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Duke looks to build on Maui Classic success

Nov 25, 2007 - 2:37 PM Eastern Kentucky (2-2) at No. 10 Duke (5-0) 1:00 pm EST

DURHAM, North Carolina (Ticker) -- A Maui Classic title has generally meant good things for Duke.

The 10th-ranked Blue Devils look to build on their championship performance in Hawaii when they welcome Eastern Kentucky into Cameron Indoor Stadium on Sunday.

Duke defeated Marquette, 77-73 ,on Wednesday to claim its fourth Maui Classic title. The Blue Devils also won the Hawaiian tournament in 1992, 1997 and 2001.

While the 1997 season ended in defeat in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the 1992 and 2001 teams preceded to win the national title.

Duke can thank freshman Kyle Singler, who was 7-for-11 from the field and 8-for-8 from the free-throw line, for the most recent title.

With his 25 points championship game, he joined Bobby Hurley, current Duke assistant Steve Wojciechowski and Mike Dunleavy Jr. as the list of Blue Devils who have won the MVP at the Maui Invitational.

The Blue Devils look to extend their home winning streak against non-conference opponents to 54 games as they face Eastern Kentucky for the first time. Duke's last such loss was on February 26, 2000, when St. John's claimed an 83-82 win at Cameron.

Eastern Kentucky, meanwhile, is coming off a 64-50 defeat to Alabama-Birmingham on Wednesday. A NCAA tournament team from a season ago after they won the Ohio Valley Tournament, the Colonels figure to have their work cut out for them against Duke, which is outscoring opponents by 25.8 points per game.