CHAPEL HILL - North Carolina meets Duke for the first time this season Thursday at the Smith Center, and even though both teams haven't played their best basketball of late, the rivalry remains as heated as ever.

Duke comes into the game having dropped two of its last three contests, but is still 19-4 overall (7-3 ACC) and ranked No. 8 in the nation. UNC ended a three-game losing skid Saturday night and is 17-7 and 6-5.

Here is what UNC's starting five had to say during an interview session Tuesday afternoon at the Smith Center: