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Why Duke won

Mike Krzyzewski said Duke's defense starts with on-the-ball pressure, and MVP Nolan Smith's passion and desire for defensive intensity went from tip to final horn. Duke limited UNC to 21-of-62 shooting (33.9 percent).

Why UNC lost

Hustle, physical play and defense failed the Tar Heels. Duke's team, sans Nolan Smith, was 14-for-18 in the first half and Duke shot 50 percent for the game. UNC only forced 12 turnovers.

Records

Duke 30-4, North Carolina 26-7

Play of the game

Duke's shots went in, Carolina's big one didn't. Seth Curry hit a 3-pointer after UNC cut its deficit to nine, and with the Heels down 10 and the lighter blue in the coliseum howling, Harrison Barnes rose for a 3-pointer — the kind he didn't miss in a 40-point semifinal win. It clanged out, Ryan Kelly made a corner 3 after Nolan Smith drove into the lane and passed to him, and Duke's 13-point lead was plenty.

The key player

Nolan Smith won the Everett Case Award as MVP, but as much or more because of his defense. His work on freshman Kendall Marshall was a repeat performance of lockdowns against Maryland freshman Terrell Stoglin and Virginia Tech senior Malcolm Delaney.

What they're saying

"Duke did a great job of denying with full frontal on the wings, and that's unorthodox, not many do that. You have to vary your cuts, make some deep long cuts. If we had, it would have been easier to get him the ball."
— UNC's Kendall Marshall, on trying to find Harrison Barnes

"That was a big shot. It was good to have the confidence to take it. It took some guts, and I'm glad I took it."
— Ryan Kelly, on his 3-pointer that gave Duke a 69-56 lead

Noting the game

John Henson had 11 of his 18 rebounds in the second half. ... Duke role players Ryan Kelly, Seth Curry and Miles Plumlee took three of the four charges drawn. ... Blue Devils not named Kyle Singler or Nolan Smith combined to shoot 69 percent (18-for-26)

Up next

Both teams will open play Friday at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte.

Duke, the No. 1 seed in the West, will play MEAC champion Hampton  (3:10 p.m., truTV). It is the 12th time that Duke has a No. 1 seed.

North Carolina, the No. 2 seed in the East, will play Long Island University (7:15 p.m., WFMY-2). LIU won the Northeast Conference title.

DUKE (30-4)

Smith 6-18 7-7 20, Ma. Plumlee 3-5 0-2 6, Singler 5-14 0-0 11, Mi. Plumlee 4-4 1-4 9, Curry 4-6 0-1 11, Thornton 0-0 0-0 0, Hairston 0-0 0-0 0, Dawkins 3-4 0-0 9, Kelly 4-7 0-1 9. Totals 29-58 8-15 75.

NORTH CAROLINA (26-7)

Strickland 0-0 0-0 0, Marshall 3-10 2-4 8, Henson 4-15 2-3 10, Barnes 6-15 3-4 16, Zeller 5-11 4-6 14, McDonald 1-6 3-4 6, Watts 0-0 0-0 0, Knox 2-5 0-0 4. Totals 21-62 14-21 58.

Duke 42 33 — 75
North Carolina 28 30 — 58

3-point goals—Duke 9-20 (Dawkins 3-4, Curry 3-5, Kelly 1-2, Smith 1-3, Singler 1-6), North Carolina 2-8 (Barnes 1-4, McDonald 1-4).

Percentages—Duke (FG .500, FT .533), North Carolina (FG .339, FT .667).

Fouled out—None.

Rebounds—Duke 36 (Singler 8), North Carolina 44 (Henson 18).

Team rebounds—Duke 4, North Carolina 5.

Assists—Duke 14 (Smith 10), North Carolina 8 (Marshall 4).

Blocked shots—Duke 4 (Kelly 3), North Carolina 5 (Zeller 3).

Turnovers—Duke 12 (Singler 4), North Carolina 16 (Marshall 5).

Steals—Duke 7 (Kelly 3), North Carolina 4 (McDonald 3).

Total fouls—Duke 20, North Carolina 16.

A—23,381.

Officials—Karl Hess, Bryan Kersey, Jamie Luckie.