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Duke-Boston College Preview

Feb 5, 2010 - 11:05 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Duke (18-4) at Boston College (12-10), 2:00 p.m. EDT

Kyle Singler has had some strong games at home despite playing with a sore shooting wrist. On the road, though, the injury can become a valid excuse for his subpar play.

Following the best scoring game of his career, Singler looks to help No. 10 Duke improve its play on the road in an ACC matchup with Boston College on Saturday.

Duke (18-4, 6-2) beat No. 21 Georgia Tech 86-67 on Thursday night in a matchup of the ACC's only ranked teams. The Blue Devils split their previous four games, losing twice on the road, including an 89-77 defeat at No. 7 Georgetown last Saturday.

"We wouldn't be 18-4 unless we played really well," coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "We've had a couple of poor games, and we're not going to define ourselves by a poor game. We're going to define ourselves by the full body of work, and we're just in a situation where a lot of people like to define us by whatever we don't do well. Our kids have done a lot really well."

Duke now faces two straight games on the road, where it is 1-4 and shooting 41.9 percent. The Blue Devils could certainly use another big game from Singler, who set career highs with 30 points and eight 3-pointers versus the Yellow Jackets.

Singler had a big game despite clearly being hampered by his right wrist, which he clutched as he went to the bench just prior to halftime. The junior forward continues to play with the wrist taped up after he injured it in a fall during a 90-70 win over Wake Forest on Jan. 17.

Singler is averaging 25.0 points and making 50.0 percent (16 for 32) of his shots - 55.0 percent (11 for 20) from 3-point range - in two home games since getting hurt. In three road games following the injury, he's shooting 35.7 percent (15 for 42) from the field and 26.7 percent (4 for 15) from beyond the arc.

Singler is seventh in the ACC in scoring, averaging 16.8 points. Teammates Jon Scheyer (18.8) and Nolan Smith (18.0) rank second and third, respectively.

Smith matched a career high with 24 points while adding four assists and three steals in a 79-59 win over Boston College (12-10, 3-5) on Jan. 13. The Blue Devils lead the series 11-2.

Duke made 81.5 percent (22 for 27) of its attempts from the free throw line versus the Eagles and is shooting an ACC-best 76.6 percent.

Boston College was limited to four trips to the line in a 61-57 loss to Florida State last Saturday. That's the fewest amount of free throws the Eagles have attempted in 13 seasons under coach Al Skinner.

Boston College shot 42.9 percent from the floor, losing for the fifth time in seven games.

Rakim Sanders had 17 points on 7-of-15 shooting and continues to play well after a terrible start. The junior guard is shooting 46.9 percent over his last three games after being held to 35.5 percent over his previous 11.

Sanders went 1 for 8 and finished with three points last month against the Blue Devils. Joe Trapani, who leads the Eagles with 14.5 points per game, was held to eight.