Seniors Lead Duke Past Kentucky

CURRY (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)#9 DUKE 75, #3 Kentucky (Wildcats, 28,094 students, Lexington, KY) 68 - Don’t hand that ACC title to N.C. State just yet, Duke looks pretty darn good...Seth Curry scored 23 points and the Blue Devils held off a furious comeback by Kentucky in the first matchup between the storied programs since 2001.Duke (2-0) appeared to be in control, even with Mason Plumlee on the bench in foul trouble. The Blue Devils ripped off a 13-3 run, capped by Rasheed Sulaimon's 3-pointer that made it 58-44 with 9 1/2 minutes remaining.But Kentucky (1-1) wasn't done, rallying like the defending champ even though this is essentially a whole new team. The Wildcats outscored Duke 17-6 over the next six minutes and actually had a chance to tie it with a three.In the end, Duke made free throws and their three seniors scored 51 points as Ryan Kelly had 10 and Mason Plumlee 18 to go along with Curry’s 23. The Human Chrome Dome of Hyperbole (known to some as Dick Vitale) correctly pointed out that Duke is much better right now than they were at the end of last season.Kentucky is extremely talented and looks to be quite good by early 2013.Delaware (Blue Hens, 19,391 students, Newark, DE) 59, VIRGINIA 53 - Devon Saddler had 14 points, including several clutch free throws down the stretch as Delaware defeated Virginia. With the victory, the Blue Hens advance to the NIT Tip-Off semifinals, which will be held at Madison Square Garden in New York City next week.Jarvis Threatt added 14 points for Delaware (2-1). Jamelle Higgins had 10 points.Virginia (1-2) was led by Joe Harris' 17 points.Delaware shot just 43 percent (20 of 47) from the field, but held Virginia to 35 percent (20 of 57), including just 19 percent (4 of 21) from 3-point range.Florida Gulf Coast (Eagles, 12,683 students, Fort Meyers, FL) 63, MIAMI 51 - Sherwood Brown and Eric McKnight scored 14 points apiece as Florida Gulf Coast defeated Miami to post its biggest win in school history in front of their first sellout crowd (4,552).Florida Gulf Coast (1-1) which is in just its second season of being NCAA eligible, lost by one point to Nebraska, Texas Christian and Southern Methodist last season before making a late run and reaching the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament championship game.