Daily Word: Keys to Duke-UNC matchup

Each weekday, our college hoops experts discuss the biggest issues, trends and themes in college basketball.

1. What is the biggest key in the Duke-North Carolina matchup?

Andy Katz: North Carolina's defense. How will the Tar Heels defend Duke's driving game and perimeter shooting? If the Tar Heels lock down on Duke, it could be a double-figure victory. If not, Duke has a real shot to win in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels have let teams hang around too long this season.

Myron Medcalf: Duke can't get bullied in the lane by a North Carolina team that's led the country in paint points per game. That's why Marshall Plumlee might be the most important player on the court tonight. The Blue Devils need him to be strong as a rebounder and interior defender. He also has to avoid early foul trouble.

Eamonn Brennan: In February, Coach K has -- surprise, surprise -- done a really nice job mixing things up and minimizing his team's disadvantages on the low block.Brandon Ingram's continueddevelopment and positional flexibility has been a huge help. But Myron is on it: Duke hasn't seen a frontcourt like North Carolina's all season. Can they keepBrice JohnsonandCo. from dominating the offensive glass? Can they make Carolina a perimeter shooting team? If so, can the Tar Heels -- who showed signs of being improved from 3 early in the season, then struggled through much of ACC play, only to get hot at Pitt last weekend -- knock those shots down?

2. Can Temple knock off Villanova? If so, how will the Owls do it?

Katz: Patience. Temple needs to control the tempo and the flow of the game. Temple doesn't need to get into a track meet with Villanova. The game is at Temple, but there will likely be plenty of Wildcats fans. So it should be interesting to see how much of a home-court advantage exists.

Medcalf: Anything can happen. But Nova won't lose that game. Temple's best chance for an upset would demand a high defensive turnover rate. The Wildcats committed turnovers on 21 percent of their possessions in a loss to Providence on Jan. 24, their only loss in nearly two months. But Temple hasn't pressured teams like that this season.

Brennan: If there is a universal anti-Villanova stratagem -- and I'm not sure there is -- it may be your ability, and willingness, to defend from the inside out. If that means occasionally leaving those shooters spaced around the arc open, that's the tradeoff you make. The Wildcats are always willing to launch from deep. Accuracy-wise, they're streaky at best, but it doesn't matter: Jay Wright is happy to play the odds that if his team shoots more 3s than yours, he'll usually win, and he's right. Villanova is especially lethal from inside the arc, though. If you can take one of those two things away -- and again, I'm not sure you can -- you sell out on interior defense and team rebounding. If the 3s fall, tip your cap. If not, you're in business.

3. Texas Tech got routed the first time it played Oklahoma. Any chance the Red Raiders make it a little closer this time around?

Katz: Yes. Texas Tech coach Tubby Smith said the Red Raiders are better prepared for the second time around the Big 12 slate. This team is playing with so much more confidence. As Smith said, there are opportunities ahead for the Red Raiders to play into the NCAA tournament.

Medcalf: Smith is getting the most from that team right now. They're playing with confidence after securing wins over Iowa State and Baylor (on the road). Lubbock is a dangerous trip right now for any Big 12 team. Smith's squad could get the upset.

Brennan: Sure. They're not in Norman, for one, which helps. Texas Tech is also getting Oklahoma at a moment when the former is playing its best basketball of the season and the latter is playing its worst. As beatingBuddy Hieldand Co. goes, I'm not sure Smith could ask for much more.