WRAL Triangle and Two

WRAL's Mark Bergin and Louis Fernandez previewed Saturday night's Final Four game between the Duke Blue Devils and the Houston Cougars.

Star freshman Cooper Flagg leads Duke, but it was the Blue Devils' defense that helped propel the team to the Final Four.

Bergin and Fernandez discussed why Duke is considered the favorite to win the national championship. Plus, they shared how the Blue Devils match up against a Houston team with lots of basketball experience.

Last, the guys discussed which team – Auburn or Florida – would be a more favorable championship matchup for the Blue Devils if they beat Houston.

WRAL's Mark Bergin and Louis Fernandez discuss how Duke will play Arizona on Thursday night in the Sweet 16.

Arizona guard Caleb Love used to play for North Carolina. Love's 3-pointer in the 2022 Final Four eliminated Duke from the tournament and ended legendary head coach Mike Krzyzewski's career.

If Duke wins, the Blue Devils will play the winner of Alabama and BYU in the Elite Eight.

Bergin and Fernandez discussed how Duke has its best team in years, whether any other Duke players deserved to make the All-ACC first-team and whether the Blue Devils would put in 5'8" guard Spencer Hubbard again.

WRAL's Mark Bergin and Louis Fernandez discuss Cooper Flagg’s left ankle injury, which looms over the start of the tournament for the Duke Blue Devils.

Duke expects to get Flagg back for the start of the NCAA Tournament.
The guys also shared why Auburn was the No. 1 overall seed of the tournament despite losing three of its lats four games.

Several talented teams will play this weekend at the Lenovo Center, including 
No. 1 seeds Duke and Florida along with back-to-back national champions Connecticut. The guys talked about which players to watch.

Plus, Bergin and Fernandez talked about how the ACC only got four teams into the NCAA Tournament.

Last, there is the possibility that Duke will play against Baylor’s Jeremy Roach, who played for the Blue Devils from 2020-2024. Plus, Duke could also play against Arizona’s Caleb Love in the Sweet 16. Love hit the 3-pointer that sealed the game for UNC in the 2022 Final Four against Duke.

WRAL's Mark Bergin and Louis Fernandez discussed Cooper Flagg's incredible season and Duke's historic scoring differential. Duke is vying to become the No. 1 overall seed in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

Plus, the guys shared what North Carolina needs to do in the ACC Tournament to make the NCAA Tournament.

"WRAL Triangle and Two" hosts Mark Bergin and Louis Fernandez shared their thoughts about Duke's 87-70 win over North Carolina.

The guys shared why Duke is a national championship contender, led by star freshman Cooper Flagg.

They also discussed the future of Hubert Davis as North Carolina's head coach and how the Tar Heels could miss the NCAA Tournament for the second time in four years.

"WRAL Triangle and Two" hosts Mark Bergin and Louis Fernandez shared their thoughts about the Triangle football teams heading into the 2025 season.

NC State, UNC and Duke each lost their respective bowl games.

The guys discussed what to expect from NC State under new offensive coordinator Kurt Roper and new defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot.

Head coach Dave Doeren will enter his 13th season at NC State and quarterback CJ Bailey will return for his sophomore season.

With the Bill Belichick era underway at UNC, the guys talked about who will be the Tar Heels' starting quarterback and who will fill out the coaching staff. Bryce Baker, Purdue transfer Ryan Browne, Max Johnson and Jacolby Criswell are possibilities as the team's starting quarterback.

Reports indicate Freddie Kitchens could be the team's offensive coordinator and Belichick's son, Stephen Belichick, could be the team's defensive coordinator.

Last, the guys discussed whether Duke can build off a nine-win season under Manny Diaz. Fernandez explained why he believes Duke is positioned to be the best Triangle football team again in 2025.

"WRAL Triangle and Two" hosts Mark Bergin and Louis Fernandez preview the Jan. 2, 2025, Gator Bowl between Duke and Ole Miss.

Henry Belin IV is due to start for the Blue Devils with the transfers of Maalik Murphy and Grayson Loftis.

Duke, led by first-year head coach Manny Diaz, has the chance for its second 10-win season in program histroy.

The Blue Devils must try to stop Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart and Lane Kiffin's high-scoring offense.

"WRAL Triangle and Two" hosts Mark Bergin and Louis Fernandez preview the Dec. 28 Military Bowl featuring NC State and East Carolina.

Quarterback CJ Bailey is due to return to NC State in 2025 for his sophomore season. However, wide receiver KC Concepcion is transferring.

NC State will be without defensive coordinator Tony Gibson, who accepted the head coaching job at Marshall.

NC State and ECU will play for the 33rd time. The two schools also play each other to open the 2025 season.

East Carolina (7-5, 5-3 American Athletic) returns to postseason play after winning four of its last five games under then interim and now head coach Blake Harrell. During that stretch, the Pirates have outscored their opponents 203-140 averaging 40.6 points and 504 yards of total offense per game.

"WRAL Triangle and Two" hosts Mark Bergin and Louis Fernandez preview North Carolina's Dec. 28 game in the Fenway Bowl against UConn.

Interim coach Freddie Kitchens leads the Tar Heels before the Bill Belichick era officially begins in Chapel Hill. Kitchens will remain on Belichick's staff.

With UNC facing a coaching change after firing Mack Brown and UConn’s impressive season under Jim Mora, the bowl features several intriguing storylines.

Cole's near-death experience and becoming an All-American runner at Duke led her to write a book called "The Players' Plate."

WRAL senior multiplatform producer Mark Bergin spoke with Cole about her experiences and her book.

Full story: www.wral.com/21744192/

"WRAL Triangle and Two" hosts Mark Bergin and Louis Fernandez discussed how UNC guard RJ Davis has to accomplish entering his fifth collegiate season.

Davis won the ACC Player of the Year in 2024 and helped lead the Tar Heels to the national title game in 2022.

Davis will go down as one of the most beloved North Carolina players ever. 

Fernandez talked about how the Tar Heels will rely on Jalen Washinton and Jae'Lyn Withers in the front court.

The Tar Heels have a strong backcourt with Davis, Elliot Cadeau, Drake Powell, Seth Trimble and Ian Jackson.

With the 2024 ACC Tipoff underway, "WRAL Triangle and Two" hosts Mark Bergin and Louis Fernandez discussed whether NC State can build upon its 2024 Final Four appearance.

After losing DJ Burns and DJ Horne, the guys shared who the key contributors will be on the Wolfpack's roster.

The big question: Can the Wolfpack make their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance?

"WRAL Triangle and Two" hosts Mark Bergin and Louis Fernandez discuss why Duke head coach Jon Scheyer didn't bring Cooper Flagg to the 2024 ACC Tipoff event in Charlotte.

Fernandez pointed out that Duke didn't bring Zion Williamon in his lone season with the Blue Devils.

Duke opted to bring Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster instead.

Bergin explained that he thinks Duke should have brought Flagg because of his marketability. Flagg more than held his own against the star-studded Team USA roster in pre-Olympic training camp.

Last, the guys talked about the potential of another freshman in Khaman Maluach.

"WRAL Triangle and Two" hosts Louis Fernandez and Mark Bergin discuss the top storylines for the Duke Blue Devils football team before the start of the 2024 season.

They include:

1. What does year one of the Manny Diaz era look like? Can he build upon the success of Mike Elko?
2. Jordan Moore and Co. lead Duke's skill position players.
3. Can Maalik Murphy showcase why he was a top recruit for Texas in his new role as QB1 of the Blue Devils?
4. Duke's schedule starts out favorably but gets more difficult as the season progresses.
5. Replacing key linemen in Graham Barton, Jacob Monk and DeWayne Carter
6. What will Diaz's defense look like?

"WRAL Triangle and Two" hosts Louis Fernandez and Mark Bergin discuss the top storylines for the NC State Wolfpack football team before the start of the 2024 season.

They include:

1. Can NC State go from good to great? The Wolfpack will try to win double-digit games for the second time in program history. It comes as the College Football Playoff expands to a 12-team format.
2. How can the Wolfpack best utilize sophomore KC Concepcion?
3. How will Grayson McCall's experience as three-time Sun Belt Player of the Year translate to the ACC?
4. How will the Wolfpack fare in their first four games?
5. How will NC State replace star linebacker Payton Wilson?
6. Can defensive coordinator Tony Gibson propel NC State's defense to another level?

“WRAL Triangle and Two” hosts Mark Bergin and Louis Fernandez discuss the top storylines for the North Carolina Tar Heels football team before the start of the 2024 season.

They include:

1. Which quarterback wins the starting job between Max Johnson, Conner Harrell and Jacolby Criswell?
2. Can the Tar Heels be better now that Drake Maye is in the NFL?
3. UNC has a new defensive coordinator in Geoff Collins.
4. How does UNC finish the 2024 season after disappointing ends to the 2022 and 2023 seasons?
5. Omarion Hampton enters the season as a preseason All-American. Can he build off an impressive 2023 season?
6. The Tar Heels have several new offensive linemen this season.

“WRAL Triangle and Two” hosts Louis Fernandez and Mark Bergin discuss the top storylines of the 2024 NBA Draft.

They share who the Atlanta Hawks will likely select with the No. 1 overall pick between Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr and Donovan Clingan.

The guys also discuss which Triangle players are most likely to hear their names called. It includes:

• Duke’s Jared McCain and Kyle Filipowski
• UNC’s Harrison Ingram

The guys also discuss what UNC’s Armando Bacot and NC State’s D.J. Burns, D.J. Horne and Mohamed Diarra need to do to improve their games.

Last, the guys discuss whether Bronny James will get drafted.

"WRAL Triangle and Two" host Mark Bergin and WRAL Sports multimedia journalist Pat Welter discuss the Carolina Panthers starting OTAs.

Welter attended the first day of the voluntary workouts on Monday.

The guys discuss expectations for second-year quarterback Bryce Young and first-year head coach Dave Canales.

They share how Young needs to develop now that he has some more talented players around him compared to his rookie season.

The additions include wide receiver Diontae Johnson, rookie wide receiver Xavier Legette, running back Jonathan Brooks and rookie tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders.

Welter shares which defensive players he's most excited about, and expresses his concerns about Legette.

Last, the guys debate the best game on the Panthers' schedule between the Oct. 6 contest against the Chicago Bears and the Nov. 10 matchup against the New York Giants in Germany. 

"WRAL Triangle and Two" hosts Louis Fernandez and Mark Bergin discuss which NFL teams could select North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye.

Maye is expected to be among the top quarterbacks selected during Thursday night's NFL Draft. He could get picked No. 2 overall by the Washington Commanders or No. 3 by the New England Patriots.

The guys share which situations are more favorable and potential teams that could trade up for a quarterback.

Next, the guys discuss how Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton is projected to be a first- or second-round pick. Bergin predicts the Pittsburgh Steelers will select Barton at No. 20 overall.

The guys also discuss several other Triangle prospects who could hear their names called during the draft, including UNC's Tez Walker, NC State's Payton Wilson, Duke's DeWayne Carter and others.

"WRAL Triangle and Two" hosts Louis Fernandez and Mark Bergin discuss NC State losing to Purdue in the Final Four.

Fernandez and Bergin share how NC State's run should be viewed historically. They also talk about the Wolfpack's top moments on their Final Four run.

Also, they discuss whether Duke, UNC or NC State would be a possibility for Bronny James in the transfer portal.

Last, they discuss the NC State women's team losing to eventual undefeated champion South Carolina.

"WRAL Triangle and Two" hosts Mark Bergin and Louis Fernandez discuss the NC State men's basketball team making its first Final Four since 1983.

The guys discuss the similarities between this year's team and the 1983 championship team.

They also talk about how the Wolfpack will try to slow down Purdue star Zach Edey, who is a finalist for the Naismith Player of the Year award.

Last, the guys share how Duke has positioned itself for a strong 2024-25 season with the incoming recruiting class.

"WRAL Triangle and Two" hosts Louis Fernandez and Mark Bergin discuss how the North Carolina Tar Heels could make a run to the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
 
The guys discuss potential matchups the Tar Heels could face.
 
It includes a possible Elite Eight matchup against Arizona and former UNC guard Caleb Love.

"WRAL Triangle and Two" hosts Louis Fernandez and Mark Bergin discuss whether NC State can continue its winning ways in the NCAA Tournament.
 
The Wolfpack won five games in five days in the ACC Tournament to secure an automatic bid.
 
The guys discuss the outlook of the team under seventh-year head coach Kevin Keatts. Specifically, they discuss the play of DJ Horne, DJ Burns and Casey Morsell.
 
NC State plays Texas Tech in the first round. The winner will play either Kentucky or Oakland in the second round.
 
Last, the guys discuss what it would take for the Wolfpack to go on a Cinderella run.

"WRAL Triangle and Two" hosts Louis Fernandez and Mark Bergin discuss how the Duke Blue Devils could make a run in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

Fresh off of back-to-back losses to end the season, how Duke can turn things around by leaning on its talent, and some things that could end the Blue Devils' run in March early.

Duke's fate in the NCAA Tournament could be decided by a potential Sweet 16 matchup against No. 1 seed Houston.

"WRAL Triangle and Two" hosts Mark Bergin and Louis Fernandez discuss why UConn is the No. 1 overall seed and the favorite to win the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

The guys share which other teams could win March Madness, including North Carolina and Houston.

Also, the guys discuss several rules people follow when filling out their brackets.