Singler sparks Devils

DURHAM -- It didn't take long for Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski to lob a grenade at the one of the most obvious story lines for this season.

The Blue Devils are ranked No. 1 in the nation after winning the 2010 NCAA Division I basketball title. In their second exhibition Thursday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium, they followed a lackluster first half with a sparkling start to the second half to win 81-60 over Cal Poly Pomona, which won the 2010 NCAA Division II title.

Duke wasn't perfect. But Krzyzewski doesn't expect his team to be perfect.

"Please don't play this perfect game with me, OK?" he told reporters. "I told you, right from the start. We're going to be a developing team. We're not going to hold anybody scoreless. We are going to be down in games. We are going to look bad. And overall, we're going to try to get better."

Expectations are high for Duke, which opens its regular season against Princeton on Nov. 14 at Cameron.

Duke has back Final Four most outstanding player Kyle Singler and high-scoring guard Nolan Smith from last season's team and has added talented freshman point guard Kyrie Irving to the roster.

But the Blue Devils are a team in transition after losing senior starters Jon Scheyer, Lance Thomas and Brian Zoubek from the 2009-10 team. They are switching to a faster tempo to take advantage of the talent of Irving and a deep backcourt.

The problem in the first half Thursday was that Duke wasn't defending well or forcing turnovers to get the fast break started. The Blue Devils led just 39-33 at halftime and were outrebounded 23-17 in the first half.

Smith and Singler resolved to do something about it.

"Kyle and I know, we were talking throughout this game, that it can't be like the first half," Smith said. "Both of us were frustrated, just knowing we weren't giving the effort we have to give."

Singler and Smith took over in the second half. Singler scored 10 of his 14 points in the first 61/2 minutes after halftime. Smith added an alley-oop pass to Ryan Kelly and an alley-oop dunk of his own off a pass from Irving as Duke's defense began forcing turnovers.

After an outstanding first half, Cal Poly Pomona scored just nine points in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

"We turned the ball over for dunk after dunk after dunk," Cal Poly coach Greg Kamansky said.

It wasn't perfect, but Krzyzewski isn't interested in being perfect. He said he has a very good team that can get a lot better.

"I've got a team that has to develop," he said. "This was a very good game for us, and we played well, or else we could lose this game."

Duke 81, Cal Poly Pomona 60

Cal Poly Pomona: Jahn 7-13 1-1 15, Fells 4-8 4-4 12, Booker 3-8 0-0 7, Rosser 3-6 4-4 10, Anderson 2-6 0-1 4, Menner 2-13 3-4 7, Rutledge 0-2 0-0 0, Ryan 0-1 1-2 1, Drisdom 1-3 2-2 4, Gacek 0-2 0-0 0.

Duke: Ma.Plumlee 5-8 1-2 11, Singler 4-8 6-6 14, Mi.Plumlee 5-9 4-7 14, Irving 5-10 3-4 13, Smith 5-7 1-2 12, Thornton 0-1 0-0 0, Hairston 3-7 1-5 7, Dawkins 1-5 0-0 2, Curry 2-7 1-2 6, Kelly 1-2 0-0 2.

3-point goals--Cal Poly Pomona 1-7 (Booker 1-1), Duke 2-15 (Smith 1-2, Curry 1-4). Fouled out--Anderson, Kelly. Rebounds--Cal Poly Pomona 37 (Jahn, Menner 8), Duke 39 (Ma.Plumlee 12). Assists--Cal Poly Pomona 9 (Rosser 2), Duke 20 (Singler, Irving 5). Total fouls--Cal Poly Pomona 22, Duke 19. Att.--9,314.