ats most frustrating to the kids who are hurt -- a game like tonight, man, thats what they live for, he said. These guys want to be in that game.Depth wasnt supposed to be an issue for this seem

DURHAM, N.C. -- This isnt the Duke team that was picked No. 1 in the preseason.Thats no slight to these current Blue Devils, who in their present composition have been plenty strong enough to win seven of eight, take down Michigan State and earn a No. 5 ranking.But beneath the surface, one question lingers: How much better will this team be once three injured freshman big men -- Harry Giles, Marques Bolden and Jayson Tatum -- are finally healthy enough to play?Coach Mike Krzyzewski says its still not quite time to find out.Were getting there, but itll be a while, Krzyzewski said after the 78-69 victory over the Spartans on Tuesday night. We just have to keep playing our butts off and keep trying to win. Every teams season is a little bit different. We just have to run our race the way were running it, and eventually, hopefully, well get all those guys.Those three were major reasons why Duke (7-1) was the favorite to win the Atlantic Coast Conference and voted to the top spot in the preseason polls.But the Blue Devils insist theyre not content to merely tread water until those three are ready to go.We know how good we are -- were still improving, and we know when we incorporate these guys back in, were going to be that much better, All-America guard Grayson Allen said. But right now were very confident with what we have. Were not playing a waiting game where were waiting for those guys to get back. Were going full speed and approaching every game that way, and I think the group that we have has done a great job fighting with a shorter bench, just being tough and really playing a lot of minutes.In the past week, the three five-star freshmen have taken part in pregame warmups, with an inordinate amount of attention being paid to what happens in those layup lines. Bolden and Giles have gone through those drills at closer to full speed than Tatum.Giles had his left knee scoped in early October to clean up scar tissue after he tore ligaments three years ago. Tatum sprained his foot during a practice in front of NBA scouts later that month, and Bolden suffered a lower leg injury during the teams first exhibition game.Krzyzewski has often emphasized his teams long-term goals over any short-term jolt that might come from rushing them into action before theyre healthy -- and risking re-injury. He said during the preseason that Duke is going to try to conduct our season appropriately because the key question is will we have all the talent available at the time you have the opportunity to win the championship?But after the Michigan State win, he acknowledged the frustration his freshmen feel at having to watch such a high-intensity game from the bench.The thing thats most frustrating to the kids who are hurt -- a game like tonight, man, thats what they live for, he said. These guys want to be in that game.Depth wasnt supposed to be an issue for this seemingly loaded Duke team. But those three injuries, plus a nagging toe injury that has kept Allen from practicing, once again has the Blue Devils trying to figure things out.Duke played just six men against Michigan State -- the starting five, plus reserve big man Chase Jeter -- in what felt like a flashback to 2015-16 when the injury-ravaged Blue Devils routinely went only six or seven deep.We had visions of, `Man, our practices are going to be hellacious, five-on-five, Krzyzewski said. We havent had that at all. Its crazy.---Follow Joedy McCreary at http://twitter.com/joedyap.---More AP college basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25. Cheap Houston Astros Jerseys . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. Cheap Atlanta Braves Jerseys . Tevez, who has had conflicts with coaches in the past, has not been called up since Sabella was named coach in 2011. Argentina boasts Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Angel Di Maria. http://www.cheapmlbjerseysoutlet.com/?tag=cheap-pittsburgh-pirates-jerseys . -- Lou Brocks shoulder-to-shoulder collision with Bill Freehan during the 1968 World Series and Pete Roses bruising hit on Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game could become relics of baseball history, like the dead-ball era. Cheap Los Angeles Dodgers Jerseys . Cuban testified Thursday that he was upset when the companys CEO told him news that would reduce the value of his shares, for which hed paid $7.5 million. But he said he did nothing improper when he sold those shares over the next two days. Cheap Minnesota Twins Jerseys . Gather a group of friends, or find a league to join online, draft your team, set your lineup and compete in a number of different formats. NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- After losing three straight, the Nashville Predators got a balanced effort to get back on the winning track.Kevin Fiala and Viktor Arvidsson scored two goals each as five Predators players came through with their first points of the season to lead illness-depleted Nashville to a 5-1 victory over the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night.Calle Jarnkrok also scored, P.K. Subban and Filip Forsberg each added two assistse, and Juuse Saros had 34 shots for his first NHL victory.It is part of Juuses growing process and how he is evolving through this organization, Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said. He has been off to a terrific start in (AHL) Milwaukee with three one-goal games and he has one-goal game here. He really bailed us out.Saros was one of the five players recalled from Milwaukee to fill in for several Predators players still suffering from food poisoning. The problem has been attributed by team officials to chicken soup as part of the pregame meal in Detroit on Friday night.We were much less sick for this game, Laviolette said. But they didnt get a chance to eat much. They couldnt keep anything down.Scott Wilson scored in the opening minute of the game for Pittsburgh. Marc-Andre Fleury gave up the five goals on 23 shots through the first two periods before being replaced by Mike Condon, who stopped all seven shots he faced in the third.We have to become a more difficult team to play against, Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. It starts with our decision making but its beyond that at this point.We show signs when we have our game together and we are hard to play against and we show other signs where we dont make the right decisions.Arvidsson tied the score on the power play at 3:08 of the first period, and Fiala beat Fleury with a wrister to start a four-goal second with his first of the season at 2:26.I was happy for Kevin, Laviolette said. He has been working hard, but you arent seeing it on paper. He built a lot of confidence playing on one of our top lines. He was a big contributor.Jarnkroks wrister made it 3-1 just past midway through the period with his ffirst point of the season, and Fiala got his second goal about a minute later for his first career multi-goal game.ddddddddddddrvidssons second of the game and third of the season, into the top right corner of the net, capped the scoring with 36 second left in the second.It only took 52 seconds for Saros to give up his first goal in his second NHL start. Wilson skated in to beat Saros to his glove side with a wrist shot.I just tried to start the game all over again after that shot, Saros said. You cant keep thinking about those goals. You have to continue to keep playing.It was great to get my first NHL victory. It was an amazing thing. It was even better to get it against Pittsburgh since Fleury was one of my early idols. I have spent a lot of time watching his highlights.Saros credited his teammates with making his job a little easier by keeping the area in front of the net clear.I give a lot of credit to the guys in front of me particularly on rebounds, Saros said. They kept guys out of the front of the net so I could see the puck well. It was a lot of fun to play behind those guys.Pekka Rinne, Mike Fisher, Craig Smith and Colton Sissons were all sidelined dealing by the illness. Along with Saros, the others called up were forwards Frederick Gaudreau, Trevor Smith, Austin Watson and Harry Zolnierczyk.Game notes Nashvilles Yannick Weber and Saros each earned their first assists of the season. ... The five goals were the most allowed by Fleury in a game this season. ... Nashville placed Cody Bass on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. ... Nashville set a franchise record with the power-play goal, the ninth of the season in the first five games, beating the previous record of seven set in 2005-06 and 2002-03. ... Pittsburghs Matt Cullen, who played two seasons for the Predators, became the 59th player in NHL history to play in 1,300 games. ... Gaudreau made his NHL debut for Nashville.UP NEXTPenguins: Host Florida on Tuesday night.Predators: At Anaheim on Wednesday night. Jerseys NFL China Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys From China Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale China Jerseys NFL Jerseys China Discount Soccer Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys China China NCAA Jerseys Cheap Cheap Nike Dolphins Jerseys Cheap Nike Patriots Jerseys Cheap Nike Jets Jerseys Cheap Nike Bengals Jerseys Cheap Nike Browns Jerseys Cheap Nike Steelers Jerseys Cheap Nike Texans Jerseys Cheap Nike Colts Jerseys Cheap Nike Jaguars Jerseys Cheap Nike Titans Jerseys Cheap Nike Broncos Jerseys ' ' '