It didn't take long for No. 2 Ohio State to assert itself against third-ranked Duke. Just 4 minutes into the game and the Buckeyes were off and running, scoring the first 11 points en route to an 85-63 blowout Tuesday night. The slow start did in the tired Blue Devils, who never got within double figures of Ohio State in the last 28 minutes. “There's no excuse for how we played,” said Duke big man Mason Plumlee, who had 16 points. “Not to take anything away from them. They played great.” Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski said his team was tired, but also chalked up the ugly defeat to a young team that was overwhelmed by a quality opponent on the road. “Sometimes you just get your butt kicked,” Krzyzewski said. “We were getting our butt kicked. I've had my butt kicked before. We've kicked some butt. Tonight my butt's sore.” Austin Rivers had 22 points for the Blue Devils (7-1), who were coming off wins over ranked opponents Michigan and Kansas in their previous two games. Few would have expected such a lopsided result. Duke came in with a record of 11-1 in ACC/Big Ten games and had beaten its last five Big Ten opponents – including conference bullies Michigan State and Michigan already this season. The Blue Devils had also won their last four games in which both teams were ranked in the top five. But the quick start by the Buckeyes doomed Duke. “We needed to get off to a good start,” Ohio State coach Thad Matta said. “Obviously, we did. That was a big key. We knew Duke was going to make a heck of a run back at us but we withstood it.” Jared Sullinger had 21 points, William Buford 20, Deshaun Thomas 18 and Aaron Craft 17 for the Buckeyes (7-0), who gave the Big Ten a 4-2 edge after the first night of ACC/Big Ten Challenge matchups. Craft also had eight assists and five rebounds and was a terror on defense. Other results: Syracuse 84, EMU 48; Baylor 90, PV A&M 54; Virginia 70, Michigan 58; LyMnt 75, Saint Louis 68.
