The win Wednesday that moved Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski past Kentucky legend Adolph Rupp into third place on the Division I career wins list was huge.
Krzyzewski's next milestone will be bigger. With 877 career wins, Krzyzewski is closing in on North Carolina legend Dean Smith, who won 879 games in his remarkable career. That's why the next move up the career coaching list will be so significant.
It will be steeped in the lore of the greatest rivalry in college basketball, and should be something for fans of both schools to cherish.
There's never a good time for a player as good as Duke freshman point guard Kyrie Irving to get hurt.
But the Blue Devils are fortunate that Irving's injury came during a soft period in their schedule. Irving, who's out indefinitely with a toe injury on his right foot, missed Wednesday night's game against Bradley. Through the rest of December, Duke plays Saint Louis, Elon and UNC Greensboro.
The Blue Devils should be OK against those opponents if Irving can't play. The next serious challenge on the schedule for Duke is Miami on Jan. 2 in its ACC opener.
Miles Plumlee returned to the starting lineup for Duke for the first time since the season-opener.
Krzyzewski had been starting Ryan Kelly in the frontcourt with Miles' brother, Mason Plumlee. That allowed Mason to take advantage of his low-post skills as Kelly played in the high post and on the perimeter.
Miles got off to a good start against Bradley, with eight first-half points, including a dunk off a pretty pass from Kyle Singler. But Mason didn't score in 13 first-half minutes.
