Perfect Preview: Duke Looks To Exend Cameron Win Streak Against UAB

Tonight the boys from Birmingham will have their dancing shoes on.  While the they are a relative unknown and unranked team, these guys can play.  The Blazers are 10-2 and have won four straight.  UAB may not have the reputation as one of the nation's best, but they are still a team that could be hanging around amidst March Madness. 

After a "sky is falling" moment in Durham with the injury to freshman superstar Kyrie Irving, the Devils continue to dominate.  They have won an NCAA leading 23 straight including every game this season.  This team truly hasn't been challenged and appear to be getting better each time they take the court.

The Blazers should not pose a serious threat to Duke.  The game is at Cameron and the only thing more impressive than Duke's nonconferance home winning streak (49) are the banners that hang above Coach K Court.  If UAB is to hang around and have a shot, they will need great play from Jamarr Sanders.

Sanders is the teams leading scorer and overall leader.  In his last outing he scored an impressive 27 points against George Washington.  Many of his points are led by great assists and a game of sharing by Aaron Johnson who leads this team in assists.  If anyone needed praise on this team it would be Johnson who is among the NCAA's best in terms of assists and point guard play.

Duke will combat the Sanders-Johnson duo with smothering defense and solid leadership from team captain Nolan Smith.  Smith is the team's leading scorer and the only person on this team that can equal the early success of Kyrie Irving.

Since having a tough scoring night against Bradley in early December, Smith has been on fire scoring no less than 22 in four consecutive games.  He is fully filling his role as captain and is doing everything the Duke staff has asked of him.

Not that anyone needs a reminder, there is still another senior on this team that is worthy of attention.  Kyle Singler has appeared to have taken a back seat to his guard brethren, but Singler is still one of the best players in the country.

Singler may not be getting a ton of attention, but he is still playing at an extremely high level.  Proof is his 27 point scoring barrage on December 29th against UNCG helping Coach K move past Dean Smith in total wins.

In terms of a prediction for this one...  The Devils win this one by a boat load.  Expect a big game from Singler, Smith, and Dawkins, but don't be surprised with the play of Ryan Kelly.  His expended role is helping him grow with each practice and it is a matter of time before he has a true breakout game and gets the credit he deserves.

This one may stay close for a bit, but Duke will pull away in the second half winning by 15+.