GAME NOTES: The seventh-ranked Duke Blue Devils make the trip to the Sunshine State, as they take on the Florida State Seminoles in ACC play at the Donald L. Tucker Center this evening. Mike Krzyzewski's Blue Devils opened up league play in impressive fashion last weekend, routing the Virginia Cavaliers in Durham, 87-65. The victory was the 13th in 14 games this year, with the lone loss coming against Pittsburgh in a thrilling 65-64 overtime decision in New York City on December 20th. The Seminoles closed out the 2007 calendar year with a 66-64 win at Georgia Tech to open their conference slate. More recently though, the team dropped to 1-1 in the ACC with a 97-85 double-overtime loss at Clemson. At home however, FSU has been unbeatable, winning all nine of its games at the Tucker Center this season. FSU head coach Leonard Hamilton will be going for his 300th career win in this game and 100th at Florida State. Over the last two seasons, Florida State has amassed a 25-3 home record. Duke owns a significant advantage in the all-time series with FSU (25-6), but the Seminoles have won the last two meetings.

The Blue Devils have won games at both ends of the court this season and enter this tilt with an impressive +22.0 scoring margin. Duke is shooting the ball extremely well, connecting on 48.7 percent from the floor and 40.2 percent from three-point range. The result is a hardy 85.5 ppg. Four players are averaging double figures and two more closing in on that mark at over nine points per game. Senior guard DeMarcus Nelson leads the offensive charge with 14.1 ppg. Sophomore guard Gerald Henderson and freshman forward Kyle Singler are next in the scoring column at 13.0 ppg each. Sophomore Jon Scheyer (10.7 ppg) and freshman Taylor King (9.9 ppg) have been assets off the bench and add to a youthful bunch. In the win over the Cavaliers this past weekend, Nelson hit 8- of-12 from the floor to finish with 20 points. Henderson was 7-of-12 and added 18 points. Singler chipped in 13 points in the win and Scheyer once again was instrumental off the bench with 12 points.

Uche Echefu had a huge game, netting a career-high 24 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, but it wasn't enough, as Florida State fell by 12 points in a double- overtime marathon. Isaiah Swann, Ralph Mims and Toney Douglas poured in 16 points apiece. Jason Rich joined Echefu with a double-double of his own, finishing with 11 points and 10 rebounds in the loss. The Seminoles went toe- to-toe throughout much of the contest, but could not keep up with the hometown Tigers in the second extra session, as Clemson put up 19 points against FSU's seven. The Seminoles are certainly a dangerous team, averaging 75.9 ppg, on a steady .472 shooting. Making teams pay for fouling is certainly a strength, with Florida State leading the ACC in free-throw shooting percentage (.797). Scoring depth is apparent with five players currently averaging double figures. Douglas leads the way with nearly 14 points per game (13.9). Swann is next at 12.6 ppg, followed by Echefu (12.2 ppg), Rich (11.9 ppg) and Mims (10.8 ppg).

Duke is playing well both offensively and defensively right now, but there is something about the Blue Devils in Tallahassee that brings the best out of Leonard Hamilton's team.