Mike Krzyzewski may not have gotten the big red bicycle he was hoping for this Christmas, but he didn't exactly get a lump of coal, either.
Krzyzewski's Blue Devils couldn't manage an upset against either No. 2 Wake Forest or No. 3 Clemson, but they did find a few pleasant surprises under the tree. Freshman Nate James-sidelined since November with a thumb injury-made his much awaited return Jan. 11 against Wake, electrifying the crowd at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Meanwhile Duke's offense didn't have to return at all; in fact it never went away.
"For a kid who has been out six weeks and hasn't practiced, are you kidding me?" Krzyzewski said of James, who nailed his first three shots and scored 10 points in 19 minutes. "What a great game."
James continued his strong play two days later in an 84-59 romp over Campbell, tallying nine points and five rebounds. Greg Newton led the Blue Devils with 14, and Roshown McLeod added 12 as Duke put the finishing touches on a 5-2 "vacation" stretch that included three tough conference battles.
The students may have been missing, but Duke's offense certainly was not as the Blue Devils started Christmas Break with three straight 100 point outbursts at Cameron Indoor Stadium, crushing Krzyzewski's alma mater Army 100-38 before notching identical 104-54 wins against Western Carolina and South Carolina State. It was the highest three-game output in school history, and the first time since 1946 that Duke won two games in a row by the same score.
Fun and games aside, Duke headed south for a crucial Atlantic Coast Conference swing that promised to be a bit more challenging. The Blue Devils shook off a dreadful first half against Georgia Tech to rally for a 66-56 victory, Duke's first triumph at Alexander Memorial Coliseum since 1994. Trajan Langdon led the way with 16 points-all in the second half-for Duke.
"We're fortunate Georgia Tech wasn't ahead by more [in the first half]," Krzyzewski said. "Then in the second half we matched them, and I think we were a little fresher in the end. For us to hang in there and win is very satisfying."
If the Tech game was satisfying, what came next was nothing less than stunning. In a game that epitomized the drama that is ACC basketball, Duke let a late lead slip through its fingers Jan. 7 at Clemson, losing 86-82 in overtime.
It was the first ever matchup of two top 10 teams at Littlejohn Coliseum, and it more than lived up to its billing. Duke appeared to seize control with a 76-70 lead and just over a minute to play-the largest lead of the game for either team.
But the Blue Devils became their own worst enemy, committing six fouls in the final three minutes, and allowing the Tigers to mount a steady comeback from the free throw line. Clemson scored 11 of its final 13 points in regulation from the line, and shot an astonishing 22-of-23 for the game.
Terrell McIntyre scored seven of those last 13 for the Tigers-all on free throws-and drew the game to a 76-76 tie with just 8.8 seconds remaining. A final chance for Duke to win in regulation went by the boards as Steve Wojciechowski's pass got away from a wide-open Greg Newton in the closing seconds.
In the overtime period, Duke once again jumped out to a lead on a three-pointer by Wojciechowski, but Clemson responded with an 8-0 run to go up 84-79. A Wojciechowski lay-up pulled Duke within three, but McIntyre found Greg Buckner for a dunk that iced the game and brought the house down. Afterward, a drained Rick Barnes glowed with praise for both teams.
"That was a great ACC game, and I would have said that even if we'd come out on the other end," Barnes said. "If we were relentless, they were resilient."
The schedule didn't leave Duke any time to mourn its loss at Clemson, with second-ranked Wake coming to Cameron just four days later. All-American center Tim Duncan led the Demon Deacons in at 11-0, and coach Dave Odom's squad didn't disappoint. Shooting an impressive seven of eight from three-point land in the second half, Wake won going away, 81-69.
"They certainly are the elite in the conference," Krzyzewski said of the talented Deacs, who rode a 21-9 run midway through the second half to seize control of the game.
Duncan finished with 26 points and 14 rebounds-his 70th career double-double, and his 20th in a row. Keyed by Duncan's four blocks, Wake held Duke to 32.8 percent shooting for the game. Roshown McLeod paced the Blue Devils with 14 points and 8 boards.
"I'm proud of our guys," Krzyzewski said. "Especially with this week, Georgia Tech away, Clemson away and Wake, c'mon. We played five halves of great basketball outside of the first half at Tech. We're disappointed that we lost two of them, and we'll become a better team as a result of playing a week like this."
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