DUKE ROUTS ST. AUGUSTINE IN FIRST SCRIMMAGE!

For the collegiate basketball team, a scrimmage can be played for a variety of reasons. For the rebuilding team, a scrimmage can be utilized to evaluate where the team is, and how far they need to go, in the maturation process. For a team of young players, it can initiate them to the fast pace game allowing them to garner some experience before entering a regular season game. However, for a team such as the defending National Champion Duke Blue Devils, a scrimmage is used as a tune up, to evaluate their players, and to sharpen all facets of their game in order to prepare them for when the real season begins.  

Duke’s first scrimmage, which marked the beginning of the 2010-2011 season was played on October 23, 2010 against St. Augustine in Duke University’s Cameron Stadium. With ten of the twelve players on the active breaking into the scoring column, Duke rolled to an impressive 141-68 win.

Senior standout Kyle Singler led all scorers and a balanced Duke attack with 31 points including 6 three pointers. He also added 9 rebounds, and 5 assists. Freshman Kyrie Irving and Seth Curry contributed 17 (seven assists) and 15 points (5 assists) respectively, while Mason Plumlee chipped in 13 points and 8 rebounds with 6-6 shooting from the field. Nolan Smith poured in 15 points and dished out a game high 9 assists. Off the bench for Duke, sharp shooter Andre Dawkins connected on 4 three pointers en route to 20 points.

With the game also marking the first opportunity for the Blue Devil fan  to view the team favored to repeat as National Champions against an opponent other than themselves [Duke held their annual inter squad Blue/White game just 8 days prior],  they were not disappointed, as Duke looked as dominant as ever in their first preseason contest.

Duke will face Cal-Poly Pomona on November 4, 2010, 7 pm, at Cameron Indoor Stadium in their final tune up before beginning the regular season.