By BRYAN STRICKLAND

bstrickland@heraldsun.com; 419-6671

DURHAM -- Games such as Duke's season opener Friday night, a 96-62 victory over UNC Greensboro, present the types of situations where students hope that fan favorite Olek Czyz might possibly get free for a dunk.

Czyz obliged Friday at Cameron Indoor Stadium, with one notable twist -- his dunk came in the game's first three minutes rather than the final three minutes.

With guard Nolan Smith and big man Mason Plumlee out of action, Czyz got his first career start seemingly out of nowhere and responded with his trademark energy but also with poise that he lacked as a freshman.

"Sometimes he can get carried away, but he did a good job tonight," said Kyle Singler, who paced the Blue Devils with 20 points, including 14 in the game's first 13 minutes. "He's a very energetic player, but he just has to keep in mind that you have to play at a pace.

"He played within himself. He wasn't too wild out there."

The high-flying Czyz actually threw down three dunks, including two in the opening half after he stepped in the passing lane for steals, to contribute a career-high six points. After playing 51 minutes his freshman year, Czyz played 24 as a part of an eight-man rotation that is limited while Smith serves a two-game suspension and Plumlee mends a fractured wrist.

"They told me, 'We need a guy to step up since Nolan is not going to be in there,' " Czyz said. "It all started with practice. I've just had a really good year of practicing, and Coach has found confidence in me.

"I responded very well. I thought I was calm out there for the first time in that situation."

Czyz, a native of Poland, didn't miss a shot and added three rebounds and two assists -- all modest numbers but all career highs.

"When he came here, looking back we probably just should have redshirted him because he had so much to learn -- not just basketball but language, academics," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "He was making a big step forward in a lot of areas, and he's now made it.

"He's a really good kid, and he's an outstanding athlete once he learns how to use that athletic ability. He didn't try to do anything that he's not good with."

Even with his breakthrough performance, Czyz scored the fewest points within the eight-man rotation on a balanced night for the offense.

With the guard rotation shortened -- in addition to Smith, Jordan Davidson missed the game for his grandmother's funeral -- Jon Scheyer didn't come out of the game until the final three minutes, scoring 18 points without committing a turnover.

Big man Brian Zoubek scored 14 points in just 16 minutes on 6-of-7 shooting off the bench, and Lance Thomas (12 points, seven rebounds) and Miles Plumlee (10 points, nine rebounds) threatened to post double-doubles.

Freshmen Andre Dawkins and Ryan Kelly scored eight points apiece in their Duke debuts, taking turns hitting 3-pointers early in the second half after UNC Greensboro forward Ben Stywall (19 points) almost single-handedly trimmed a 23-point deficit to 17.

"We're a little undermanned right now, ... but I thought we played well," Krzyzewski said. "I was pleased with the effort.

"Our guys played very hard, and we had to because Greensboro played very hard."

NOTES -- Krzyzewski said that Mason Plumlee would have his wrist re-evaluated on Wednesday. "He won't be ready to play at that time -- that won't happen," Krzyzewski said. "But we hope it's weeks, not months." ... The Blue Devils return to action Monday in the opening round of the NIT Season Tip-Off, hosting Coastal Carolina (7 p.m., ESPNU). The Chanticleers surprised Charleston 70-59 on Friday night.