CHAPEL HILL - When Duke's Gerald Henderson appeared on the Smith Center court about 90 minutes before tipoff Wednesday night, North Carolina's students were waiting -- revved and ready to razz him.

Faces painted and voices raucous, they delivered the predicted "Booooos," then hurled a few piercing words at their principal adversary.

Some waved paper signs with a picture of Henderson's face and the word "WANTED" beneath it.

The Blue Devils guard seemed oblivious to the commotion, coolly warmed up, and then heated up during the game.

His contribution to the Devils' 89-78 victory included 12 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks, including one second-half reject of a Tyler Hansbrough attempt.

"I had a heck of a time; I blocked everything out,'' Henderson said. "You get booed everywhere. We were [just] out there fighting."

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said he didn't notice any unsportsmanlike conduct from the exuberant Tar Heels fans.

The students' Dean Dome "welcome" for Henderson was spawned, of course, from the much publicized incident in last season's game.

With 14.5 seconds left, the Blue Devil came down hard in an attempt to block Hansbrough's shot but broke the Tar Heels star's nose in the process.

The UNC students remembered, and one fan said, "We aren't worried about Henderson" before the game.

Another predicted, "Tyler will dunk on him twice."

Didn't happen.

Unflappable Henderson didn't see this as revenge against Hansbrough, rather a feel-good night of "beating Carolina" after losing to the Tar Heels twice last season.

In the second half, Henderson hung a highlights-tape spin move and shot against the Tar Heels' Danny Green.

A little later he cleanly slapped away a Hansbrough field-goal attempt. Asked how that block felt, the Blue Devil didn't gloat but simply said: "I came over to help. In the game plan, I was late [getting there]."

Since the collision last season -- which resulted in a one-game suspension for Henderson -- the two players have talked and even played pickup games together.

"I'm past it, and I'm sure Tyler is past it,'' Henderson said.