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ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- It's just business, never personal, at
Duke.
Whether the top-ranked Blue Devils are playing an opposing coach
with program ties or a fierce rival, they strive for perfection.
|  | | Duke's Jason Williams went 12-for-19 from the field on his way to a career-high 35 points. |
Jason Williams scored 14 of his career-high 35 points in the
first 4:13 and Duke beat Michigan 104-83 Saturday to spoil Tommy
Amaker's reunion with his alma mater and mentor, Mike Krzyzewski.
Williams said playing against a former Duke standout and
assistant coach was never an issue.
"That's what's great about Coach K," Williams said. "He
coaches us the same, whether he hates the other coach or if he
loves him."
Duke (8-0) extended the nation's longest winning streak to 18
games, dating to the national championship run last season.
Krzyzewski is now 13-0 against former players and assistants.
Amaker, in his first season at Michigan (3-4), started 138 games
for the Blue Devils from 1984-87 and was a Duke assistant from
1989-97 before becoming Seton Hall's coach.
"I love Tommy," Krzyzewski said. "Tommy is like a son to me.
If you asked my three daughters who their brothers are, they'd say
Tommy was one of them. I've known Tommy since he was a sophomore in
high school and was 5-9, 140 pounds.
"It just so happens that I had to coach against him and I don't
particularly like that," he said.
The two coaches hugged and shared a few words just before the
game and shook hands and chatted briefly right after it.
Earlier this week, Amaker thought he would have mixed emotions
during the game, but afterward he insisted he didn't.
"You just kind of get engulfed in the game," Amaker said.
Chris Young led the Wolverines with a career-high 25 points.
"I just have a lot of confidence right now," said Young, who
broke his previous career high with 22 points Tuesday.
Young didn't get much help from LaVell Blanchard and Bernard
Robinson, Michigan's leading scorers. Blanchard had 16 points and
Robinson finished with four after they were held scoreless in the
first half.
Williams was 12-for-19 overall, 7-for-11 on 3-pointers and 4-for-5
at the line to top his previous career-high of 34 points. The
junior, who has already said he will turn pro after this season,
added five assists, four rebounds and two steals.
Williams is taking five -- instead of four -- courses this
semester to graduate with a sociology degree in May before entering
the draft.
"It's killed the distractions I had last year," Williams said.
"I don't have people asking me all the time if I'm going or not."
Now some are asking where Williams rates among Duke's greats.
Amaker said he's right at the top of the list and Krzyzewski
agreed.
"Jason is as talented as anybody I've coached, there's no
question," Krzyzewski said.
Williams was taken out of the game after he made three
3-pointers in a 62-second span to give the Blue Devils a 102-70
lead with a few minutes left.
Carlos Boozer scored 23 points and Mike Dunleavy added 16 for
Duke, which has won its last seven games by an average of 22.7
points after beating Seton Hall 80-79 in the season opener.
Duke came close to matching the 34-2 beginning it had in the 104-61 victory last season over Michigan at home. Williams' 14th point put
the Blue Devils ahead 20-4, and they padded the lead to 29-4.
The Wolverines outscored Duke 15-4 later in the half to close to 15 points, but never got closer.
Duke turned its 51-32 halftime lead into a 30-point lead quickly
in the second half and Michigan was not able to do much about it.
Both Krzyzewski and Amaker were very reluctant to talk about the
future of this series, which has been played annually since 1989.
The current contract ends after the game next season at Duke.
Krzyzewski said he never looks at the opposing bench, even if
he's not playing against a former player or assistant.
"Once the game starts, you owe it to the guys that you coach
now to give them 100 percent," he said. |