Duke Basketball Preview: Top 10 Games to Watch in the 2011-12 Season

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Midnight Madness Duke-style known as "Countdown to Craziness," happens a little over five weeks from now.

This will be the first chance for most of the college basketball world to witness what the 2011-12 edition of the Blue Devils will bring to table when the season opens at home on November 11 against Belmont. 

While the pieces of a very good team are in place, Coach K and his staff will be passionately working on how those pieces will best fit together.  

This year's schedule is filled with many "must see" moments.

Here are the top 10 Duke games to watch in the upcoming season.

Note: Every day this week, we will highlight a different college program's top 10 games to watch in 2011-12.

Tomorrow: UConn

November 15: Michigan State at Madison Square Garden

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Mike Krzyzewski enters the 2011-12 season with 900 victories to his credit in his college head coaching career.

He only needs two wins to tie Bob Knight's record of being the winningest coach in collegiate hoops history.

Assuming that the Blue Devils take care of business as they open the season at home against Belmont (Nov. 11) and Presbyterian (Nov. 12), the stage will be set for Coach K to attempt to get this historic win against Michigan State at "the World's Most Famous Arena"...Madison Square Garden.

While Coach K's potential "occasion" will be the focus of almost all of the media build-up going in, the game itself could be a classic battle between two great programs coached by two of college basketball's best.

Tom Izzo's Michigan State Spartans will be looking to launch their season with a win in this contest.

Last year was a "best of times, worst of times" season for the Spartans. MSU started off the season ranked No. 2 in the country, but had dropped to No. 20 by the end of December after going 8-4 in November and December.

Senior forward Draymond Green (12.3 PPG 8.6 RPG 4.0 APG in 2010-11) will lead the way for Michigan State.

November 22: Game 2 in the Maui Invitational

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The Blue Devils open the Maui Invitational against Tennessee on the 21st of November.

Duke should handle the rebuilding Vols without much trouble in their quarterfinal game.

Should that happen, the next game will be interesting depending on who wins the other quarterfinal contest on the top half of the tournament bracket.

If they take out Tennessee, Duke will then face the winner of the Memphis vs. Michigan matchup. 

Memphis will be a team to watch this season. Playing mostly freshmen and sophomores in 2010-11, the Tigers finished 25-10 and played Arizona tough in their opening round NCAA Tournament game. 

Last year, Michigan finished with a 21-14 overall record (9-9 in the Big Ten). The Wolverines received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, and advanced to the second round, where they dropped a narrow 73-71 decision to the Blue Devils in Charlotte, N.C.

Sophomore Tim Hardaway Jr. (pictured) leads a veteran returning cast for the Wolverines. 

November 23: Game 3 in Maui Invitational

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This is getting way ahead of things, but...

If Duke wins both their quarter and semifinal games, then the Blue Devils would play in the Maui Championship game against either UCLA, Chaminade, Georgetown or Kansas.

Sure, if the Silverswords beat the Bruins and, lets say, Kansas, that would be a huge story.

Personally, I would rather see Duke play either Kansas or UCLA in the finals.

Kansas is reloading after the early departures of the Morris twins and Josh Selby. They should still be strong with Thomas Robinson and Tyshawn Taylor returning, and the additions of recruits Ben McLemore and Naadir Tharpe.

UCLA will have as much frontcourt talent and depth as anyone in the tournament (and maybe the nation).

The Bruins return Reeves Nelson (pictured) and Josh Smith, and add the Wear twins (6'10" Tar Heel transfers).

This could be one of the best Maui Invitationals in years. Good pre-Thanksgiving viewing! 

November 29: Ohio State in Columbus

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Coming off of the Hawaii trip, the Blue Devils aren't exactly hitting auto-pilot.

As a part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, Duke goes to play Ohio State in Columbus on the 29th of November.

This is one of the best (if not THE best) early season matchups in the first month of college basketball.

Jared Sullinger could have been a top-three pick in this past year's NBA Draft, but decided to return to campus to try to win a national championship and to fine tune his already impressive game.

This will be a fantastic test for Mason and Miles Plumlee, who will try to figure out how in the world to shut Sullinger down on his home court. Even the kitchen sink is not safe in this one!

Ohio State will be super tough at home, where they did not lose last season and only went down twice the year before.

December 10: Washington at Madison Square Garden

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The Blue Devils go to the Big Apple again this time to face one of the West Coast's best programs: the Washington Huskies.

Lorenzo Romar's squad could easily enter this early December game undefeated. By that time, "UDub" will have had a chance to figure out how to effectively utilize all of their incredible back-court weapons.

The Huskies return Abdul Gaddy, C.J. Wilcox and Terrence Ross (pictured). Plus, they have added five-star PG Tony Wroten Jr.

Because of Duke's own returning backcourt stars (Curry, Dawkins and Thornton), plus the addition of freshmen phenoms Austin Rivers and Quinn Cook, this could be an awesome December duel. 

January 4: Temple in Philadelphia

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You have to give it to Coach K and whoever does Duke's scheduling this year.

The Blue Devils cannot be accused of just sitting at home and playing a bunch of softees at Cameron.

Temple went 26-8 last season, made it to the round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament, before losing to San Diego State in double-OT.

I'm looking forward to see how Duke attempts to shut down the Owls senior backcourt of Ramone Moore (pictured; leading scorer from 2010-11) and Juan Fernandez (assists leader).

Fernandez and Moore (both 6'4") create matchup problems and will need to be contained, or this one could get really interesting.

January 21: Florida State at Cameron

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One of the ACC teams that beat the Blue Devils in 2010-11 was Florida State.

This will be the first time since the Seminoles shut Duke down last January in Tallahassee.

Even though Leonard Hamilton's team is not nearly as tough on the road, FSU will bring a physically-tough, in-your-face style of ball into their game in Durham.

While the 'Noles have some slots to fill with the departures of Chris Singleton and Derwin Kitchen, they will not back down one iota.

Michael Snaer (pictured) is one of the ACC's most well-rounded players.

Keep an eye on Kiel Turpin, a 6'11" JUCO transfer and son of the late Kentucky star Melvin Turpin.

January 28: St. John's at Cameron

This may be a completely different SJU roster than a year ago, but Duke has a score to settle with St. John's.

Last January, the Red Storm blew out the Blue Devils by 15 points in Madison Square Garden.

The truth is, it wasn't even that close. St. John's was up by 21 at halftime. Who does that to a Krzyzewski-led team?

Second-year coach Steve Lavin brought in a nine-player recruiting class to fill his roster with long, athletic players who can cover multiple positions.

Dom Pointer (pictured) is the kind of player who will bring plenty of grit and intensity to the floor every night.

February 8: North Carolina in Chapel Hill

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Game 1 of the 2011-12 Battle of Tobacco Road tips off at the Smith Center.

By this time, both Duke and UNC will have played over 20 games.

There will be very little that either team is still trying to figure out.

The records up until this game won't mean much in one of the most fierce rivalries in all of college athletics.

The Tar Heels led the nation (42.5 RPG) last year in team rebounding. Tyler Zeller, John Henson and incoming freshman James McAdoo will be difficult to keep off of the glass again this season.

But, Harrison Barnes (pictured) could create a matchup nightmare for the Blue Devils that could be the tipping point to the game.

March 3: North Carolina at Cameron

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I love that the last game of the season means something.

Besides the rivalry angle, this contest could decide who wins the ACC regular season title.

And while it doesn't alter NCAA Tournament seeding a great deal, there's always those wonderful bragging rights that everybody likes to have.

Duke won the matchup at home last year 79-72. Going into this season, their home win streak is at 36 games, the longest in the nation.

The Blue Devils are 65-2 at home since the start of the 2007-08 season, with the only two losses coming to North Carolina.

This game at Cameron is always one of the best college battles every year.