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News Nuggets, 11.25.05
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Memphis meets short-handed Duke for NIT title

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski has six McDonald's high school All-Americans on his team. He'll have to do without one of them for the time being.

The top-ranked Blue Devils will be without sophomore guard DeMarcus Nelson when they take on No. 11 Memphis in the championship game of the NIT Season Tip-Off on Friday at Madison Square Garden.

Nelson suffered a hairline fracture of his right ankle in the second half of Duke's 78-68 semifinal victory over Drexel on Wednesday. The guard was averaging 8.7 points and 4.0 rebounds through the first three games of the season.

The Blue Devils (4-0) have won every game by double digits this season as they enter their first matchup with a ranked opponent. However, they had trouble pulling away from Drexel on Wednesday, prompting Krzyzewski to claim that the high expectations for his talent-laden squad are a bit premature.

"We have four seniors and five freshmen; I'm not saying we're overrated or underrated," Krzyzewski said. "But we're not a powerhouse. We still have to do things right."

Memphis coach John Calipari, who has never faced Duke, feels otherwise about the matchup with the No. 1 team in the country.

"We have great respect for that program and what they have done historically," Calipari said.

Calipari also has a team full of talent, most notably sophomore guard Darius Washington and freshman swingman Shawne Williams. Washington was named Conference USA freshman of the year last season and Williams was terrific in Wednesday's 88-80 semifinal victory over No. 16 UCLA, scoring 26 points and pulling down six rebounds.

Williams made his first five 3-pointers and had 20 points by halftime as Memphis built a 17-point lead at the break before holding off a late rally.

"It seems their plan was to sit off me," Williams said. "I had to shoot to open up the defense a little bit."

Duke appears to have a big edge inside with All-American center Shelden Williams and highly regarded freshman forward Josh McRoberts. Williams — last season's national defensive player of the year — is averaging 16 points and shooting 53.5 percent (23-of-43) from the field through four games. McRoberts, considered possibly the best freshman in the nation, reached double figures for the first time Wednesday with 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting.

The Blue Devils also have an All-American on the perimeter in shooting guard J.J. Redick, who scored a season-high 31 points in the win over Drexel.

"Redick saved us," Krzyzewski said. "He was trying to put the whole team on his back."

Redick, who has never shot above 43 percent in any of his first three seasons at Duke, is shooting 50 percent (31-of-62) this season.

The Blue Devils are trying to win the tournament formerly known as the Preseason NIT for the third time, earning the title in 1985 and 2000. Memphis is playing for the title for the first time in its fifth appearance in the event.

The Tigers are 13-18 overall at Madison Square Garden, including a 6-5 mark under Calipari.

Duke and Memphis have never met.

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