Feb. 18, 2002

By DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) - Shortly after he weaved his way through the jubilant Maryland crowd Sunday, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski made a rare concession: The better team won.

The top-ranked Blue Devils trailed throughout its showdown with No. 3 Maryland, falling behind by as many as 25 points in a lopsided 87-73 defeat.

Duke's 11-game winning streak and grip on first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference tumbled under the strain of 18 turnovers, miserable shooting from 3-point range and a shoddy foul shooting.

"The team that should have won did win, and they won in convincing fashion," Krzyzewski said. "We made a good run in the end, but the game was never in doubt."

The loss dropped the Blue Devils (23-2, 11-2) a half-game behind Maryland in the ACC standings and served as an indication that Duke must make some adjustments in order to successfully defend its national championship.

"Hopefully we'll get better as a result of being in this game today," Krzyzewski said.

The inevitable fall from the No. 1 spot next week is the least of his worries. Of more concern was the Blue Devils' 7-for-33 shooting from beyond the arc and a 12-for-24 effort at the foul line.

"I'm not that concerned with what happens during the regular season as far as rankings go," Krzyzewski said. "I'm concerned about how we finish up."

Duke's atypical performance could be summed up by a play that occurred in the closing seconds of the first half. With Duke working for the final shot, guard Jason Williams peeked back at Krzyzewski for guidance. The instant he looked away, Maryland guard Steve Blake stole the ball and went the distance for a layup to put the Terrapins up 38-29.

"That was unfortunate. I'll take responsibility for that," Krzyzewski said. "But this was not a one-possession game."

As they did last year at Maryland, the Blue Devils fought back from a sizable deficit. But unlike last season, when Duke made up 10 points in the final 54 seconds of regulation, the comeback fell short.

"Hopefully, this loss will enable us to refocus," Williams said. "If we played with the same intensity and emotion that we did in the last 12 minutes, it might have been a different story."

Perhaps. But on this day - for only the second time all season - Duke was the second-best team on the court.

"I'm too old to get flustered. I'm 55," Krzyzewski said. "I was disappointed that we weren't using the energy that we brought to the game in a more positive way. It just wasn't going today, and it's because they wouldn't allow us to get going."

Ever the optimist, Krzyzewski looked for the positive aspect of such of a resounding defeat.

"You've got to learn from it," he said. "Once you get into March, it's different. I've done it before. Trust me. I'll try to take my team where we're supposed to be."