COLLEGE PARK, MD. - Wanisha Smith just had to laugh during Monday's breakfast -- Duke basketball teammate Jasmine Thomas was so excited about her custard with a strawberry swirl and kiwi.

"I told her she got it just because it was pretty," Smith said, poking fun at the freshman.

Thomas' teammates paint an image of a bubbly, excitable 19-year-old. It's a far cry from the unflappable point guard Duke's opponents are familiar with. Thomas and Duke (24-9) will take on Arizona State (22-10) at 7 tonight at the Comcast Center in the second round of the Oklahoma City Regional of the NCAA Tournament.

"On the court and off the court are two different things," Thomas said with a grin. "On the court, I'm focused and too determined to really get flustered. But off the court, I joke a lot and am easily amused."

Thomas' on-the-court personality is one of Duke coach Joanne P. McCallie's favorite things about the young guard -- McCallie admires the "assassin" mentality -- but there's a long list for the coach to appreciate.

Former Duke coach Gail Goestenkors recruited Thomas to step into the position of All-America point guard Lindsey Harding, the national defensive player of the year in 2007. Smith and Duke junior Abby Waner, both of whom played with Harding, say it's a fair comparison to say that Thomas is like Harding, but Thomas has some different qualities.

When Harding was a freshman, she was very much a pure point guard who fed the ball to All-America guard Alana Beard. As Harding's career developed, her defense improved first, and in the later years, she began looking for her shot more.

Thomas doesn't need encouragement to look for her shot and averages 8.0 points and 2.4 assists per game.

Harding played in 37 games as a freshman and took 192 shots. Thomas has played in 33 games and has taken 303. She's also far more confident in her 3-point shot, although her percentage isn't particularly good this season.

Thomas is similar to another speedy point guard, but in a certain way. Thomas, like former North Carolina star Ivory Latta, is a neat freak. Like Latta, she has made her roommate's bed.

Thomas' freshman experience has been different from Harding's and Latta's because Thomas has learned a new system right alongside her teammates, which is part of why Duke's offense has been disjointed at times.

In Sunday's 78-57 win over Murray State, Duke didn't accomplish much in the halfcourt offense until the second half. Once the Blue Devils started clicking, they moved the ball effectively and Thomas scored eight of her 13 points.

McCallie said Thomas has really improved in learning how to execute in the halfcourt.

"You can't simply just run, run, run, run," McCallie said. "... [She's improved] her overall wisdom, her maturity, recognizing how to get the ball to people better... She's really gotten better every step of the way."