Sports

Duke vs UNC Postponement Creates Difficult Stretches For Both Teams As they Close Out Season

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As if the Duke and UNC rivalry could intensify any more, it has and the postponement of their Feb. 12 matchup creates a particularly difficult week for both teams.

Starting Monday, ESPN reported, Feb. 17, North Carolina will have to play Florida State at home, then come home to host Duke Thursday and Wake Forest Saturday. North Carolina has won five in a row and will host Pitt Saturday.

At 6-4 in the ACC, North Carolina could potentially surpass Duke for third place with a sweep of their upcoming four games. Duke, on the other hand, may have a harder time hanging on to third place as well as catching either Virginia or Syracuse.

On Tuesday, Feb. 18, Duke will travel to Georgia Tech before being in Chapel Hill Thursday and then hosting Syracuse Saturday. Duke lost 91-89 in overtime on the road against Syracuse Feb. 1, so Coach K and company may be itching to get another shot at the nation's top team.

Wednesday's postponement was announced more than three hours before the game's 9 p.m. scheduled tipoff. UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham said in a statement that postponing the game was "the best decision to make at this time."

Duke's bus reportedly could not make it to Durham to pick up the team and take them 11 miles to Chapel Hill amidst a severe winter storm.

Regardless, UNC coach Roy Williams greeted fans, while in shorts, who braved icy and cold conditions to wait outside for the game to begin, ESPN reported.

According to ACC policy, games may be played despite bad weather conditions as long as teams, coaches, officials and operation staff members can safely make it to the game.

Dubbed the premier rivalry in college hoops, Duke and UNC are scheduled to end their regular season against each other, but time will tell if they meet again afterward.

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