After last-second heroics and a more-than-likely draining win over arch-rival North Carolina last night, the men's basketball team faces a potential trap game Sunday night when conference opponent Clemson comes to Cameron Indoor Stadium 8:30 p.m. Sunday night. Starting with the Tigers, the Blue Devils begin the second half of their ACC schedule after a perfect run through the first.
� ��And while Clemson (9-10, 2-6 in the ACC) has been stuck near the bottom of the ACC ladder in recent years and is scraping the cellar once again this season, Sunday's matchup could be potentially dangerous for top-ranked Duke.
� ��The Blue Devils (19-1, 8-0 in the ACC) should be wary of a flat performance after such an emotional buildup and high from the North Carolina thriller, especially considering that the Tigers have shown recently that although their record might not show it, they are capable of taking down top-notch teams.
� ��"We have Clemson Sunday, and there is no time to rest," J.J. Redick said.
� ��Clemson played the game of its season thus far last Saturday against--fittingly--the Tar Heels, shooting a school-record 84% from beyond the three-point arc and toppling North Carolina 81-72 despite entering the game as the worst 3-point shooting team in the ACC. And while there are no questions as to who the better team is, the conditions are perhaps not ripe, but certainly present for an upset. The Tigers have had a week to prepare for this game, having not played since slaying North Carolina, while Duke will take a mandatory day off tomorrow and use Saturday to practice and prepare for the game.
� ��Speaking late Thursday night after the up-and-down overtime antacid inducer, Krzyzewski did not elude to any signs of overlooking Sunday's game, however.
� ��"We're pretty good about next play stuff," he said. "Now we can't let up because we're home. The Clemson game is going to be a big game for us."
� ��The veteran coach also asked for strong student support. "We're gonna need a great home crowd," Krzyzewski said.
� ��Under the direction of new head coach Oliver Purnell, who built successful programs at Old Dominion and Dayton before taking over Clemson's leadership from Larry Shyatt last spring, the Tigers have no real star this year but a employ a balanced attack whose pieces finally all came into place against the Tar Heels.
� ��"Sooner or later you are going to have a night like that," said a laughing Purnell after the win. "It was just the best night in Clemson basketball."
� ��Sharrod Ford, a bruiser and a handful inside, paces the team in points (11.6) and rebounds (7.6). If he can get on track early with help from frontcourt-mate Chris Hobbs (9.1ppg and 6.4rpg) to force Duke's Shelden Williams to the bench with foul trouble, the Blue Devils--as they would be in any contest with Williams on the bench--might be in trouble. In addition The Tigers are dependent on guards Chey Christie (10.4ppg) and Shawan Robinson (11.1ppg) on the perimeter. Duke will rely on its power game with Williams ( 12.0 points and 7.8 rebounds per game) and hope to match its 47% field goal shooting from the teams' first meeting, a 73-54 Blue Devils victory in South Carolina early last month.
� ��After reporting no injuries from the victory over the Tar Heels despite all the physical play--highlighted by Loul Deng being knocked unconscious in the second half by an errant North Carolina elbow--Krzyzewski said his team should be in good shape for Sunday night. "We'll be ready," he said. "I have confidence in my guys."
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