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ACC co-leaders North Carolina and Duke resume their rivalry tonight at Cameron Indoor Stadium, but the biggest advantage might not be the home court.

The sixth-ranked Blue Devils once again seem vulnerable in the paint, so they could have a tough time dealing with North Carolina forward Tyler Hansbrough. He is averaging a league-best 22.1 points.

"We're always going to try to get the ball inside first," said UNC coach Roy Williams, who has won in Durham the past three years. "But we've got a pretty good shooting team, too, ... so we're going to try to play basketball and have balance. In my opinion, that's the best way to beat Duke, is to have balance."

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski is not only worried about defending Hansbrough but the rest of the Tar Heels as well.

"They're the most explosive offensive team in our conference, and they put a lot of pressure on you offensively," said Krzyzewski, whose team split its series with UNC last season. "Defense is a top priority, ... to try to limit them, hold them down a little bit, because they can get away from you real easy."

Duke (20-3, 7-2 ACC) suffered a 74-47 defeat at Clemson last Wednesday, its most lopsided loss in 19 years. The Blue Devils needed overtime to beat visiting Miami last weekend.

Nevertheless, Williams remains impressed.

"From a distance, Roy Williams thinks this is the best Duke team since I came back [to UNC]," Williams said. "They're one of the teams that has to be talked about that could win the whole thing."

The third-ranked Tar Heels (21-2, 7-2) have won seven straight since starting 0-2 in the ACC.

"When we started out 0-2, everybody didn't panic -- [that] has been something I've been proud of," Williams said. "To come back from being 0-2 to where we are right now says a lot about the kids' character."

UNC, the two-time defending ACC Tournament champion, has won five of the last seven games in the series.

"All those things don't ... have anything to do with" tonight's game, Krzyzewski said. "Just like me being in the Hall of Fame [doesn't] or Roy being in the Hall of Fame. It's what these teams are doing right now.

"They're kids, and they need to be put into the now. And the now is that this is a helluva game."

Williams expects players on both teams will be "extremely enthused" tonight. But he doesn't want the Tar Heels to get carried away with the rivalry.

"If you're not careful, you could get caught up with that," he said. "We do tell our team and emphasize to them, 'Hey, ... they're not going to give us a trophy, and they're not going to cancel the season, regardless of the outcome of this game.' "

Roanoke women rolling

The Roanoke College women's basketball team hasn't advanced to the NCAA Division III tournament since 2000, but it looks like that drought might end this season.

The Maroons (19-2, 15-2 ODAC) are in first place in the ODAC and have won 11 straight games. Their stifling defense and great work on the defensive glass fuel a balanced offense that hurts foes in transition.

The Maroons lead the ODAC in scoring defense (50.3 ppg), field-goal percentage defense (34.2 percent), blocks (4.5 bpg), defensive rebounds (35.7 rpg) and scoring margin (17 ppg).

"Our coaches keep telling us that defense wins games," said junior guard Caitlyn Long, a Cave Spring graduate. "We're changing up defenses more. We have a couple different presses, a couple different zones."

Long averages a team-high 11.5 points. But the Maroons also get production from Jordan Gholson (11.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.1 bpg), Jaleesa Osborne (10.3 ppg, 3.8 apg, 2.6 spg) and Erin Jenkins (9.6 ppg).

"If you shut someone down that's been scoring, you have someone else that will step up," Long said.

Roanoke hasn't won the ODAC regular-season title since 1997, and last won the ODAC tournament in 2000.

W&L women clicking

The Washington and Lee women's basketball team finished just 9-17 last season. With only two starters back from that squad, the Generals were picked ninth among 11 teams in the ODAC poll last fall.

But thanks in part to two freshmen, the Generals (12-9, 11-5) are in fourth place. They have never won more than 11 ODAC games in a season.

It's "been a pretty magical ride," coach Mandy King said. "We have the ability to score a number of points in the paint, but we also have terrific 3-point shooters."

Freshman guard Meghan Ingram ranks third in the ODAC in scoring (15 ppg) and first in 3-pointers (2.8 per game).

"She has great range -- beyond the men's 3-point line," King said. "She also has the ability to hurt you off the bounce."

Freshman forward Rebecca Bolton averages 11.9 points and 6.9 rebounds. Sophomore center Felice Herman averages 10.1 points and 7 rebounds, and leads the ODAC in field-goal percentage (54.4 percent).

"Becca is really a force in the paint," King said. "She's been able to make Felice Herman's life a lot easier because she can draw so much attention and then create open [looks] for Felice."