TAMPA, FLA. - Duke freshman Gerald Henderson sat behind the bench, wearing shirt and tie, during the seventh-seeded Blue Devils' 85-80 overtime loss to 10th-seeded N.C. State on Thursday in the ACC Tournament.

He was suspended for one game after flagrantly fouling North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough in the nose Sunday, and his play was missed.

"He's a very important piece to their team. He gives them the athleticism, he gives them rebounding, he gives them another guy that can score the ball and defend," N.C. State coach Sidney Lowe said. "So any time you miss a player like that, it's going to affect your ballclub."

Henderson, who was not available for comment, did not sit on the bench because the ACC would not allow it, league spokesman Brian Morrison said.

Two years ago, former Wake Forest guard Chris Paul was allowed to sit on the Demon Deacons' bench while serving a suspension for hitting State swingman Julius Hodge in the groin.

ACC supervisor of officials John Clougherty said Paul was mistakenly allowed on the bench. The ACC also made a error when Georgia Tech's Zach Peacock was suspended earlier in the season and was allowed to sit on the bench.

SEEING RED: Lowe is 2-and-hospital in his bright red blazer.

When he donned it the first time Feb. 3, the Pack beat UNC 83-79. The second time, his team lost 83-64 at UNC -- and he was taken to a hospital at halftime with flu-like symptoms.

Thursday, he won his first ACC Tournament game as a coach.

Asked if he would wear the jacket again today for the quarterfinal game against Virginia, Lowe said: "You'll probably see it.''

SHOE IN: Early in Maryland's 67-62 loss to Miami, Terps coach Gary Williams turned sour on his team's new shoes -- a bright red-and-black patent leather combination that he obviously thought was bringing bad luck.

"Get me the old shoes," he yelled to a team manager with less than 10 minutes to go in the first half.

The team, down by 13, started the second half in a red-and-white combination that was more its traditional look. The fashion statement seemed to help, but not enough.

HEADBAND OFF: Florida State forward Al Thornton began the game against Clemson wearing a burgundy headband, but about midway through the first half, the senior tossed it aside.

"When I get aggravated, the headband comes off," he said after a one-point victory in which he had a game-high 25 points.

K ON COSTAS NOW: Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski will appear on HBO's "Costas Now" on March 13. The season premiere of the Bob Costas talk show will focus on the state of college athletics.

(Staff writers Caulton Tudor and Luciana Chavez contributed to this report.)

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