Tar Heels Brace for Blue Devils and the “Circus” in Chapel Hill
CHAPEL HILL - Hubert Davis has been around long enough to know that when Duke comes to town, everything changes - even if he’s doing his best to convince his team otherwise.
As North Carolina gears up for Saturday’s primetime clash with No. 4 Duke, Davis has been preaching consistency.
Keep the same practice habits. Stick to the same preparation.
Treat it like any other game. But even he admits, with a smile, “the circus is coming to town.”
That circus? It’s more than just the national spotlight or the ESPN cameras. It’s the energy, the emotion, the history - and yes, the chaos - that always seems to follow when Carolina and Duke collide.
“Being a part of the circus for seven years prepared me for here,” Davis said, referencing his time on ESPN’s College GameDay before joining Roy Williams’ staff. “Being in front of the camera and having to do a ton of public speaking - maybe it put me in a position to feel comfortable [in front of the media].”
Comfort is key, because the stakes are high. The Tar Heels, ranked No. 14 and winners of four straight, are hitting their stride at the right time. At 18-4 overall and 6-3 in the ACC, they’re very much in the hunt - but with just nine regular-season games left, every possession matters.
“This has gone fast,” Davis said. “It is required of us to compete and to play at our highest level right now.”
But when it’s Carolina-Duke, the moment always feels bigger. And for veteran guard Seth Trimble, who’s suiting up for his final home game in this rivalry, the emotions are already starting to build.
“My emotions this year have been high,” Trimble said. “I’m really just cherishing this matchup, this opportunity.”
Trimble’s also taken it upon himself to help his younger teammates - many of whom will be experiencing the rivalry for the first time - understand what’s coming.
“You don’t really understand the stakes of it and what this really means until you’re out on that court Saturday,” he said. “It’s like no other home game all year.”
Freshman forward Caleb Wilson gets it. He’s been on the other side of the rivalry, watching it from the stands as a recruit. He still remembers the electric atmosphere when UNC knocked off Duke in a 93-84 win two years ago - the water flying, the fans roaring, Coach Davis getting doused in celebration.
“Just seeing that atmosphere? It was just exhilarating,” Wilson recalled.
Now, he’ll be in the middle of it. But he’s not letting the hype change his approach.
“Honestly, I approach the game like I approach every other one,” Wilson said. “No matter the atmosphere, no matter the antics before or after the game, it’s just a basketball game.”
That mindset will be tested. Duke isn’t just another team - not this year.
The Blue Devils come in at 21-1 overall, 10-0 in the ACC, riding a 10-game winning streak. They’re led by star freshman Cameron Boozer - a familiar face for Wilson, who played with him in AAU - but Davis made it clear this isn’t about one player.
“There’s a reason why they’re 21 and 1,” Davis said. “It’s not a matchup between one person. It’s a matchup against Duke, and we’re very excited about the challenge.”
And it is a challenge. UNC hasn’t beaten Duke in their last three meetings. Saturday’s showdown is a chance to flip that script - and to make a statement in a season that’s starting to gather real momentum.
For Trimble, the key is simple: stay grounded.
“You have to approach it like another game,” he said. “But then you also have to … block out the circus, what Coach Davis calls it.”
That circus arrives Saturday night in Chapel Hill. The lights will be bright, the crowd will be deafening, and the stakes will feel sky-high. But for the Tar Heels, it’s about channeling all that noise into focus - and turning rivalry emotion into execution.
Because when Duke is on the other side of the floor, there’s no room for anything less than your best.