DURHAM - You might be surprised to hear that the Duke team that beat ACC front-runner Boston College on Wednesday to end a four-game losing streak is rolling the same way before and after the win.

"I said before that we didn't stop believing in each other and we didn't stop working," sophomore guard Greg Paulus said. "After every game, a win or a loss, especially during the losing streak, we came to practice with the same attitude. The team had the same morale. It was always next play."

The approach never changed but the team might have after earning the road win at BC.

"I think we're better," freshman Jon Scheyer said. "I think we made a big step in that Boston College game. We really played together in that game."

The players gave more. So did coach Mike Krzyzewski.

When BC called a timeout with Duke in the process of building a 24-point lead, Krzyzewski jumped out of his courtside seat and cheered his team into the huddle, waving his arms and cheering them on.

"It's important to see, whatever he expects out of us, he would do the same thing," Scheyer said. "Seeing the enthusiasm and excitement come out of him got us going."

Paulus said the Devils (19-7, 6-6 ACC) let go of their emotions, including whatever had soured during the losing streak, at Boston College.

They'll need to remember how that felt when they try to turn this current one-game winning streak into two starting today at Cameron Indoor Stadium against Georgia Tech (17-8, 5-6).

Team captains Paulus, DeMarcus Nelson and Josh McRoberts say they're ready to show their teammates how should they forget.

"We've always said that how good the three of us can be will determine how good our team can be, and in Boston the three of us played very well and everyone else followed," Nelson said.

Nelson, Paulus and McRoberts combined for 48 points, 21 rebounds, 15 assists and 11 turnovers against Boston College.

"I think we felt responsible," Paulus said about the captains. "We wanted to play well, to play well together. ... We needed to get back on track. But we're improving. We're getting better. We're getting more comfortable with each other."

Whether that keys the Devils into the NCAA Tournament remains to be seen.

In addition to falling out of the top 25 for the first time in 11 years, the Devils heard the talk calling them an NCAA Tournament bubble team.

Duke has beaten five teams in the RPI's top 50 this season, but shining up that NCAA resume to a blinding sheen for the tournament selection committee will be tough with just four conference games remaining.

"We knew every single game from January on would be a fight," Scheyer said. "And I think we've learned that if you don't come out ready to play or fight, you're going to lose."

It doesn't help that the end of Duke's schedule looks harder than the beginning.

Nonconference home games weighed down Duke's schedule before the ACC season. Now, the Devils are scheduled to play four of their final six ACC games on the road.

Today's game is Duke's second to last at Cameron. The Yellow Jackets have already beaten Duke this season, and the Devils are trying to end a two-game home losing streak.

Paulus said the Devils will embrace that motivation.

"We didn't play too well down there," Paulus said of Duke's loss to Georgia Tech on Jan. 10. "They played well and know it's our chance to protect our home court and continue to build on what happened in Boston."