The Nutshell 
Duke overcame a lethargic and error-filled first half with an energetic
second half effort, crusing down the stretch to a 20 point victory over
the Pioneers. DU was fired up from the start by a record crowd of 6,635,
surpassing their total 2006-07 home attendance by 588.
Duke's sagging defense allowed plenty of good looks in the first half as
DU converted 6-12 threes and led 27-25 at half. Joy Cheek's 9 first-half
points kept Duke in the game, and while the Pioneers outhustled the Devils
at both ends in the first, Duke turned the tables in the second half. A
steal and layup by Jasmine Thomas sparked Duke's comeback, kicking off a
19-0 Blue Devil run featuring 4 straight threes. Duke's second half
defense denied the Pioneers open looks - DU scored just 10 second-half
points, 0-9 from 3. The two halves illustrated Duke's strengths and
weaknesses: that players with tremendous individual talents can't
match a well-coached team when not playing as a unit.
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