Coming into the season, UNC had an evident game plan: run, run and run some more.

What the Tar Heel guards lack in height, they make up for in speed and athleticism. UNC's backcourt intensity will be a key factor in shutting down the Blue Devils when they face off on Saturday.

Graduate guard RJ Davis leads the Tar Heels in scoring with 17.7 points per game and is second in assists at just under four per game. According to Kenpom, the Blue Devils only allow 87.2 points per 100 possessions, second best in the country.

UNC's all-time leader in 3-pointers will have his work cut out for him against Duke's elite defense. While Davis is shooting a career-low 29.5 percent from deep, he'll need to bring his best if the Tar Heels are going to win this one.

Junior guard Seth Trimble is one of UNC's most formidable defenders, leading the Tar Heels with over one steal a game. His combination of stamina and explosiveness makes him an excellent perimeter defender.

Trimble will likely be tasked with marking Duke's first-year guard Kon Knueppel. Knueppel has established himself as one of the Blue Devils' best sharpshooters this year, featuring a smooth jump shot. With his high release point, Knueppel can knock down jump shots in small pockets of space. So far, he is hitting on 37.9 percent of his 3-pointers, averaging just over six attempts per game. If Trimble can run Knueppel off the line, Duke's offense will take a significant hit.

Sophomore guard Elliot Cadeau has shown flashes of being an elite playmaker. With a lightning-quick first step and shifty handle, Cadeau can force his defender off balance before launching a dime to an open teammate.

Cadeau leads UNC in assists with 6.1 per game and is the first Tar Heel to have three career games with at least 10 assists since Kendall Marshall. Additionally, Cadeau's most significant development in the off-season was his long-range shooting, with his 3-point percentage going from 18.9 percent to 29.4 percent.