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Duke: Playing Small, Winning Big

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 9, 2008

Last season, the Duke Blue Devils made an uncharacteristically meek exit.

There was no Final Four. Not even close.

In fact, Duke's final four games were defeats, including a loss to N.C. State at the ACC Tournament in Tampa, then an NCAA Tournament first-round upset loss to Virginia Commonwealth.

Those Blue Devils were a step slow, offensively challenged most of the season.

But these Blue Devils (20-1, 8-0 ACC) are sleek, deep and exciting. Everywhere you look, there are scoring and ball-handling options. Wednesday night, Duke drove the short-handed North Carolina Tar Heels to distraction, 89-78.

Even if Tar Heels guard Ty Lawson had been able to play, though, one thing seemed certain.

Duke is the better team.

"I do believe Duke has all the ingredients," UNC coach Roy Williams said.

Some of those ingredients are different.

Clearly, Duke freshman Kyle Singler has made a huge difference. But with Greg Paulus discovering consistency, DeMarcus Nelson displaying experience and Gerald Henderson flaunting his all-court game, the Blue Devils have built a team of mid-size shooters and defenders that looks awfully impressive.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski preaches caution.

"We know who we are - a very unconventional team," said Krzyzewski, who admittedly tapped into the 3-point-shooting and zone-defense principles of Phoenix Suns coach Mike D'Antoni during their time together on the USA Basketball staff.

"You just have to hope you don't get killed at some point in the game by somebody's strength. You just find different ways to win. Because we have versatile players, we've been able to do that thus far."

Key words: Thus far. Duke didn't fare as well in its lone loss, back in December to rugged Pittsburgh. But it looks like the Blue Devils should be playing deep into March - and maybe beyond.

Courtside: Kansas Coach Bill Self

In Self's four seasons, the Jayhawks (22-1, 7-1 Big 12) have sandwiched NCAA Tournament region-final defeats around stunning first-round losses to Bucknell and Bradley.

If Self is ever going to reach the Final Four, this is the season.

Self talks about his team heading into today's key conference game against Baylor.

What do you think about the job done by Baylor coach Scott Drew?

When he took it over, the program was at rock bottom. They didn't even get a chance to play non-conference games. To see that program come to where it is now, that's a testimony to the job their staff has done. You don't win games without good players. Their talent level is very good.

Have you seen the competitive level rise as you've gone from non-conference games to Big 12 games?

When you get into the teeth of your schedule, the other team has comparable athletes to what you have. We may not have played to the defensive level that it appeared because we were going against players that couldn't beat us off the bounce. We have to get better. We will get better.

Does your team need to pick up its level as the season winds down?

We only have four more home games left. These guys only get to run out of the tunnel four more times. The reality for the seniors is, "Hey, it is coming to an end." There should be more of a sense of urgency. I hope that's the case.

What do think about the resignation of Texas Tech coach Bob Knight?

I'm disappointed - for selfish reasons. It's like when Barry Sanders retired from football. It was like he couldn't do that to all the people out there, retiring that early. That's how I feel about Coach Knight, because he's great for our league. Selfishly, I was looking forward to him coming to Allen Fieldhouse one more time."

Joey Johnston

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