11/17/2009 - Michael Tomko, GoDuke.com

DURHAM, N.C. - Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

That sure was the sentiment on display Tuesday night as Nolan Smith returned to his rightful place alongside Jon Scheyer and Kyle Single on Duke's perimeter up after missing the first two games of the season.

"I know [Nolan and Jon] are happy to be together again and also Kyle," head coach Mike Krzyzewski said.

The feelings were mutual.

"I've been anxious to get back out there," Smith said. "I was ready to make plays. Coming back, we were all energized. Kyle [Singler] and Jon [Scheyer] were telling me how happy they were to have me back. I wanted to play well and feed off of them."  

Smith's career-high 24 points paced the Blue Devils over Charlotte 101-59 in the second round of the NIT Season Tip-Off.

"Those three guys on the perimeter are the strength of our basketball team," Krzyzewski said. "I thought everyone did a good job tonight. We beat a good team pretty soundly tonight."

Smith had to sit patiently on the Duke bench in street clothes during the Blue Devils first two games after having been suspended for playing in a non-sanctioned pickup game over the summer.

He watched intently for two nights from an unfamiliar seat on the bench and studied his team from a different perspective.

"I was able to learn," Smith said. "I learned a lot about my teammates and watching the big guys play. They are doing a lot to get better. They are very aggressive."

Smith came out aggressive, admitting he was very excited to take his first shot and it came 11 seconds into the ballgame, a fall away jumper that bounced harmlessly off the rim.  Thirty-three seconds later the junior guard turned the ball over.

"I started the game with a turnover and looked over to Coach who told me to calm down," Smith said. "I was sitting on the bench being very excited and anxious to get out there [during the first two games], so I was ready to go."

He made his next attempt, a driving layup, and then grabbed an offensive rebound off a Miles Plumlee miss turning the extra possession into two points from the line. His next bucket would come courtesy of a 15-footer from the free throw line, followed by Scheyer, stealing it away from Derrio Green and finding Smith for the easy two as the Blue Devils jumped on Charlotte 14-2.

"Nolan is going to get involved," Krzyzewski said. "We don't have to set anything up for him. He's an outstanding player. We know the way we've been practicing for 26 practices or something like that. For the first 23, [Nolan and Jon] are playing together. They can alternate ball handling."

Smith adds another dimension to the Blue Devils. Paired alongside Singler and Scheyer the Upper Marlboro, Md., native gives Duke three perimeter players that can create their own shots, set up teammates for shots, and a quick ball handler to push the tempo and add pressure to opposing defenses.

"It spreads the court because you have three perimeter guys," Krzyzewski said. "And when Andre comes in he continues to spread it and when Ryan comes in as a second big. You have to guard everybody. Good players if they have a little bit more space they can create a little bit more."

His jump shot looks better as well, and the confidence he is displaying on the court only makes his that much more formidable a player.

"Yeah, he is in a great state right now," Scheyer said. "He knows what he needs to do and he is very comfortable. We have good chemistry on the perimeter."

Smith shot 9-of-15 (.600) from the field including 2-of-3 (.667) from the three-point line, adding five assists and five rebounds to his stat line.

His presence also helped to improve the overall shooting of Duke. The Blue Devils shot 52.9 percent from the field and 57.1 percent from three tonight, improving in both categories from a night ago.

"I think it makes all of us confident," Scheyer said. "Nolan [Smith] is playing with swagger and that gives our whole team swagger too."