Dunleavy, Duke’s freshman sixth man, missed his team’s previous four games after being diagnosed with mononucleosis. But while Dunleavy misses games, he apparently no longer misses shots. He returned to action with a vengeance in the opening round of the ACCTournament, shooting 6-for-7 (one short jumper went in and out) and sinking four straight 3-point tries as top-seeded Duke dismantled No. 9 Clemson 94-63.

Inspired by Dunleavy, the third-ranked Blue Devils (24-4) set a new ACCTournament record with 17 3-pointers. Wake Forest made 16 in a game in 1995.

Duke’s 3s came from literally everywhere. Seven different players had a hand in the record, with little-used reserve guard Andre Buckner tying the mark and walk-on Ryan Caldbeck breaking it in the final minute.

“Duke shot the ball terrific,” said shellshocked Clemson coach Larry Shyatt, whose team finished its season 10-20. “They got confident and then it seemed as though everyone in their basketball program became a shooter.”

Shane Battier (19 points) and Nate James (18 points) hit four 3s apiece, but there was little doubt that the barrage of bombs by Dunleavy was the most significant element of this game. Dunleavy is a huge part of Duke’s hopes in the NCAA Tournament. He gives the team not only another shooter, but another ballhandler, another reliable defender and another rebounder. Dunleavy enables Krzyzewski to use all kinds of lineups, because he is versatile enough and tall enough (6-9) to play anywhere.

“We were close and then Dunleavy came in and separated them from us,” said Shyatt.

“I’m surprised I didn’t get more fatigued,” said Dunleavy. “I had no idea how much I’d play tonight.”

“I was watching him closely to see if he’d let up on defense,” said Krzyzewski. “But he never did look tired. He was a key guy.”

Duke started slowly, with Krzyzewski calling a timeout 92 seconds into the game because he didn’t like his team’s “defensive enthusiasm.” And Duke still led only 15-14 after nearly eight minutes. The crowd, most of which wanted an upset, was buzzing by that time.

The buzzing intensified when Blue Devil star Chris Carrawell got in foul trouble trying to guard Clemson quickster Will Solomon. Carrawell went to the bench for the duration of the first half after getting his third personal at the 5:43 mark.

But with Dunleavy back in town, Duke got by nicely without Carrawell. Dunleavy hit three 3s as Duke embarked on a furious 31-4 run over a nine-minute stretch. When that burst was over, Duke led 46-18 and at least half the folks in the Charlotte Coliseum were headed for the parking lot.

Clemson managed to trade baskets for the most part in the second half, but Duke’s lead never strayed below 25.

Duke shot 56 percent from the field for the game and a ridiculously efficient 59 percent (17 of 29) on 3s.

“Our guys got good shots, got their feet under them and they hit ‘em,” shrugged Krzyzewski.

James was usually the guy Clemson tried to leave open when it double-teamed Carrawell, Battier or Carlos Boozer in the post. He made them pay with a 7-for-13 shooting night.

“It was luck, all luck,” said James, with his tongue firmly planted in his cheek. “Tell our future opponents that they don’t have to worry about me at all.”

It was an impressive performance by Duke, which will play the North Carolina-Wake Forest winner in a Saturday semifinal. Duke crushed Clemson on the boards 38-28, and that is the burly Tigers’ greatest area of strength. Duke had 15 steals and six blocks, with the ever-present Battier contributing four of the steals and half of the blocks.

Solomon scored 14 points to lead Clemson, but was held to a 5-for-18 shooting night by Carrawell’s long-armed defense.

“Duke brings out the worst in us,” sighed Shyatt. “People will look at the numbers and think they just got hot shooting the ball tonight. But it was more than that. What hurts is they beat us on the little things. They were quicker on the boards and first on the floor to loose balls.”

“We came out tonight with the idea that we can’t let down and we can’t assume anything,” said Dunleavy. “We know we’ve got to keep getting better.”

And with Dunleavy back, the Blue Devils are better. Better than they’ve been in some time.

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