Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski is hoping his team can play at a faster tempo for the rest of the season. Judging by the most recent game, that doesn't appear to be a problem.
The seventh-ranked Blue Devils will try to build on their best scoring performance of the season when they face Pennsylvania on Sunday, their final home game before ACC play.
With guards Austin Rivers and Seth Curry leading the way, Krzyzewski's team has been on an offensive tear. The Blue Devils (11-1) have averaged 93.3 points in four consecutive wins after averaging 77.4 in their first eight games.
"We're trying to push it more," Krzyzewski said. "We think we can keep a fresh point guard in there all the time. We have depth and we need to take advantage of it."
The Duke coach wanted a faster offensive pace Friday and got it in a 110-70 rout of Western Michigan. Curry had 22 points and shot 8 of 12 to match his best scoring performance since transferring from Liberty, and Rivers finished with 20 points - two shy of tying his career high.
"It's hard work paying off," said Curry, who has dealt with a nagging ankle injury this season. "The last few games, I kind of struggled with my shot, wasn't as aggressive as I should have been, and Coach was telling me to hunt my shot and play more aggressive."
The Blue Devils will try to remain aggressive as they look to extend a 42-game home win streak, second longest in school history. They will also try for a 93rd consecutive victory over a visiting non-conference foe when they face the Quakers (6-7).
In the most recent meeting, Duke handed Penn the most lopsided defeat in school history, 114-55 on Dec. 31, 2009. Mason Plumlee had 18 points and Andre Dawkins chipped in 10.
Quakers leading scorer Zack Rosen (19.7 ppg) had 10 points in that contest but has struggled with his shooting lately. The senior guard has made 32.4 percent of his attempts over the last three contests after connecting at a 55.0 percent clip over his first 10, during which he made 32 of 60 from 3-point range.
Rosen went 5 of 14 from the field and 1 of 5 from beyond the arc during a 14-point performance in a 75-70 loss at Davidson on Thursday. He did move to within eight assists of breaking the school's career record of 505, held by coach Jerome Allen.
Senior guard Tyler Bernardini, second on the team with 15.7 points per game, had a team-best 16 and has scored 75 over the last three contests.
Duke is seeking its seventh consecutive victory over Penn and ninth in 10 meetings after losing five of the first six matchups. The Blue Devils have won 23 straight over Ivy League schools.
