UNC Faces Familiar Test: Can the Tar Heels Avoid Another Pre-Duke Trap Game?
For North Carolina, the biggest rivalry game of the year looms large. Duke is on deck.
The hype will build, the headlines will write themselves, and the energy in Chapel Hill will be electric by the weekend. But before the Tar Heels can shift their full attention to the Blue Devils, there’s a familiar-and potentially dangerous-hurdle standing in the way.
That hurdle is Monday night’s matchup against Syracuse. And if recent history is any indication, this is exactly the kind of game that’s tripped UNC up before.
A Pattern That’s Hard to Ignore
Since 2020, North Carolina has struggled mightily in the games that come just before the Duke showdown. These are the so-called “trap games”-midweek matchups that, on paper, should be manageable, but in practice have proven anything but. The numbers tell the story: UNC is 1-5 in these pre-Duke contests over the last six seasons, and they’re currently riding a three-game losing streak in that specific spot on the schedule.
The losses haven’t been flukes, either. In 2023, it was Jeff Capel’s Pittsburgh squad that escaped Chapel Hill with a one-point win, 65-64.
In 2024, the Tar Heels went down to Atlanta and came up short again, falling 74-73 to Georgia Tech. And last season, Pittsburgh struck again-this time with a double-digit win that made it clear UNC’s focus may have already shifted to their Tobacco Road rival.
This isn’t just about bad luck. It’s about timing, focus, and execution. And it’s a trend that Hubert Davis and his team need to snap-fast.
Why Monday Night Matters
The setup for this latest trap game is all too familiar. The Tar Heels are coming off a road trip to Atlanta, one that saw them return home late Saturday night. Sunday was a quick turnaround with practice squeezed in, and now they’re facing a Monday night tipoff against a Syracuse team that, while struggling of late, is still dangerous enough to catch a team napping.
Add in the wintry conditions in Chapel Hill-icy roads, snow in the area-and the distractions are already piling up. And with Duke just days away, it would be easy for players to start looking ahead. But that’s exactly the mindset that’s gotten UNC into trouble in the past.
This isn’t about overlooking Syracuse. It’s about respecting the rhythm of the season.
The Tar Heels have been building something over the last few games-a three-game winning streak, growing chemistry, and a sense of momentum that’s starting to feel real. Dropping a game now, especially one they’ll be favored to win, would be a gut punch heading into the biggest week of the season.
The Task at Hand
Hubert Davis knows what’s at stake. His team can’t afford to let its guard down.
Syracuse may have lost four of its last five, but that’s exactly what makes them dangerous. They’re desperate, and desperate teams can be unpredictable.
If UNC comes out flat, or if they start thinking about Cameron Indoor before the final buzzer sounds Monday night, they could find themselves on the wrong end of another upset.
This is about discipline. It’s about maturity. And it’s about proving that this year’s Tar Heels are different from the versions that stumbled at this same point in years past.
So yes, Duke is coming. But right now, the only opponent that matters is Syracuse.
Handle business Monday night, and the stage will be set for another classic rivalry clash. But first, the Tar Heels have to pass the test that’s tripped them up far too often.