Courtesy: Duke Photography

DURHAM, N.C. - Duke, ranked 11th in the AP poll and 10th in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll, hosts unranked UNC Greensboro on Thursday in the team’s third game of the year. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.  The game will be simulcast by Duke's Cable 13 and ACC Select, the conference broadband initiative.

The Blue Devils posted wins over Columbia and Georgia Southern earlier this week in the Durham Regional of the College Basketball Experience Classic. Duke has now won 42 consecutive nonconference home games, the third longest active streak in the country.

Through two games, Duke has played tough defense and shot a high percentage on offense. The Blue Devils are allowing 45.5 points per game and holding the opposition to 30.1 percent (34-of-113) shooting from the field. Duke also has 17 blocked shots, including six by Josh McRoberts, and 20 steals on the young season. 

On offense, Duke is shooting 54.2 percent (52-of-96) from the field. Six players are averaging 8.5 points per game or better for Mike Krzyzewski and eight regulars are shooting at least 50.0 percent from the floor. The Blue Devils are also enjoying a +10 rebounding margin for the season.

In its last outing, Duke posted a 72-48 win over Georgia Southern. DeMarcus Nelson paced the Blue Devils with 16 points and 10 rebounds for his first career double-double. McRoberts also had 16 points, while Gerald Henderson and Jon Scheyer added 13 and 11 points, respectively. Leading 38-32 at the half, Duke tightened up the defense in the second half and allowed just 16 points. The Blue Devils had 23 points, including 14 in the second half, off 17 Eagle turnovers.

Storylines

• Tonight's contest between Duke and UNC Greensboro is the seventh meeting between the two schools. The Blue Devils lead the all-time series 6-0, with all six games coming during Coach K’s tenure.
• Tonight’s game also marks Duke’s second straight contest versus a Southern Conference opponent (Duke topped Georgia Southern, 72-48 on Monday). The Blue Devils are 134-24 overall against teams currently in the Southern Conference and 39-2 against the SoCon under Mike Krzyzewski. Duke has won 39 straight against SoCon opponents (last loss was 75-73 versus Davidson on Dec. 29, 1981).
• The Blue Devils were members of the Southern Conference from 1928-53. In fact, Duke won five Southern Conference Tournament titles before becoming a charter member of the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1953-54. Eddie Cameron led the Blue Devils to SoCon championships in 1938, 1941 and 1942, while Gerry Gerard coached Duke to titles in 1944 and 1946.
• Duke, now with 1,798 wins all-time, is two wins shy of becoming just the fourth schools in NCAA history with at least 1,800 wins. The Blue Devils are 1,798-811 in 102 years of collegiate basketball action.
• UNC Greensboro head coach Mike Dement began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant under Coach K at Duke in 1982.
• Duke has six players (DeMarcus Nelson, Josh McRoberts, Jon Scheyer, Lance Thomas & Brian Zoubek) averaging over 8.5 points per game. A year ago, J.J. Redick, Shelden Williams and McRoberts were the only players to average over 8.5 ppg.
• Duke’s freshman class (Gerald Henderson, Jon Scheyer, Lance Thomas and Brian Zoubek) is averaging 38.5 points, 14.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.0 blocks and 4.5 steals per game. The group is also shooting an impressive 51.1 percent (23-of-45) from the field. All four members of the class have scored in double figures, with Scheyer reaching double digits in both contests.
• Junior DeMarcus Nelson went through a rigorous offseason training regiment with Frank Matrisciano, an ex-Navy Seal. His hard work is paying early dividends as Nelson leads the Blue Devils in scoring (13.5 ppg.), rebounding (6.5 rpg.) and steals (2.0 spg.). He is also shooting 58.8 percent (10-of-17) from the field. Nelson recorded his first career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds against Georgia Southern.  It was his 17th career game in double figures in scoring, including both games this season, and Duke is 15-2 in such games. 
• Duke has held each of its first two opponents under 50 points, marking the second time (2005-06 & 2006-07) under Coach K it has accomplished that feat. The Blue Devils are 43-0 under Krzyzewski and 101-4 since the 1948-49 season when holding opponents under 50 points. Duke limited Columbia and Georgia Southern to a combined 30.1 percent (34-of-113) shooting from the field.
• Junior DeMarcus Nelson was named the CBE Classic Durham Regional MVP after leading Duke to victories over Columbia and Georgia Southern. Nelson averaged 13.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 blocks and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 58.8 percent (10-of-17) from the field.
• Sophomores Josh McRoberts and Greg Paulus and junior DeMarcus Nelson were named team captains for the 2006-07 season. McRoberts and Paulus are the first sophomore captains in the 102-year history of Duke basketball.
• The Duke coaching staff (head coach Mike Krzyzewski, associate head coach Johnny Dawkins and assistant coaches Steve Wojciechowski and Chris Collins) enters its seventh year in tact. During that time span, the group has led the Blue Devils to a 184-31 record, one National Championship, five ACC Tournament titles and three ACC regular season championships.
• With wins over Columbia and Georgia Southern in the opening rounds, Duke advanced to the semifinals of the College Basketball Experience Classic in Kansas City, Mo. The Blue Devils will face the winner of the Stanford-Air Force game (Wednesday, Nov. 15) on Monday, Nov. 20 at 7:00 p.m. (espn2) in one semifinal, while Marquette plays Texas Tech at 9:30 p.m. (ESPNU) in the other semifinal game on Monday. Tuesday’s action tips off at 8:00 p.m. (ESPNU) with a consolation game, followed by the championship game at 10:20 p.m. (espn2).