Duke's Smith has shot at ACC first

DURHAM -- After Duke's practice was over Wednesday, senior guard Nolan Smith still had a lot to do.

He worked on jump shots with teammate Andre Dawkins. He did some extra running. He planned to run on a treadmill in the pool after meeting with reporters.

Smith does extra work after practice to stay in shape so he can handle all his responsibilities. He is on pace to become the first player ever to lead the ACC in scoring (20.1 ppg) and assists (5.6 apg).

"It's not really a conscious thing," Smith said. "I'm going to score and I'm going to get assists. It's just doing whatever it takes to win basketball games."

When freshman point guard Kyrie Irving suffered a serious injury to his right big toe on Dec. 4, coach Mike Krzyzewski told Smith he would be asked to do more.

Smith's numbers and Duke's No. 3 national ranking attest to his effectiveness.

"He's got a lot on his plate for us," Krzyzewski said, "especially since Kyrie's injury, in handling the ball, defending the ball, scoring the ball, leading the team. He's done all those things at the highest level."

In the premier guard matchup of the ACC regular season tonight (8 p.m. at Cameron Indoor Stadium), Smith will guard Boston College junior Reggie Jackson. Jackson ranks second in the ACC in scoring (19.1 ppg) and assists (4.9 apg).

"They're similar in the sense that they both can attack you either with the pass, with the dribble, or they can shoot the basketball," said N.C. State's Sidney Lowe, who has coached against both players this season. "But they both have great quickness, and they're long and athletic."

Jackson's efficiency is what has most pleased Boston College coach Steve Donahue. Statistics such as field goal percentage and assist-to-turnover ratio are more important to Donahue than the raw scoring and assist numbers.

Only Maryland center Jordan Williams in the ACC has a higher field goal percentage than Jackson (.526) among players with enough attempts to qualify for the rankings. Jackson is averaging 2.2 assists for every turnover, which ranked fifth in the ACC through Tuesday's games.

"No one is playing as efficiently as him," Donahue said.

Even Jackson, though, can't match Smith's production. Smith has an ACC-best nine games of 20 points or more.

According to research by Duke's sports information office, Smith and Xavier's Tu Holloway are the only Division I players averaging more than 20 points and five assists per game.

"Nolan has developed the ability to think like a point guard but not lose his ability to score," said Maryland coach Gary Williams. "That's very difficult to do, and he deserves a lot of credit for that. I don't think there's a guard in the country that's playing at such a high level, as a point guard, as a shooting guard."

Williams said Smith's defensive responsibilities guarding the opposing ball handler make his production even more impressive from an energy standpoint. While Smith was suffering from a banged-up knee Saturday at Wake Forest, Krzyzewski had freshman Tyler Thornton guard the ball to give Smith a bit of a break. But Smith usually guards the ball.

Smith is expected to be OK tonight, though, and Krzyzewski dismissed the idea of being cautious about giving Smith too much responsibility.

"I've never heard of a guy who is considered to be an All-American being given too many responsibilities," Krzyzewski said. "That's why they are an All-American type player. As soon as you start reducing that then you're playing defense on your All-American player."

Krzyzewski acknowledged, though, that as opponents find different ways to defend Smith, Duke's coaching staff will counter those moves. At times on offense, he has moved Smith off the ball to the wing, allowing him to start the offense on the catch rather than the dribble and attack from a different angle.

Wherever he has been asked to play, Smith has succeeded as a scorer and playmaker.

"We have so many possessions in a game," he said. "My chances on offense to score are going to come. I just want to keep everybody happy, make sure everybody's getting their touches. ... Everybody on this team can score the ball."