Duke Dominates, Sends UNC to Historic Loss

Krzyzewski's delay offense, which he called with 10 minutes remaining, kept the No. 1 Blue Devils from their largest margin of victory ever against the Tar Heels (35).

No matter.

Duke still became the first school to defeat UNC four straight times in the Center of Dean Smith, whose shadow Krzyzewski once coached in. Not only that, but the Blue Devils reached this feat by smashing another record in the 87-58 drubbing. It was the Tar Heels' worst loss, by seven points, in the 16-year-old Smith Center. This season's Tar Heels (6-12, 2-6 in the ACC) own seven of the 34 all-time losses there -- the most in any home of UNC hoops.

"I told my kids during the four-minute timeout, 'These are two programs that have a lot of tradition, and we're lucky to win this game,'" Krzyzewski said. "'Just remember where you're at. This place has produced tremendous basketball over the last four decades and will continue to do so.'"

North Carolina, most recent history considered, played tremendous basketball for at least a half of a half. The Tar Heels attacked with an uncharacteristic aggressiveness early on, breaking defenders down off the dribble and getting to the hoop.

But just getting there wasn't quite enough.

Jackie Manuel, who missed the previous two games with an injured foot, drove, but his gentle, two-handed layup rolled off the iron. Another UNC freshman, Jawad Williams, left his layup short. Manuel's smooth crossover got him into the lane, but he lost control, and he and the ball fell out of bounds.

The Tar Heels missed six layups -- in the first half -- while committing 14 of their 25 turnovers as Duke slowly and then even more methodically pulled away for a 48-35 halftime advantage.

"I think when the adrenaline is pumping because you're so excited to play you can lose concentration for a second, and then you miss easy shots," Manuel said.

UNC coach Matt Doherty tried everything from five different point guards to Four Corners, but not even the kids who wipe sweat off the floor were on their game.

Duke's Jason Williams put his game in high gear to end the first half, scoring nine of his 18 in the final 3:09 before break. Mike Dunleavy's 23 led all scorers. Duke (19-1, 7-1) led by as many as 37 with 2:16 to go.

As one of several reporters huddled around Chris Duhon in the Blue Devils' locker room asked if the win was as easy as it looked, Williams walked by.

The All-American strutted past, grinned ear to ear and shook his head up and down.

It was all that needed to be said.

The Sports Editor can be reached at sports@unc.edu.