bstrickland@heraldsun.com; 419-6671
DURHAM -- One time downcourt, Duke senior Lance Thomas serves as the point man on a fullcourt trap, assigned the duty of disrupting the opponent's primary ball handler.
The next time down, Thomas is pounding away in the paint, trying to keep the opponent's biggest player from getting the ball.
Thomas, at 6-8, is one of the most versatile defenders the Blue Devils have featured in a long time, but even he can't be in two places at one time.
After limiting big men Trevor Booker of Clemson and then Craig Brackins of Iowa State to their second-lowest scoring games of the season, Thomas and the No. 5 Blue Devils will face a team today that basically has both Booker and Brackins.
No. 20 Georgia Tech is led by veteran big man Gani Lawal and freshman post phenom Derrick Favors, a one-two punch that could pose double trouble.
"It will be a tough one," Thomas said. "Double-teaming will be pretty tough because both of them are kind of their go-to guys. Lawal and Favors, those are two really, really good players.
"We'll have to be ready for a fight against them. I'll be ready, whoever I'm on. I don't want to give them open looks."
The Blue Devils (13-1, 1-0 ACC) have been tough on Georgia Tech (11-3, 0-1) of late heading into today's game at Alexander Memorial Coliseum (2 p.m., ESPN), having won 24 of the last 26 meetings and 11 of 12 in Atlanta.
They've also been tough on ranked opponents this season, holding Connecticut, Gonzaga and Clemson to an average of 51 points.
This isn't, however, the same Georgia Tech team that finished last in the ACC a year ago. The young Yellow Jackets still are trying to figure out some things -- they faltered at Georgia on Tuesday -- but with Lawal and Favors combining for more than 27 points and 18 rebounds a game, the learning curve isn't that long.
"They've worked very well together," Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt said. "They're a little bit different. Derrick is a little bit more skilled out on the perimeter. He's got the ability to shoot the ball from 15 to 18 feet, and we're trying to encourage him to take that shot more -- I think he's a little reluctant.
"He's the better ball handler and passer, whereas Gani has really asserted himself around the basket, rebounding and getting post position."
It seems that Thomas' defensive skill set might match up better with Favors, but he's clearly ready for all comers.
"I embrace that, trying to guard the other team's best player. That's something I think I'm really good at," said Thomas, who also has hit 7 of 10 field goals over his past three games. "I like the challenge of shutting down somebody who is highly touted. I get a rush after a game knowing that a person didn't have as good a game as they usually have and aren't as big a factor as they have in.
"That's something I take pride in, and it's something I'm putting myself in position to do, night in and night out."
Thomas obviously will need help against Georgia Tech, something he's had in previous games but that could be spread thin by the Yellow Jackets.
With veterans Thomas and Brian Zoubek, as well as brothers Miles and Mason Plumlee along the front line, the Blue Devils are as equipped to tangle with tall teams as they've been in a long time.
Still, it might take more against Georgia Tech, which also gets 10.0 points and 4.6 rebounds off the bench from senior Zachery Peacock. The answer could be one that Duke has leaned on in defending bigger teams in the past -- make it difficult on the guards to get the ball to their big men in the first place.
Georgia Tech is one of just three ACC teams with more turnovers (232) than assists (206). The recent return of point guard Iman Shumpert from a knee injury helps, but many of the Jackets' backcourt minutes are going to inexperienced players.
"I think it's a function of us playing as many young guys as we've played," Hewitt said. "It seems like especially our perimeter guys are going a little bit fast.
"Getting Iman back kind of settles it down a little bit."
Duke isn't the kind of team that makes it easy to settle down, especially with the way Thomas is playing on the defensive end.
"We're ready for the challenge," Thomas said. "We have a lot of veterans on our team, so we're ready for it."
