THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, November 27, 1995 TAG: 9511270127
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ANCHORAGE, ALASKA LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
Duke came to Alaska as a team trying to find itself after last year's 13-18 season. It found itself back in national prominence by the time it headed home.
The Blue Devils beat No. 10 Iowa 88-81 late Saturday in the championship game of the Great Alaska Shootout. It was the second-consecutive night the Blue Devils defeated a nationally ranked Big Ten opponent, having dispatched No. 23 Indiana in the semifinals.
Three ranked teams were in this field. Duke wasn't one of them.
``It's very surprising,'' said coach Mike Krzyzewski, probably the Blue Devils' most significant newcomer, of his team's play. ``Everything's relative. I know it's only November.
``I'm just real pleased for my kids. A couple of them are in there crying, and they're crying for good reasons instead of reasons they cried for last year. That makes me feel very good.''
Chris Collins said the tournament title gives the Blue Devils a sense of what they are capable of accomplishing.
``It means the world,'' Collins said. ``Coming to this tournament we knew we'd be a good team, but we were a little insecure ourselves.''
Collins was a key to securing the win. He scored a career-high 30 points, including 5-of-7 shooting from 3-point range, to go along with seven assists.
``We wouldn't have won this tournament without Chris Collins,'' said Krzyzewski, somewhat upset that UConn's Ray Allen was named the tournament most outstanding player. ``He was absolutely sensational. He played with unbelievable heart and handled the ball in the press. He was the star tonight.''
There was close competition.
Ricky Price had 25 points on 9-of-11 shooting, and gritty Steve Wojciechowski had 10 points, all in the second half, to help spark the Blue Devils (3-0), who have won 16 of their last 17 games against Big Ten foes.
Duke shot 58 percent compared to 43 percent for the Hawkeyes (2-1). Guard Jeff Capel - who missed his first nine shots and finished 3 of 14 from the field - was the only Blue Devil to miss more shots than he made.
``He didn't shoot well here, but he stayed in the game,'' Krzyzewski said. ``That's the best he's played defensively - ever.''
Capel was guarding post men at one point when Duke played what amounted to a five-guard lineup. The Blue Devils went with that attack following a timeout with 7:19 to play, when they trailed by nine.
``We came to the bench and we realized Iowa was playing a lot tougher than us,'' Capel said. ``We said coming back on the court that if they're going to win, they're going to win a fight.''
But it was the Blue Devils who delivered a knockout punch in the form of a 22-3 run. Duke took over the game after Iowa had increased its lead to 69-58 with 6:51 to play on a Jess Settles three-point play.
That would be the Hawkeyes' last field goal until Andre Woolridge's 3-pointer with 1:09 left. At that point, the Blue Devils had an 80-75 lead, as Collins and Price combined for 15 of the 22 points in the spurt.
``I didn't think we looked sharp from the beginning,'' Iowa coach Tom Davis said. ``I thought Duke looked a step faster.''
The Hawkeyes cut it to three with 18 seconds left, but Duke threw over the Iowa press to a streaking Price, whose acrobatic slam dunk with 15 seconds left sealed the win.
``I don't think I've had a team play any harder for me in an eight-minute period than this team did tonight,'' Krzyzewski said.
``Last year we lose a game like this,'' Capel said.
Duke found out 4,000 miles from home that last year has not carried over. by CNB