NEW YORK - In Thursday night's 2K Sports Classic semifinal against Southern Illinois, Gerald Henderson's brilliant second half broke open what had been a close game.
On Friday in Madison Square Garden, the spurt that gave Duke control of the contest didn't come from Henderon, Kyle Singler or Jon Scheyer.
Instead, Nolan Smith and four role players pushed a slim two-point lead into double digits midway through the first half against a feisty Michigan squad, and the Blue Devils never looked back, earning a 71-56 win and their second straight early-season tournament title.
With Duke up 17-15 almost nine minutes into the game, the Blue Devils sent out a lineup of Smith, Brian Zoubek, Marty Pocius, Dave McClure and Elliot Williams. That group scored on four of five possessions, rebounded well and forced two turnovers, and after the 8-0 run, the Wolverines never got closer than six points.
"That was a key stretch," head coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "In both our games [against Southern Illinois and Michigan], our bench in the first half has really been a key factor. We actually got a 10-point lead when those guys were out on the court, and that's who we are as a team. We have to use our depth."
For most of the game, Michigan employed a particularly small lineup featuring four guards, making it difficult for Duke's big men to be effective. During the three minutes in the first half in which the Blue Devils stretched their lead, the Wolverines did just that, using only one player taller than 6-foot-5.
In response, though, Duke's lineup that combined size and quickness managed to keep the Wolverines off the glass. The players were also able to get into the lane against Michigan's vaunted 1-3-1 defense.
A backcourt of Smith and Williams gave the Blue Devils an explosive, if unconventional, option with which to beat the zone. The duo did so easily-Smith scored on two short jumpers in the paint, and Williams got to the rim twice and scored on both plays.
"As a team, we are very athletic and like to get out and run, and Elliot and I as a backcourt work very well together," Smith said. "We have similar games. We're slashers and like to get to the basket, and that's the first time I played with him. We made the best out of it."
With their script more than fulfilled, Zoubek, Pocius, McClure and Williams made way for Duke's starters, who kept the Wolverines' offense from truly threatening their lead for the duration of the game. Each time the Wolverines came close to making a run, a killer three from Singler, a tough hoop from Henderson or a quick shot from Smith quieted the loud Michigan contingent at Madison Square Garden.
In the end, Smith didn't earn tournament MVP honors-the award went to Singler-or make the all-tournament team, but his strong, efficient play Thursday and Friday bodes well for the rest of the season, and his teammates have already noticed improvement.
"I think everyone's seen how he's become more assertive," Henderson said. "In the first half, Nolan got a few buckets by just finding his way in between some of the gaps. For his mid-range ability and his finishing ability, he was able to get a few buckets in there."
Those baskets eventually amounted to two quality performances in the World's Most Famous Arena. And while the Blue Devils' stars played well against Michigan, it was Smith and a group of less-heralded players who led Duke to the 2K Sports Classic title.
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