FanHouse Kyle Singler

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The talk of the Atlantic Coast Conference's basketball media day Sunday was the trouble a player could get into if he talked too much.

Or said the wrong thing, or gestured the wrong way, or celebrated excessively, or did anything else that might be considered "unsporting behavior,'' according to a new zero-tolerance policy approved for this season by the NCAA.

Many of the players and coaches gathered at Greensboro's Grandover Resort bluntly said they either did not like the change, didn't understand why it was necessary, or both. The biggest issue: there is too much room left for the wrong interpretation.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski's voice wavered as he spoke of his admiration for his team, his voice heavy with the weight of another early goodbye. To his left, Gerald Henderson wiped both of his hands across his face as if he was trying to push away the whole forgettable night. Next to Henderson, Lance Thomas sat stone-faced.

Each of them looked like they just ran a marathon, only to finish with 10 rounds in the ring and come up losers in both.

BOSTON -- He looks like a chew toy, or something out of a puppet show. His dreads flop over a headband that would stand out more prominently if not for a midsection best described as doughy. His name is Levance Fields, and sometimes, he'll drive you to exasperation with reckless dribbling into traffic and corkscrew jumpshots heaved for no apparent purpose or reason.

BOSTON -- He looks like a chew toy, or something out of a puppet show. His dreads flop over a headband that would stand out more prominently if not for a midsection best described as doughy. His name is Levance Fields, and sometimes, he'll drive you to exasperation with reckless dribbling into traffic and corkscrew jumpshots heaved for no apparent purpose or reason.

This time it ended in a smile. And a grin. And a basketball held aloft like it was the Stanley Cup. And an ending that seemed awfully familiar.

Duke is back in the Sweet 16. Finally. Again.

---

---

If you've ever seen a man get a five-figure bill from the IRS while an elephant simultaneously steps on his foot, you might have a general frame of reference for the level of rancor Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski can raise when defeat comes his way.

So, as he explained a 79-71 loss to North Carolina, the sixth Heel win in the last seven games and the second time in three seasons he's been swept by his rival, a funny thing happened.

If you've ever seen a man get a five-figure bill from the IRS while an elephant simultaneously steps on his foot, you might have a general frame of reference for the level of rancor Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski can raise when defeat comes his way.

So, as he explained a 79-71 loss to North Carolina, the sixth Heel win in the last seven games and the second time in three seasons he's been swept by his rival, a funny thing happened.

We've covered -- rather extensively, actually -- the level to which Clemson embarrassed Duke Wednesday night in Littlejohn Coliseum. But still, nothing really sums it up the game quite like Trevor Booker's monster dunk on both Kyle Singler and Brian Zoubek. Enjoy.

Mike Krzyzewski was right, the biggest thing to fear about Wake Forest was their seven-day layoff, and the resulting time for the Demon Deacons to stew on a loss to Virginia Tech that ended their time as the No. 1 team in the nation.

But Coach K was also wrong. Wake Forest's ability to dominate in the paint against Duke propelled them to a thrilling 70-68 win over the Blue Devils.