Observations: Duke vs. Princeton

Duke's students wore Viking hats Sunday evening in tribute to student Drew Everson, who died Oct. 22 after a fall down stairs on campus.

Everson, 21, was a "line monitor" charged with helping keep students orderly at Cameron Indoor Stadium and was known for wearing a Viking hat to games.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski invited Everson's family into the locker room after the game and said he was proud of the way Duke's students honored Everson.

"I'm just starting my 31st year here, and I thought that was the best opening crowd I've ever seen in here," Krzyzewski said.

Spotting a highly regarded class of 2012 guard behind the Blue Devils' bench, Duke's students serenaded him.

"Rodney Purvis, come to Duke."

Seated alongside Duke commitment Marshall Plumlee, Purvis grinned. Purvis, a 6-foot-3 guard at Raleigh's Upper Room Christian Academy, is rated the No. 8 player in his class by ESPN.com.

Also in the crowd: Cal Ripken Jr., seated behind the scorer's table near the Princeton bench.

Rough-and-tumble Duke senior Kyle Singler isn't playing any differently now that he's the reigning Final Four most outstanding player and the favorite for national player of the year.

When Nolan Smith led Singler too much with a lead pass on the fast break, Singler crashed over two rows of fans in an effort to save the ball. The play was reminiscent of the one in the ACC tournament last season when Singler took out half of ESPN's broadcast personnel while chasing a ball into press row.