Observations

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Smith, Devils crush Charlotte

DURHAM - Nolan Smith was brilliant.

Duke was, too.

Charlotte never had a chance as Smith celebrated his season debut with a career-high 24 points in a 101-59 rout at the hands of the ninth-ranked Blue Devils in the second round of the NIT Season Tipoff at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Devils score one for the ACC

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski talked boldly all week, and his team backed him up Saturday.

After Krzyzewski proclaimed the ACC better than the Big East, forwards Gerald Henderson and Kyle Singler powered No. 3 Duke to a 76-67 defeat of Big East heavyweight Georgetown at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Henderson scored 17 of his 23 points in the first half, punctuating a 3-pointer that made him 7-for-7 from the field by spreading his arms wide to incite the crowd. Singler grabbed 16 rebounds -- half his team's total -- to go with his 15 points.

Duke shows mettle

In the wake of Duke's basketball loss Saturday at Georgia Tech, forward Brian Zoubek noticed how people were talking about the Blue Devils differently.

Duke was the preseason ACC co-favorite with North Carolina, but after seeing the Tar Heels' growing pains, the Blue Devils certainly seemed to have the advantage. At least, until the upset in Atlanta, at which point it became fashionable to declare the ACC race suddenly wide open.

As far as Zoubek is concerned, and he has Wednesday's 79-59 win over Boston College to back him up, the basketball world may have been a little quick to sell the Blue Devils short.

Duke impressive in win

In the wake of Duke’s loss Saturday at Georgia Tech, forward Brian Zoubek noticed how people were talking about the Blue Devils differently.

Duke was the preseason co-favorite with North Carolina, but after seeing the Tar Heels’ growing pains, the Blue Devils certainly seemed to have the advantage. At least, until the upset in Atlanta, at which point it became fashionable to declare the ACC race suddenly wide open.

As far as Zoubek is concerned, and he has Wednesday’s 79-59 win over Boston College to back him up, the basketball world may have been a little quick to sell the Blue Devils short.

Devils survive scare from Longhorns

At the very least, there can be no doubt about Duke's toughness as the Blue Devils head to their first NCAA regional semifinal in three years.

After Texas used a small, quick lineup to spread out the Blue Devils and climb back into the game, Duke got tough on the offensive boards to score three times after missing shots to hold on and win 74-69 on Saturday night at the Greensboro Coliseum.

Kyle Singler made a left-handed tip-in with 1:20 left. Nolan Smith was fouled by Damion James after a Gerald Henderson miss and made two free throws with 47 seconds remaining.