to fall. It appears Grayson Allen put his back side in the way of Garrison Brooks. Grayson Allen called for a flagrant 1 foul. North Carolina will shoot 2 free throws and the ball. 
:52.7: Brooks made both free throws. UNC 34, Duke 27
:46.2: Both teams are in the Bonus. 
:46.2: Allen makes both free throws. UNC 34, Duke 29
:05.4: Trent makes 1 of 2 free throws. UNC 34, Duke 31
:00: Johnson with the layup to end the 1st Half. UNC 36, Duke 31
:00: North Carolina will inbound the ball to start the 2nd Half.

Halftime: 
UNC 36, Duke 31

Halftime Leaders:
Scoring: G. Trent Jr. (Duke) 11 points
Rebounding: M. Bagley III (Duke) 6 rebounds
Assists: K. Williams (UNC) 6 assists

Halftime Thoughts:
Carolina is twice as better than Duke in 3-point shooting. The Tar Heels are shooting 44.4%, while the Blue Devils are at 22.2%. 

Top 25 Scores:

2nd Half: 
20:00: North Carolina inbounds the ball to start the 2nd Half. Duke will have the Possession Arrow, in their favor. 
19:27: Carter with a layup. UNC 36, Duke 33
19:03: Maye with a jump shot UNC 38, Duke 33
18:33; Maye wtih a tipin. UNC 40, Duke 33
18:07: Carter with a jump shot. UNC 40, Duke 35
17:55: Johnson with a jump shot. UNC 42, Duke 35
17:28: Bagley III with a layup. UNC 42, Duke 37
17:28: Blue Devils Timeout #1: UNC 42, Duke 37
17:15: Williams makes a jump shot. UNC 44, Duke 37
16:30: Berry makes both free throws. UNC 46, Duke 37
16:12: Carter makes both free throws. UNC 46, Duke 39
15:55: Maye makes a layup. UNC 48, Duke 39
15:32; T.V. Timeout #1: UNC 48, Duke 39

14:36: Carter makes both free throws. UNC 48, Duke 41
14:26: Pinson with a jump shot. UNC 50, Duke 41
14:14: Bagley III with a layuip. UNC 50, Duke 43
13:48: Manley with a jam. UNC 52, Duke 43
12:59: Pinson with a layup. UNC 54, Duke 43
12:22; Berry makes both free throws. UNC 56, Duke 43
12:02: Bagley with a jam. UNC 56, Duke 45
​11:20: T.V. Timeout #2: UNC 56, Duke 45
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11:20: Bagley makes 1 of 2 free throws. UNC 56, Duke 46
11:00: Berry makes a 3-point FG. UNC 59, Duke 46
10:40: Trent with a jump shot. UNC 59, Duke 48
10:10: Williams makes a 3-point FG. UNC 62, Duke 48
9:50: Trent with a FG. UNC 62, Duke 50
9:35: Allen with a 3-point FG. UNC 62, Duke 53
9:20: Maye with a jump shot. UNC 64, Duke 53
8:37: Jump Ball! Duke Ball! North Carolna will have the Possessio Arrow, in their favor. 
8:14: Maye makes 1 of 2 free throws. UNC 65, Duke 53
7:52: Brooks makes a dunk. UNC 67, Duke 53
7:04: Trent with a layup. UNC 67, Duke 55
6:44: Johnson with a 3-point FG. UNC 70, Duke 55
6:36: Blue Devils Timeout: UNC 70, Duke 55
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6:29: Carter makes 1 of 2 free throws. UNC 70, Duke 56
6:29: Pinson with 4 fouls for the Tar Heels.
5:34: Maye with a jump shot. UNC 72, Duke 56
5:21: Allen with a 3-point FG. UNC 72, Duke 59
4:14: Carter with a layup. UNC 72, Duke 61
3:34: T.V. Timeout #4: UNC 72, Duke 61
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3:34: Bagley makes both free throws. UNC 72, Duke 63
1:50: Allen makes a 3-point FG. UNC 72, Duke 66
1:47: Blue Devils Final Timeout: UNC 72, Duke 66
1:47: Duke is in the Bonus. 
1:03: Tar Heels Timeout #2: UNC 72, Duke 66
:51: Trent with a 3-point FG. UNC 72, Duke 69
:17: Grayson Allen called for an offensive foul.
:11: Pinson loses the ball out of bounds. Duke Ball. 
:11.8: Tar Heels Timeout #3: UNC 72, Duke 69
​:03: Allen misses a 3-point FG. 
:03.2: Pinson makes both free throws. UNC 74, Duke 69
:00: The game is over. 

Final:
UNC 74, Duke 69
North Carolina will face Virginia Cavaliers tomorrow night for the ACC Championship. 

​Final Leaders:
Scoring: G. Trent, Jr. (Duke) 20 points
Rebounding: M. Bagley III (Duke) 13 rebounds
Assists: Duval/Pinson 7 assists

Final Thoughts:
Well North Carolina brought the defense tonight. They forced the Blue Devils to 18 turnovers. North Carolina's chances for a #1 seed continues, as they will play Virginia tomorrow nights. As for the Blue Devils, they will be #2 seed in next week's tournament. 

This is Paul Shishkoff, Jr. This has been 'Live Blogging on Shish on College Basketball'. Thanks for visiting this page. 
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