Duke's Smith suspended 2 games

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Duke tops Findlay; Smith suspended 2 games

DURHAM As junior guard Nolan Smith sat on the bench in the first half Tuesday night, Duke wobbled like a truck with one under-inflated tire.

Like it or not, though, the Blue Devils will have to get used to playing without Smith for a couple games. After Duke defeated Findlay 84-48 at Cameron Indoor Stadium, coach Mike Krzyzewski announced that Smith will miss the first two games of the regular season because of an NCAA suspension.

Smith was suspended because he played in a summer league that wasn’t sanctioned by the NCAA. He will miss games Nov. 13 against UNC Greensboro and Nov. 16 against Coastal Carolina.

Duke guard Smith will miss two games

As junior guard Nolan Smith sat on the bench during the first half on Tuesday night, Duke wobbled like a truck with one under-inflated tire.

Like it or not, though, the Blue Devils will have to get used to playing without Smith for a couple of games. After Duke defeated Findlay 84-48 at Cameron Indoor Stadium, coach Mike Krzyzewski announced that Smith will miss the first two games of the regular season because of an NCAA suspension.

Smith was suspended because he played in a summer league that wasn't sanctioned by the NCAA. He will miss games on Nov. 13 against UNC Greensboro and Nov. 16 against Coastal Carolina.

Duke's Smith given two-game suspension

Duke junior guard Nolan Smith was given a two- game suspension by the school because he played in a summer league that wasn't sanctioned by the NCAA.

"It's a very common occurrence," said Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski following an exhibition win over Findlay Tuesday night. "Actually it's something that I'm not a big proponent of. I think kids should be able to play wherever they want to play. He wasn't protesting for me. This is what every college basketball player has to know. Don't play in a game that keeps time and score unless it's a sanctioned game. So you never go out on the court and play in a game that has time and score."

Smith, who averaged 8.4 points in 34 games (21 starts) last year, will miss the season-opener against UNC-Greensboro on November 13 and then a game against Coastal Carolina on November 16.

Dawkins expected to play for Duke

Freshman guard Andre Dawkins will return to Duke's lineup for today's 7 p.m. basketball game against Gardner-Webb at Cameron Indoor Stadium, team spokesman Matt Plizga said Monday.

Dawkins left the team for about a week after his sister, 21-year-old Lacey Dawkins, was killed in a car wreck in West Virginia while attempting to travel to Duke's Dec. 5 game against St. John's.

Some other Duke players are battling injuries despite having 10 days between games. Junior forward Kyle Singler, who is averaging 17.1 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, is questionable for the game because of an ankle injury.

Duke's Plumlee might see action at Wisconsin

Duke freshman center Mason Plumlee, who missed the No. 6 Blue Devils' first six basketball games with a broken wrist, may return to make his regular-season debut at Wisconsin on Wednesday, team spokesman Matt Plizga said Monday.

Mason Plumlee suffered a non-displaced fracture of his left wrist during practice on Nov. 11.

His brother, Duke sophomore forward Miles Plumlee, said Mason went through a full practice with the team Monday.