Mike Brey reveals most important factor in Duke-North Carolina Final Four matchup

Having faced both Duke and North Carolina in ACC play this season, Notre Dame coach Mike Brey knows the two blue bloods better than most coaches in the country. With the heated rivals getting ready to face each other in the Final Four on Saturday evening, Brey appeared on ESPN’s College GameDay to reveal the most important factor for both squads.

“I wonder who defends better,” the Fighting Irish coach said. “When we played North Carolina in early January, they were not very interesting in defending. Gifted offensive team. Really gifted. And I think for more of the season — which is probably why they won the regular-season championship — Duke really did defend and mauled us. I mean, we couldn’t even breathe when they thumped us on Big Monday in late January. So defending, I think it’s more of a mental thing. I don’t think it’s much different than the psychology of the game in Cameron not that long ago. I give a lot of credit to the Duke kids. They have played with probably a lot of the weight of the world on them because it’s Mike’s last year, and Carolina — tonight, like in Cameron — can just let it rip. And I think that’s an interesting dynamic yet again.”

Duke won the first meeting between the two teams this season in a dominant 87-67 blowout in Chapel Hill. However, the Tar Heels would get their revenge the second time around, spoiling coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Four different UNC players scored at least 20 points as they claimed the victory in a 94-81 shootout.

Mike Brey believes if Duke is to win Saturday, it has to get back to playing stellar defense. The Blue Devils ranked fourth in the ACC in points allowed per game this season, well ahead of the 12th place Tar Heels. According to advanced stats website KenPom, however, the Blue Devils have the lowest adjusted defensive efficiency rating of any team in the Final Four.

Krzyzewski will aim to continue his storybook final season, as he already surpassed UCLA coach John Wooden with his 13th Final Four appearance this season. He is second all-time in national championship victories with five, which is just half of what Wooden has. However, Coach K leads the NCAA in career wins, with an overall record of 1,129-308.

Tip off between the Tar Heels and Blue Devils is set for 8:49 p.m. ET Saturday in New Orleans.