Duke Slams Arkansas-Pine Bluff

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- As top-seed Duke huddled in the tunnel prior to its opening NCAA tournament game here Friday night, the feisty Blue Devils reminded each other this was the tourney they had prepared for the entire season.

Well, it's a start.

Duke made easy work of 16th-seeded Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 73-44, at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, no doubt relying on intensity generated from the criticism about its worthiness as a top seed.

The Golden Lions, who were trying to become the first No. 16 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed, never really had a chance despite their spunk and spirit. Anyway, Arkansas-Pine Bluff had already succeeded in the tourney, winning Tuesday's play-in game over Winthrop, 61-44, in Dayton, Ohio.

Duke (30-5), meanwhile, must prove itself, according to many pundits.

Only once since the Blue Devils' 2001 title has Duke gotten past the Sweet 16. Additionally, the Blue Devils have not beaten a team seeded higher than fifth since that championship run. No one on the current roster has ever won a game beyond the second weekend.

The Golden Lions (18-16), winners of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, had hoped to use their quickness to exploit the Blue Devils' size advantage. They had held opponents to just 64.1 points per game and 40.3 shooting from the field.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff, however, had the tables turned on it. The Golden Lions shot just 25 percent from the floor and trailed 39-20 at the half. They also played without 6-foot-7 forward Tyree Glass due to illness.

After opening the season with 11 straight losses -- all on the road against major opponents -- Arkansas-Pine Bluff had won 12 of its last 13 games.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff head coach George Ivory knows firsthand the difficulty a 16th seed must endure against a top seed. Ivory was a point guard on the 1986 Mississippi Valley State team that nearly derailed Duke's first national title run.

The Delta Devils led the Blue Devils by seven with 12 minutes to go that season until a late rally ended their bid to become the first 16th seed ever to beat a top-ranked opponent in the opening round. Ivory scored 14 points in that game.

Ivory pointed out his team couldn't overcome its poor start against the Blue Devils Friday.

"I just think the guys kind of got a little nervous at the beginning of the game," Ivory said. "Again, this is a different environment, everything at stake, knowing after this game you have nothing else to play for and sometimes you try not to -- you play not to lose.

"And I think they played that way early in the game, just not to make mistakes."

KEY ELEMENT

Talent.

The Blue Devils simply had too much in the cupboard. The victory gave coach Mike Krzyzewski his 11th 30-win season in three decades at Duke.

"Actually, the best thing is to have 31 and to move on," Krzyzewski said.

GAME BALL GOES TO

Duke's "Big Three" again? Nah.

Blue Devils forward Lance Thomas had a productive game, scoring in double digits for just the sixth time this season with 12 points. He also added three rebounds and two assists.

Of course, Duke's "Big Three" did its part, too. Kyle Singler led the trio with 22 points -- he also had 11 boards for a double-double -- while Jon Scheyer (13) and Nolan Smith (10) also scored in double digits.

HEART GOES OUT TO

The Golden Lions. Simply because they were over-matched. Yet, there was no denying their enthusiasm despite trailing by double digits for most of the game. And kudos to the team's pep band and cheerleaders, a group that wowed the crowd -- and press row -- with its dance moves.

WHERE TO MOVE HERE

Duke advances into Sunday's second-round game against the Louisville-Cal winner.

SOUNDBITE

"Winning the SWAC championship, we're really happy about that and winning the play-in game even felt better. Making it to the NCAA Tournament. Now about the loss, overall we're just happy about the week and the things that we've accomplished." -- Arkansas Pine Bluff's Tavaris Washington.