Chuck Liddy - cliddy@newsobserver.com
In Duke's first meeting with Florida State, Seth Curry managed 12 points on 4-of-16 shooting.
DURHAM -- Duke had just put the finishing touches on one of its stronger efforts of the ACC season, walloping Boston College 75-50 on Sunday night in Chestnut Hill, Mass. Yet, it didn't take much prodding to get the players to look ahead to what was next.
Based on the way the fifth-ranked Blue Devils (23-4, 10-2) talked about tonight's showdown with No. 15 Florida State (19-7, 10-2), it seems the game has been a big one for the team for some time.
"It's a big game," junior Ryan Kelly said. "It's a huge game for us; it's a huge game in the ACC. I'm looking forward to it - redemption."
Any discussion of tonight's game would be remiss if it didn't address what came before.
Florida State came into Cameron Indoor Stadium on Jan. 21 and clipped the Blue Devils at the buzzer, on a Michael Snaer 3-pointer, to emerge with a 76-73 win that snapped Duke's 45-game home winning streak.
Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski watched the game again on the team's flight back from Boston late Sunday night and couldn't find much fault in the way his team played.
"I thought it was just a heck of a game," he said. "I thought both teams were unbelievably sharp and really was one play either way could have won the game.
"I hope we play as well down there."
The victor of tonight's game will be tied with North Carolina atop the ACC standings, which would be an unusual position for Florida State.
Uncharted territory
The Seminoles have never claimed the ACC's regular-season championship, and if Florida State were to win tonight, all that would stand between it and the No. 1 seed in the ACC tournament are its remaining games against Miami, Virginia and Clemson.
Florida State has a board in its locker room where it has its team goals listed. Winning the ACC regular-season title is on the list, but that's the kind of thing every team does. Few expected the Seminoles to actually check it off their list.
"We've definitely been looking forward to this game," Florida State's Bernard James said. "Playing them at home, we know the game's going to be intense.
"We see the big picture with this game, but at the same time, we know we have to approach it as just one game. That's what's going to help us accomplish what's on our board."
That Duke is competing for another ACC title is less of a revelation.
The fact that this particular Duke team is in such a position is a small surprise, however.
There are few people who have watched the Blue Devils play this season who haven't found something to criticize.
Early, it was the team defense. When Duke lost to Florida State and Miami at home within the course of two weeks, the overall effort level and concentration came into question. To many, Duke just doesn't have the look of a top-five team.
"I still don't think we do," Krzyzewski said. "But we've earned everything we've got."
A will to win
With wins over No. 7 North Carolina, No. 4 Kansas, No. 11 Michigan and No. 6 Michigan State, the Blue Devils have earned a resume that could lead to a No. 1 or No. 2 seed next month in the NCAA tournament.
Asked after the victory over Boston College what the strength of this year's team has been, Duke's players and coaches all gave essentially the same answer.
"I think we've shown through adversity we have a high will to win," Kelly said. "We haven't won every game, we haven't been perfect. But when things haven't been going right, we've all stepped up and made the plays that put is in position to win.
"I think that's always been there from the beginning - guys really want to win."
The challenge for Duke will be to translate that will to win into an actual win against the Seminoles.
Perhaps Duke's desire for revenge will provide an extra dimension above and beyond simply wanting to win.
"I think any team when they lose to somebody wants to (get revenge) - there's a little bit more incentive to try to beat the team the next time you play them," Krzyzewski said.
