Backing The Pack, a N.C. State Wolfpack community

"We're a team that wants to run and score points," senior Nolan Smith said. "It's going to start with our defense. You can't score off of made baskets, [because] the other team is going to be back and set up. So we're going to want to pressure other teams, create steals, create bad shots. If we don't do that, we're going to end up being a half-court team, and that's not how this team is supposed to play."

"Hopefully, we can rebound, so we can run," Krzyzewski said. "We're going to try to force more turnovers and try to get more possessions in a game. I think more possessions in a game would favor our group, whereas not as many possessions in a game would have favored last year's group."

After further examination of his right wrist at Duke today, Blue Devils junior forward Kyle Singler is being listed as probable for Wednesday's 9 p.m. game at N.C. State.

Team spokesman Matt Plizga said Singler came in Monday for treatment on his wrist, which he hurt when he crashed to the floor after being fouled by Wake Forest's Tony Woods late in Sunday night's 90-70 Blue Devil win.

Singler went for tests after the game and wasn't available for comment, but Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said the wrist was stiff rather than sore.

"To say I'm happy is putting it mild," McKinney said. "I loved every minute we were ahead. Every second. Every split-second. And every timeout. It's been a long time since we came here to Tammany Hall and won."

"He’s pretty fast," Johnson said. "But a lot of people get it mistaken at the conference he played at. Was it the Big Ten? They’re a slow conference. They don’t have fast guys in that conference. It automatically makes him look like he’s a real fast guy."

David Cutlciffe is not coming back to Tennessee: Should Tennessee make a change at head coach, and that is beginning to look more likely by the day, there has been speculation that David Cutcliffe, who served two terms as the Tennessee OC and is now the head coach at Duke (4-3) might return. It’s understandable that Cutcliffe’s name would come up. Here are the numbers: With Cutcliffe calling the plays, Phillip Fulmer’s teams were 85-19. With somebody else calling the plays, the record is 65-31. But it’s not going to happen. Cutcliffe and Fulmer are very close. The only way Cutcliffe comes back is if Fulmer gave his blessing and convinced him that it was for the good of the program. I know this has become a cutthroat business, but there is still a little loyalty left out there. Isn’t there?