JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Duke's NCAA Tournament opener Friday night lacked the type of drama that dominated the first day of the tournament, but that suited the Blue Devils just fine.
The top-seeded Blue Devils never trailed in easily dispatching of No. 16 seed Arkansas-Pine Bluff 73-44 at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena.
Duke (30-5), which earned its 11th 30-win season under Coach Mike Krzyzewski, advanced to a Sunday meeting with the winner of the late game between Cal and Louisville.
Junior Kyle Singler scored 22 points for the Blue Devils, who hit more than half their shots while holding Arkansas-Pine Bluff (18-16) to a season-low scoring total.
While the first round of the men's bracket came to a close, the first round of the NCAA Women's Tournament tips off today.
Duke will take on Hampton at Cameron Indoor Stadium (2:30 p.m., ESPN2), while North Carolina has a late-night appointment with Gonzaga in Seattle (10:30 p.m., ESPN2).
And the day's basketball action gets under way with UNC visiting Mississippi State in the second round of the NIT (noon, ESPN).
-- BRYAN STRICKLAND
