(Photo Credit: Gerry Broome/Associated Press)

Austin the all-star

You’d be forgiven if you thought the motto of Duke University’s men’s college basketball team was “You win some, you win some more.”

Five national titles. Eleven appearances in the championship game. More All Americans and outstanding pros that we could list here, though we’ll name at least a few as reference points (Grant Hill, Jay Williams, J.J. Redick, Jayson Tatum, Zion Williamson).

Now combine that with the early-season scheduling of supposed weaklings and the likelihood of Duke being a 28 1/2-point favorite at home over Stephen F. Austin and winning by that much or more would not be unexpected.

It just didn’t happen. SFA topped the No. 1-ranked Blue Devils 85-83 on Tuesday at Cameron Indoor Stadium, handing Duke its first nonconference home defeat since 2000, a streak of 150 games. Nathan Bain scored on a layup as the buzzer sounded – the teams only scored three baskets in overtime.

No. 2 Michigan State also lost this week, so expect a shakeup in next week’s poll. No. 3 Louisville will be the team at the top of the pile … for a while. Remember that Kentucky lost two weeks ago to a 25-point underdog, Evansville, while ranked No. 1. It’s dangerous at high altitude.

With Duke ahead of the Lumberjacks by 15 points, the anticipated result seemed just a function of the game clock counting down. But the Blue Devils shot poorly from the free-throw line, missing 16 times (13 in the second half). That’s the path to defeat.

“We weren’t deserving of winning,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said.

Duke haters, enjoy the moment. Duke fans can relax. The Blue Devils will use this moment to reestablish themselves. They will win again. Trust me.

 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman