HELLO BLOG READERS! Sitting here from New Jersey with a dark blue "Go to Hell Carolina" shirt, it's the official Awful Announcing Duke/UNC blog. I'll be live blogging this one tonight, and while pouring my heart out for Duke and not listening to Dick Vitale, I'll also be plugging my new blog. Here's some important info:

DUKE is 5-4 in conference, lost two in a row, both by two points or less. They need a win here badly or could go into a tailspin unlike any other. Watch for Josh McRoberts tonight. He seems to be Duke's only option as a playmaker because Nelson has not been great recently. He will also have to defend Tyler Hansborough unless Zoubeck comes in. They'll get a ton of momentum from the Crazies tonight.

Meanwhile, UNC is the class of this conference and one of the best teams in the NCAA's right now. Ranked #5, they are also winning the ACC, and can truly solidify that first place ranking with a win tonight. They won this game last year, and are the better and deeper team, so expect a stong effort. Watch for freshman Ty Lawson. Duke is suceptible to the long range shot, and he will also have to force turnovers from Paulus.

Prediction:
It will be close, but unless Duke and UNC switch uni's pregame, I've got to pick UNC
Duke-69
Carolina-76