The junior guards both are likely to go in the first round of the NBA Draft. Both nearly went pro as sophomores last season so the chances that they would stick around after winning the NCAA championship seemed slim at best.
Duke and North Carolina were separated by a single game in the ACC standings heading into Sunday; little did Duke know it, but they nearly had a chance to tie the Tar Heels again. However, games against Boston College and Miami, respectively, ended the wrong way for the Devils.
Boston College 80, Duke 74: The same problems that have plagued the Blue Devils all season -- point guard play as well as lack of an inside presence -- came into play again Sunday afternoon.
Generally, Duke students are not just loud, they're also funny. It's what distinguishes them from everyone else in the country. And not funny in a crude N.C. State-Maryland kind of way, but in an intellectually superior, extremely clever kind of way. Not on Wednesday.
Because Tyler Hansbrough is so dominant and because his will is so universally praised, it's fairly easy for other players on North Carolina's roster to get taken for granted. However, in seeing how dominant Ty Lawson was during UNC's 101-87 win over Duke on Wednesday, that line of thought may warrant rethinking.
Lawson guided UNC's offense to its most points against the Blue Devils since 1995 and scored 21 in the second half himself, helping the the Heels pull away from Duke. In doing so, he proved exactly why he is the most valuable player on UNC's roster this year.
It's not a stretch to say that Duke is not as good as North Carolina. And Mike Krzyzewski is usually not afraid of placating the media by sandbagging his own team or building up an opponent. So hearing him praise the Tar Heels after Wednesday's 101-87 loss to UNC would be no shock whatsoever.
But to see him speak at his press conference following North Carolina's dominant second-half performance, well, there was some apparent exasperation as to how far behind the Tar Heels the Blue Devils actually stand.
There are only four four-year players in the history of college basketball that have swept Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium for their career. Tim Duncan, Rusty LaRue and after Wednesday night, Tyler Hansbrough and Danny Green.
North Carolina's win over Duke closes out a remarkable run for the Tar Heel star and reigning player of the year Hansbrough, and, love him or hate him, his dominance over his arch-rival is a pretty fitting addition to a cap that lacks only the feather of a national championship. The All-American forward downplayed the "record" and thinking about it before tip-off.
Herb Neubauer is a legend at Duke basketball games. You probably know him as "Crazy Towel Guy." (He got his own Wiki page, but it was deleted.) This is because Neubauer, an elderly gentleman and tremendous Duke fan, wildly swings his white towel at least once a game as the students cheer him on. He's so endearing, in fact, that he's basically one of them. So much so that he comes in the student entrance. Witness below, as he chugs a Monster energy drink, smashes it on the ground and freaks out.
It is one of the best rivalries in sport. Despite the presence of Dick Vitale, it is still a must-see game. That both teams are ranked in the top-six only adds to the excitement. Both have had stops at No. 1 in the polls. Both have designs on having a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament.
FanHouse has embedded Will Brinson at Cameron to provide Twitter updates on the liveblog or you can just follow Twitter user: NCAAFanHouse. Join us shortly before 9 PM EST for tonight's live blog.
North Carolina landed some tough news tonight, finding out that both Marcus Ginyard and Will Graves will miss the remainder of the season because of injury and suspension, respectively.
And while the news might have dampened spirits after the game, you couldn't really tell throughout a 108-91 beatdown that saw the Tar Heels hit 16 3-pointers -- seven from Wayne Ellington -- as they inspired an already exuberant Dean Dome crowd that showed up to see whether or not the Tar Heels could break a losing streak against a Maryland team that was suddenly slightly arrogant for no apparent reason.
The Maryland Terrapins haven't lost to the North Carolina Tar Heels since 2005-06. Seems pretty crazy, no? Of course, regardless of that run, you would think Maryland's players would have snuck into tonight's game against Carolina somewhat humbly, having already run their mouths before getting embarrassed by Duke this year.
They did not though. At least Landon Milbourne didn't, anyway. He made sure to point out the streak to the Diamondback, Maryland's student newspaper.
I never was clear why Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington waited until now to make their decision to enter the NBA Draft. The choice was never really in doubt. 
Onion Peels is a recap of last night's action and an unofficial Bill Raftery blog. 
FanHouse was on site for Duke-Carolina. And we have Notes from Cameron Indoor.
FanHouse was on site for Duke-Carolina. And we have Notes from Cameron Indoor.
FanHouse was on site for Duke-Carolina. And we have Notes from Cameron Indoor.
As noted by Shane Bacon, in between Brett Farve's latest retirement (he really means it this time) and Alex Rodriguez admitting to taking something, there is going to be an actual sporting event taking place. The first installment of the North Carolina-Duke game. 
North Carolina landed some tough news tonight, finding out that both Marcus Ginyard and Will Graves will miss the remainder of the season because of injury and suspension, respectively.
The Maryland Terrapins haven't lost to the North Carolina Tar Heels since 2005-06. Seems pretty crazy, no? Of course, regardless of that run, you would think Maryland's players would have snuck into tonight's game against Carolina somewhat humbly, having already run their mouths before getting embarrassed by Duke this year.
