Singler tosses in 28 as Duke cruises past Temple 78-61

Kyle Singler, PixbyRix for BDN

DURHAM - The Duke Blue Devils improved to 26-2 overall this season with a 78-61 defeat of #23 Temple on Wednesday evening in Cameron Indoor Stadium.  Duke was led by Kyle Singler who dropped 28 points on his second to last game he'll play in Durham. 

After struggling a bit on offense in the first half, the Blue Devils made some halftime adjustments and they played better on the post where they were once again led by Mason Plumlee who grabbed 13 rebounds and 6 points, 4 of those coming off successive dunks in a second half spurt.

An 8-0  run late in the first half helped Duke to a 31-24 edge in a game eerily similar to their last outing.  The Blue Devils scored 34 points in the paint and held an 18-6 edge in points off turnovers as their defense continued it's solid play of late.

Nolan Smith added 15 points and 4 assists but was just 5 of 17 from the field.    In short, it was another workmanlike effort by the Blue Devils who next play Virginia Tech with ESPN Game Day in Blacksburg for what is sure to be a hostile environment.

Sidebar -Duke has won 86 straight games versus non conference opponents.  Duke has won 35 consecutive home games, longest in the nation.  Duke has won 20 straight games in the state of North Carolina.  Mason now has 13 games with double figure rebound this year.  Smith scored in double figures in all but one game this season, the one where he played PG for the first time after Kyrie Irving's injury.  For the second consecutive game, no media member asked about Kyrie Irving in the post game.  Andre Dawkins hit 2 of 2 three point shots and that gives him an impressive .432 on the season.

Stay tuned for post game videos.

Duke vs. Temple Game Notes

Sir Nolan Smith drvies the ball - Lance King Images

Game 28[1 AP / 1 Coaches] Duke (25-2, 12-1 ACC)  vs. [24 AP / 24 Coaches] Temple (21-5, 11-2 A10)
Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011 • 7:00 p.m.
 
The Opening Tip• Duke (25-2, 12-1 ACC) hosts Temple (21-5, 11-2 A10) on Wednesday, Feb. 23 at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m.

Follow Blue Devil Nation Twitter for live game coverage from press row in Cameron Indoor Stadium.  Send us your game prediction, be the closest to the score and win one month premium site access, a 12.95 value.

• The game is being televised by espn2 with Rece Davis (play-by-play), Bob Knight (analyst) and Jeannine Edwards (sideline) on the call.
• Duke is ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll and ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, while Temple is ranked No. 24 in both polls.
• Duke has won 43 of the last 46 games entering Wednesday’s game with Temple. The Blue Devils have won 20 of their 21 contests against non-conference opponents in that span.
• The Blue Devils are looking for their 19th straight win in the month of February. Duke’s last loss in the month was on Feb. 15, 2009 at Boston College.
 
Duke-Temple Series History• Duke and Temple have met 26 times heading into Wednesday’s game with the first meeting between the two schools coming in 1931.
• The Blue Devils lead the all-time series 17-9, including a 7-1 mark at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
• Duke has won eight consecutive games and 14 of the last 17 in the series.
• Mike Krzyzewski is 10-1 at Duke against the Owls. The Blue Devils are 4-0 against Temple at home under Krzyzewski.
• Duke has won seven consecutive games at Cameron Indoor Stadium in the series.
• The two teams have met twice in NCAA Tournament play with Duke reaching the Final Four with wins over Temple in 1988 and 1999.
• Five of the last eight games in the series have been decided by 10 points or more.
 
Numbers Game
The Blue Devils’ current 34-game win streak at Cameron Indoor Stadium is the longest active streak in the country and the fourth-longest home win streak in program history.

The Blue Devils have won an NCAA-best 85 consecutive non-conference home games. The last home loss against a non conference opponent for the Blue Devils was on Feb. 26, 2000, against St. John’s, 83-82. 

Duke has won 40 consecutive games against teams outside the traditional power conferences (Big Ten, Big East, SEC, ACC, PAC 10, Big 12). Virginia Commonwealth’s 79-77 win over Duke in the 2007 NCAA Tournament was the Blue Devils’ last loss to a team from a non-power conference.l Duke has only lost two home games in the past four seasons, posting a record of 63-2 in Cameron Indoor Stadium during that span.
Duke has won 28 consecutive games in the state of North Carolina. The Blue Devils’ last loss in the state was at N.C. State on Jan. 20, 2010.l Nolan Smith is attempting to become the first player in ACC history to lead the league in scoring and assists. Smith is currently averaging an ACC-best 21.7 points and 5.3 assists per game.

Seth Curry is averaging 12.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.0 steals over the last six games. He is 14-of-30 (.467) from three-point range and has a 3.29:1 assist-to-turnover ratio in that span.

Nolan Smith is one of three players in the NCAA averaging over 20.0 points and 5.0 assists per game.

Kyle Singler is five points shy of moving into the top 15 of the ACC career scoring chart. Singler currently has 2,221 career points.

Carolina schools are interested in NC safety M.J. Salahuddin early

Clemson, Duke and ECU were the first schools to contact M.J. Salahuddin

M.J. Salahuddin is a 6’3” 195 pound safety from Fayetteville, North Carolina. In his junior year, M.J. helped lead Jack Britt to the second round of the state playoffs, recording 79 tackles, 3 sacks, and an interception. Highlights of his interception can be viewed here. A talented athlete who also plays basketball and runs track, M.J. has attracted the attention of coaches throughout the Carolinas. After visiting Durham in the fall for a game, M.J. made a second trip for Duke’s Junior Day in January.

BDN: Can you start off by describing the strengths and weaknesses of your game for someone who hasn’t had a chance to see you play?

My game is basically, as a safety, I try to be the deepest man, not let anybody get behind me. I try to read the quaterback a lot and I like to come up and make a lot of tackles, kind of when I play as a linebacker.

 

BDN: What are some of the things you have been working on this offseason?

This offseason I’ve mainly been working on change of direction. Because when I go to camps, that’s mainly all they talk about is change direction. How quickly can you change direction and keep focused. I’m also working on putting on a little weight for next year, and my legs, trying to get faster.

 

BDN: What are some of the goals you have for yourself and your team this fall?

Our goal this past year was obviously state, but we came up short in the second round. That will definitely be another milestone for us next year. I just want to be a leader, a vocal leader, and try to take us back to state next year, my senior year.

 

BDN: What are the most important things you are looking for in a college?

What I look for in a school is the academics, because I’m very interested in the academics. I look at how many seniors they have on their team at my positon and if I’m going to get a chance to play or not. And I look at the campus – see how nice that is. I definitely like taking hands-on visits with my family, from there I go with my parents and making a decision.

 

BDN: You mentioned academics as one of the top things you’re looking at; is there a particular field you are interested in?

I’m almost leaning towards education right now, going into the teaching field. If that doesn’t work out, because I’m an athlete, I’d love to work with athletes in sports medicine or something along those lines.

 

BDN: What schools have you recently heard from? Who were the first schools to contact you?

 

M.J. Salahuddin visited Duke last fall for a game

The first school that I came in contact with was Clemson, through Eric MacLain. I took a visit there with him. Then I went to ECU and then I went to Duke. NC State invited me but I didn’t get a chance to get up there, I was busy that weekend. I definitely want to take more visits, open up my options and go from there.

 

BDN: Do you have any plans for other visits this spring or summer?

I want to go to the three schools I just named, and I want to go to the NC State camp, they invited me. The Duke camp, ECU camp, Clemson camp. Wake Forest just started sending me letters, so I’ll try to go to something up there.

 

BDN: It’s still very early in the process, but ideally, when would you like to make your college decision?

Hopefully I can start getting offers soon, as soon as September rolls around and then from there I’ll just start going through my options, talk with my family, see what they like, see what I’m interested in, and probably make a decision. I’ll definitely probably wait it out, I won’t commit right then and there.

 

BDN: Is there anything else you think is important for ACC football fans to know about you?

As a player, I’m basically just a great leader. I love to work, I love to help my teammates succeed. I just want to be the best, I’m a competitor, it’s in my blood, it’s in my family. School-wise and personality-wise, I’m just out of the box. I love to have fun with my team, just be around football basically. I’m very coachable, I love to listen and learn and then react on that.

 

BDN: Those traits will all certainly serve you well. Thanks a lot, M.J. and best of luck to you.

Thank you, I’ll definitely keep in touch. Thank you for the opportunity.

Shabazz Muhammad Interview – “Im looking forward to going down there again”

Bazz throws on down in Wilson Rec Center - BDN Photo

One of the nations most coveted recruiting prospects, Shabazz Muhammad, is currently in the midst of his high school teams playoff run.  Muhammad is one of the Blue Devils top priorities in the class of 2012 but to gain his services they must contend with Kentucky, North Carolina and UCLA for his services.

Muhammad can play above the rim and his athleticism blended with his understanding of the game makes him a prize catch.  The question is where will he play his collegiate career?

Blue Devil Nation Premium spoke with Muhammad about his season and the recruiting process gaining the latest news on the front in this in depth interview.

I hope all has been well for you of late and that you are having success as your high school basketball season is winding down.

Everything is going great.  The playoffs are going really good.  We've played three games and beat everybody by a very good amount, so everything is going great and we are really comfortable moving forward in the playoffs. The teams we've played are the ones we'll see in the finals, so we are taking care of business there.

The last time we talked you had a fairly long list of schools.  Has it changed any since that time?

It's pretty much the same.  I don't have any order or a top three or five, just a lot of schools currently in the mix.

Let me see if I get this right ... Texas, UCLA Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina? [private]

Uh, UNLV and UCLA.

I understand that UCLA has been making a big push at you of late, is that true?

Yes, they have been.  I really like them.  Coach Howland is a great coach, he has coached a lot of good players and has done a good job.  I always watch them on TV and follow them from home and that's really a program I look at.

What about Duke?

Yeah, I've been talking to Coach K.  I talked with him last week.  He's a very prestigious coach as everybody knows.  He just loves his players up and down.  He's a great coach and I talked to their assistants -- Coach Wojo, he's a great guy and he helped with USA so he had a lot of experience training those guys and it's a great atmosphere there and I'm looking forward to going down there again.

When you say going down there again, when might you visit?

No visit planned yet, but they'll probably be one soon planned for Duke.

What about Kentucky?  The last time we talked you said you haven't visited yet.  Is that still the case?

No I haven't been yet but I really want to get down there.  We really want to visit but haven't found the time yet, so I want to go down there.  The dribble drive offense is pretty  much at your hand, so you can make a lot of decisions.  I think it's a very good program and they allow a lot of freedom.  Calipari is a very good coach, he's a players coach.

What about North Carolina?

I watched them yesterday [UNC-Boston College game] and Williams is a good coach.  They've got some good coaches with a lot of experience.  I talk to a lot of the players and get feedback from them and they really enjoy themselves at Chapel Hill, so it is a good opportunity for me to be recruited by them and all these schools.

You're Phenomballa on twitter and social networking is a big thing these days.  Do you strike up friendships with players at other schools?

Oh yeah.  I have a lot of friends with the guys in college.  Like with Duke, Nolan Smith and Kyrie Irving.  North Carolina?  John Henson, Kendall Marshall, Reggie Bullock and Harrison Barnes ... a lot of guys.  I want to get to know some of the players because those guys are there and I can get feedback on the school.

Any changes in the key factors with concern to your impending decision?

First look at the style of play, then my relationship with the coach and how my parents feel about me going there.  I will just look at a school, concentrate and make the right choice for me.

Now, you have a little brother who is a pretty good baller himself.  What kind of advice do you give him?

I do give him advice.  He is kind of struggling on the varsity level, so I give him a lot of advice and he eats it up, so at the end of the day he's going to be fine.

You told me one time that you decision could come down to the gun or final lap if you will.  Has that changed?  Will you take you five official visits or ...

I will make a decision when I feel comfortable.  I just want to make the right choice, not too early in order to make the right choice for me and my family.

Do players have something to do with the decision?  Do you  look at the rosters and at who is coming in,  is there and or who is leaving?

Of course, I want to play with really good players, so I look at that.  I want to win a national championship wherever I go, sot that's what that is.

Shabazz, suppose a person came along and they had never seen you play.  How would you describe your game in your own words?

I  play inside and out.  I shoot the mid range jumper, go to the hole, slash and I'll try to dunk on you.  I'm always by the rim, get a lot of offensive and defensive rebounds and try to be a match up issue for my opponent.

When did you first learn that you had mad basketball skills and when did you know basketball would become a huge part of your life?

Probably in my ninth grad year in the summer.  I just really started to improve my game and I was growing a lot getting stronger, so that's when I knew.

I see where ESPN currently has you ranked number one at your position and five overall.  Is that something you pay attention to and if so are you the kind of guy that says at the end of it all I want to top those lists?

Absolutely.  They always have those big guys ahead of the guards.  But when it comes time to go to the NBA, some of those big guys are always a bust, but those guards always end up as guys playing years in the league and that gives me motivation and I'll work to be number one.

Of the schools you've visited thus far, which one has been the most impressive?

Um. [pause] Probably Duke and the atmosphere there which made you really want to be in the game and playing.

Have you seen game with UCLA, North Carolina and such?

I've been to UNC, but haven't been to Texas yet.  I really like UNC's arena too, it's a very big atmosphere.  When I went ot late night with Roy, it was a really good experience and I enjoyed myself a lot.

Describe yourself as a person?

Very talkative guy, funny, I can take things seriously and then mess around, left handed, love to play basketball, play X-Box, and hang out with friends.

What is in your game console right now?

Call of Duty, that's pretty much all I play.  I sometimes play on line with other prospects and players.

That would be pretty cool to watch.  Thanks for your time Shabazz, and best of luck in the playoffs.

Okay, no problem.  Thank you.

We approached Shabazz as Sports Nation and not Blue Devil Nation to get untainted answers.  I now feel it is clear that this one could go on for a good while, but he did say he'd pull the trigger if he got that feel.  It is also clear that there are four players in this, being Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina and UCLA.  Shabazz seems to like large arenas and he has yet to visit Kentucky for a game but if he does, they are impressive up that way.  Discuss this interview on the BDN Premium message board.  If you are a premium member and not yet on the message board, contact us under FAQ on the main page. [/private]

Duke has stood out to Shelby DL Carlos Wray early


DE Carlos Wray says that Duke has stood out to him early.

While Duke is working hard to develop a group of young defensive linemen on the field this spring, the coaching staff is also working hard to recruit a group of young defensive linemen in the class of 2012. Carlos Wray is a 6’2½” 250 pound defensive line prospect out of Shelby, North Carolina. As a junior, he helped Shelby to a 9-6 overall record, totaling 78 tackles, 14 sacks, and forcing 3 fumbles on the year. His standout junior season has earned the attention of college coaches and scouts, including the Duke staff, who have impressed Carlos early in the process.

BDN: Can you start by describing your strengths on the field for fans who haven’t had a chance to see you play?

My strengths on the field are, I guess you could say it’s reading defense and getting to the football, getting around the ball, and seeing where the ball is going before it gets there.  Things like that.

BDN: What are some of the things you have been working on this offseason?

My speed and my endurance, just having more energy out on the field, and – I mean being a playmaker, I know that comes natural, but just finding the football a little bit faster, and getting there a little bit faster.

BDN: What are your goals for yourself and your team in your senior year?

Probably want to get the best season I’ve had in my high school career, probably have to say, just, I had 14 and a half sacks this past season, so I kind of just want to beat that myself this season.

BDN: As you’re thinking about your college decision, what are the most important things you are looking for in a school?

The tradition of the program, the coaching stability, strong head coach, and the position coach is good.  It ain’t all about winning to me; it’s about being around a family of players who want to play, so just the atmosphere, things like that.

BDN: Which schools have you had the most contact with so far in the recruiting process? Who were the first schools to contact you?

First school to contact me was probably either Georgia Tech or Clemson, they’ve been schools that have really been keeping up with me hard.  And [North] Carolina, Georgia Tech, South Carolina, Georgia.

BDN: What schools have you had a chance to visit so far?

I’ve been to [North] Carolina, Clemson, Duke, and South Carolina, and Georgia.  I’m going to Georgia Tech on the 19th of this month.

BDN: Have any schools stood out to you at this point in the process, either on your visits or your contact with the coaches?

I like Duke.  I mean, it seemed to me that they had a great coaching staff, and everything they’re telling me, I saw for myself when I went up there.  Just the coaching staff and atmosphere up there, I got to go to a basketball game while I was up there, I know the campus life is safe and cool, and it’s like, I felt like I was walking down the street to my house at Duke, and that means a lot to me, just feeling at home.

BDN: Do you have an idea when you would like to make your final college decision?

Well, right now, I have a date to verbally commit on December 19th.

BDN: Is there anything else you think is important for college football fans to know about you, on or off the field?

Well, I play with a passion.  My idol is Ray Lewis, just because the way he takes in the game, and the passion he providing in the way he plays, and the morals he goes by.  I love the game, I have a passion for the game, and the game is pretty much my heart.  I promise to work hard wherever I go.

BDN: Thanks a lot, Carlos, and best of luck to you.

All right. Thanks.