That and getting to face Herb again is pretty interesting. Definitely going to be a fun game tonight I think.

If it weren't for the pathetically irrational State fans, who for some reason think they're the Boston Celtics of the south and should be guaranteed championships, Herb would still be an ACC coach. I always liked him, especially his work ethic. Not many come close to it.

Whats your prediction for tonights game?

From the looks of it -- at least in terms of box scores -- Herb has the Sun Devils playing a little faster. They scored 104 on San Francisco the other night, but only 52 in a win the night before. So I'm not sure. I haven't watched Arizona State yet. If this game does turn into a track meet, I like Duke to win by 15 to 20. Duke isn't exactly a fast-break first team this season, even though they've scored over 100 twice and 96 in another, but when the Blue Devils do push the floor and shoot well, they're tough to beat. And I think that's especially true this season.

If the tempo is controlled by the Sun Devils, and Herb is still using the Princeton offense, I think it could be an interesting game. This, of course, all depends on how well Arizona State shoots the ball and how Boateng plays out top as the key big man in the offense. He's not exactly Arvydas Sabonis.

Duke wins it, 78-66, if I had to take a guess.

Singler, Smith and Scheyer all play 40 minutes. Only seven guys play more than five minutes. Again, let's let the season play out a bit before we go and declare Coach K a changed man.

RiverRat13 wrote: Singler, Smith and Scheyer all play 40 minutes. Only seven guys play more than five minutes. Again, let's let the season play out a bit before we go and declare Coach K a changed man.

I just don't understand this. I'm definitely not trying to act like I know more than Coach K, because I obviously don't, but I really don't see the point of playing them so much early in the season. Last night, it was a pretty close game until the final 10 minutes, so I can understand it in that case. But in 30 and 40 point wins, Singler and Scheyer have still been playing 35+ minutes. That has to take its toll by the end of the season, and Duke's recent struggles in March, probably prove that point, at least somewhat.

Duke doesn't have to rely heavily on some of its bench guys, but it wouldn't hurt to get them some minutes when you're hammering a team by 40, while also keeping your key players fresh.

Nobody here declared Coach K a changed man. What we did say is that Duke finally has depth and more capability in the front court; that being Miles, Lance, Ryan and the other Plumlee once he returns. Ryan didn't play a ton the other night but that's because K went small near the end to stop ASU from beating Zoubek senseless off the dribble. In the front court, yes, Duke has been playing differently. And that will continue once Mason comes back. Mason and Miles and Lance will be on the court A LOT this season. That's change. Add in Kyle on the wing, and you have four 6'8" guys who will be playing big minutes for Duke, something we haven't seen in years.

I still really like this team, and I think we'll see a whole different club tomorrow night in NYC.