Duke trio fights fatigue

For the second time in 13 days, an opposing coach was admittedly trying to wear out Duke's three best players Thursday night.

With the quick turnaround the 10th-ranked Blue Devils face heading into today's visit to Boston College, Duke's potential weariness remains a key storyline.

"You can't think about how many minutes you played, can't think about if you're banged up," Duke junior guard Nolan Smith said. "You've just got to play."

Smith (34.8 minutes per game), Kyle Singler (35.0) and Jon Scheyer (36.3) all are averaging more than 34 minutes on a Duke team that coach Mike Krzyzewski admits isn't as deep as some of its opponents.

Because of the minutes Duke's Big Three are logging, Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt said he was hoping to wear them out during Duke's 86-67 win on Thursday.

"Absolutely," Hewitt said. "It's something that jumps off the stat sheet at you. Give those three kids credit. They're getting everybody's best hit every night, and they play. They do their job. They absolutely do their job. For those three guys to log the minutes they had and what, six turnovers between them? That's pretty good."

Clemson coach Oliver Purnell made similar statements after the Tigers lost 60-47 to Duke on Jan. 23. Purnell kept urging his players to push the ball against the Blue Devils, explaining that he thought Duke would wear down.

He thought Duke's players did tire at the end but said they played well anyway. But they have yet to encounter a physical challenge quite like the one that's facing them now.

Scheyer and Smith played 39 minutes, and Singler played 37 in a 7 p.m. game Thursday against Georgia Tech. Forty-three hours after that game ended, they have a 2 p.m. tipoff at Boston College.

The Eagles, meanwhile, have had a week off. But unlike last week, when he publicly worried about Georgetown being more rested than the Blue Devils, coach Mike Krzyzewski is trying to avoid talk about whether Duke is rested.

"We'll be ready to play up at Boston College," he said. "I think our kids will respond well."