Just three days after a Super Bowl for the ages, the college basketball gods look ready to deliver a Super Bowl-caliber game of their own. It’s Duke vs. North Carolina, for the 224th time.

No. 2 DUKE (19–1, 7–0 ACC) At No. 3 NORTH CAROLINA (21–1, 6–1)
Tonight, 9 p.m., ESPN

For all the hype that the Tobacco Road rivalry receives, it’s usually warranted. In the 53-year history of the Atlantic Coast Conference, Duke and Carolina have combined for 42 regular season titles. The two teams rank among the nation’s elite just about every year. Their campuses are separated by just eight miles. And the two schools share a blood feud that’s as intense as any in college sports. The combination of high-quality teams and genuine hatred for each other has fueled dozens of memorable games over the years.

This season’s two regular season matchups, starting with tonight’s tilt in Chapel Hill, have the potential to enter the Pantheon of Duke-Carolina games. Duke ranks no. 2 in the nation with a 19–1 record, leading the ACC at 7–0. UNC comes in ranked no. 3 at 21–1, its 6–1 ACC mark trailing only the Blue Devils. It’s just the 11th time the two teams have both been ranked in the top five when entering this matchup — the first time that’s happened in six years. Tonight’s game is so momentous that ESPN is bringing back Dick Vitale to do color commentary, just a few months after surgery to repair his vocal cords.

From a sheer entertainment standpoint, the two teams profile well too. According to Ken Pomeroy’s stats at kenpom.com, Duke plays at the 13th-fastest pace among the 341 teams in Division I; Carolina ranks sixth in Tempo. Duke owns the fifth-most efficient offense in the nation; Carolina’s at no. 4.

The Tar Heels’ offense, as well as their chances of winning, could take a big hit, though. At press time, their coach Roy Williams was strongly hinting that star point guard Ty Lawson would miss the game with a sprained left ankle. The loss of Lawson would hurt for a number of reasons. Before hurting his ankle Sunday at Florida State, the 5-foot-11-inch junior was playing his best basketball of the year, averaging 16.1 points and seven assists a game while shooting nearly 52% from the field.

But the best indicator of Lawson’s value came when Carolina had to play without him. Against a Seminoles team they should have dominated, the Heels looked lost on offense, committing 21 turnovers and struggling to run plays on nearly every possession. The game went to overtime, and only a huge effort by Tyler Hansbrough (held without a field goal for the first 30 minutes of the game, only to finish with 22 points and 21 rebounds) enabled Carolina to escape with the win.

It’s not just the half-court offense that could suffer. The Heels’ mantra is to attack at all times, even after made baskets. Without the speedy, sure-handed Lawson pushing the ball up court, Carolina’s ability to run becomes limited. The Heels’ backup plan is iffy too, with point guard the only position that’s thin on the team’s loaded roster. Top backup Bobby Frasor is out for the season with a knee injury. That’s pressed seldom-used Quentin Thomas into the job, with swingman Marcus Ginyard also handling some of the role. Ginyard’s lingering turf toe injury only makes matters worse. To make up for their depleted backcourt, the Heels will need to rely on their bruisers up front. Hansbrough, Deon Thompson, and Alex Stepheson give the Heels three down-low players who are bigger and stronger than anyone in Duke’s regular rotation. The Blue Devils’ two biggest players who get playing time are 6-foot-8-inch forward Lance Thomas (who averages less than 18 minutes a game) and 6-foot-8-inch freshman Kyle Singler, who makes his living behind the three-point line. That would seem to give the Heels a big edge down low, on both ends of the floor.

Or will it? Coach Mike Krzyzewski has engineered a complete Duke makeover this season. Instead of running their offense and defense through a big man such as Josh McRoberts, Shelden Williams, Elton Brand, or Carlos Boozer, the Blue Devils have relied on speed, athleticism, and versatility to carry them this season. At any given time, Duke usually has five players capable of knocking down a three-pointer on the court. On defense, the Blue Devils swarm the ball, deny passes, and collapse on big men when needed, forcing opponents into tough shots. They rank sixth in Division I in Defensive Efficiency. Duke has even found success against teams with standout big men. Last week, Maryland twin towers James Gist and Bambale Osby combined for 46 points and 20 rebounds against the Blue Devils, while shooting nearly 62% combined. Undaunted, Duke found other ways to win, riding athletic swingmen DeMarcus Nelson and Gerald Henderson’s combined 50 points to a 93–84 win in College Park.

The X factor for tonight’s game could be Carolina’s own explosive swingman, Wayne Ellington. The sophomore is having a breakout season, bumping his scoring average to 16.2 points a game from 11.7 last year. But Ellington’s performance when his teammates struggle underscores his importance to the Tar Heels, especially with Lawson expected to be out. Clemson held Hansbrough to just 12 points and Lawson to shooting just 5-of-13 on January 6, and they appeared poised to knock off Carolina. But Ellington responded with the game of his life, popping for 36 points, including a game-winning 3-pointer in overtime. He’s struggled a bit more recently, failing to hit double-figure scoring in two of his past five games. If Lawson’s out, Ellington will need to create his own shot for the Heels to win the game. If he doesn’t, get ready for 40 minutes of shouting from Dukie V.

Mr. Keri (jonahkeri@gmail.com) is a writer for ESPN.com’s Page 2.