DURHAM -- The group of Duke basketball players Mike Krzyzewski refers to as “the other team” is quietly becoming a November memory.
That’s the team the Duke coach had for the first eight games this season – the team with fabulous freshman Kyrie Irving at point guard.
It was, in all likelihood, the best college team in the land, too. Krzyzewski basically has said as much on several occasions.
With Irving sidelined by a toe injury on his right foot and possibly kaput for the season, what’s left is a cast Krzyzewski likes to call “this team.”
“This team” trailed Virginia and Maryland in the second halves of ACC games in Cameron Indoor Stadium and was handed a 66-61 loss at Florida State on Jan. 12.
“This team” is not the best in the nation and may never reach that level.
But as Thursday’s 84-68 win over Boston College indicated, the Blue Devils (19-1 overall, 6-1 ACC) are still good and getting better by the day at a time in the season when some fast-starters begin to sputter.
Like the overwhelming majority of this season’s ACC litter, first-year coach Steve Donahue’s Eagles (14-7, 4-3) aren’t strong enough to provide a definitive reading on Duke’s national standing without Irving.
That, however, doesn’t alter the fact that Krzyzewski has done enough rebuilding on the run to solidly position “this team” for a No. 1 NCAA Tournament regional bid, a probable opening weekend placement in Charlotte (March 18 and 20) and at least a puncher’s chance to reach another Final Four.
With seniors Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler as leaders, it’s not surprising that Duke remains potent, of course.
Smith, the new point, is on track to win the ACC player of the year award in a landslide, and Singler will make his share of all-star teams. Smith was good for 28 points and eight assists Thursday, and Singler had 14 points even while shooting poorly.
But after those two, the Blue Devils are becoming an example of the whole exceeding the individual pieces.
Lanky sophomore Ryan Kelly, who looked lost all of ’09-‘10 and early this season, is emerging as a borderline offensive force. The former Raleigh Ravenscroft High star had 14 points against the Eagles and has converted 20 of his last 26 field-goal attempts.
On the perimeter, undersized Seth Curry (20 points, three assists) and Andre Dawkins have combined to fill the void that was created when Smith moved into Irving’s role.
Inside, Mason Plumlee has developed into a monster rebounder while his brother Miles, who was a starter earlier, has mastered the difficult task of delivering instant energy in a reserve’s role.
“Kyrie shaped our team, and we’re a whole different team without him in there,” Kelly said.
“It took us a while, but now we’re beginning to get a flow. We needed to figure out what we had to do, especially on offense. But we’re starting to move better. We’re not stopping and waiting with the ball the way we did sometimes earlier. Plus, our defense is coming around. Our rebounding has been pretty good all along.”
Few coaches place a higher value on the team concept route to winning in late season and postseason than Krzyzewski. It’s apparent he’s made quick, impressive progress in meshing the team without Irving into different but still dangerous unit.
“We’re getting better,” Krzyzewski said. “With this team, we’re more in a November-December mode than late-January. We’ve had to go in a different direction, but it’s coming around.”
Get the biggest news in your email or cellphone as it's happening. Sign up for breaking news alerts.
A two-time ACC player of the year, the former Tar Heels tailback died Tuesday at the age of 58. 
During last weekend’s Josh Weaver Memorial Meet in Chapel Hill, Erika Braun pulled off one of the most impressive accomplishments of the sports year by qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Trials. With a 26.32-second time, she easily cleared the Trials threshold of 26.39. 
In search of “a good fit” and more playing time, N.C. State’s Ryan Mathews is at his fourth college since leaving Boone High School (Orlando, Fla.) in 2007. 
In the wake of a three-game suspension, N.C. State baseball coach Elliott Avent won’t be in Florida State’s stadium Thursday and Friday for games between two of the top teams in the nation. But Avent will coach in Saturday’s final regular-season game and wants to see how his team responds to facing Baseball America’s No. 1 ranked team. 
Goldsboro’s George Altman never hit four home runs in a Major League Baseball game, a feat accomplished by Raleigh’s Josh Hamilton last week for the Texas Rangers. But the left-handed hitting Altman pulled off one of the more remarkable achievements in MLB history in 1961 when he became the first player to hit two homers in one game off Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax, one of the most overpowering lefties ever. 
It’s been more than a month since Mom died of heart failure. She was buried not very far from her birthplace on what would have been her 85th birthday. If I had a few bonus minutes with her on this Mother’s Day, I would spend that time telling her again how much I appreciate the direction and unfailing support she gave me. To a degree, she gave me a living as much as life itself. 
The 2012-13 ACC league outlook changed radically when Maryland guard Terrell Stoglin opted for the NBA Draft. 
