Duke 78, Montana 58; With Smith at helm, Blue Devils advance to 6-0
CAMERON INDOOR STADIUM/DURHAM – After beating Michigan to clinch the Coaches v. Cancer Classic title on Saturday, a tired Duke team returned to Durham on Sunday to face the lowly Montana Grizzlies–who, last season, finished fifth in the Big Sky conference. For the first time this year, former starting point guard Greg Paulus sat out the entire game, and did not participate in a shoot-around at the half. That left sophomore standout Nolan Smith–who led Duke with 16 points and 4 assists in the Michigan win–to take the reins, beyond a nominal starting position over Paulus, who has had several nagging injuries this season. In the end, Smith split ball-handling time with shooting-guard Jon Scheyer (14 points, 0 assists), in a Jordan-Pippen two-guard format, while Coach Mike Krzyzewski also subbed in freshman Eliot Williams (4 points, 3 assists) at the point. Smith finished with a team-high 14 points and one assist (along with 3 turnovers) in the 78-58 victory.
“I had to pick it up vocally,” Smith said after the win. “I realized, the day without Greg in there, I had to speak.”
Though his stat line may not have shown it, Smith demonstrated confidence on Sunday as a playmaker on the court. Described by teammates as quiet, Smith–with some encouragement from Krzyzewski–began to order the troops.
“He led our team in the second half,” said power forward Kyle Singler (13 points/5 rebounds/3 assists), who was tournament MVP in the Coaches v. Cancer Classic. “Nolan I think matured, and took a new step tonight.”
