NEW YORK -- Jabari Parker is already in the Duke record book.
Anthony Hitchens Cowboys Jersey . The heralded freshman matched his season-high with 27 points, setting the school
record for consecutive 20-point games to start a career and the sixth-ranked
Blue Devils beat Alabama 74-64 on Wednesday night in the semifinals of the NIT
Season Tip-Off. "I think Ive got a long ways to go," the 6-foot-8 forward said
after his seventh 20-point effort. "I need to be sharper in the beginning of the
game. Nothing is ever too easy. I get open looks when they look at Rodney (Hood)
or Q (Quinn Cook). I get those opportunities as much as possible." He takes
advantage at an alarming rate. He entered the game shooting 58 per cent from the
field and he improved that number by going 9 of 12 from the field. He had eight
rebounds and was 9 of 10 from the free throw line in matching his point total in
the Blue Devils only loss, 83-54 to No. 2 Kansas. "He gets his points in the
flow of the offence and we should go through him a lot," coach Mike Krzyzewski
said. "We had foul trouble with Rodney. Usually its through them. We went to
Jabari even more." The Blue Devils (6-1), who committed a season-high 19
turnovers, will face No. 4 Arizona, which beat Drexel 66-62, in the championship
game on Friday at Madison Square Garden. Its a matchup of the program with the
most NIT Season Tip-Off titles -- Duke with four -- against one of three
programs tied for second with three. "Arizona is older and they are really big
for us," Krzyzewski said. "Over the years, we have always played really
difficult schedules and this year is no different. Im just glad we have an
opportunity to play for a championship. "Arizona is probably ahead of some other
teams. Arizona, Michigan State, because they have guys who have played prominent
roles, back. And then they have added a great guard and a great wing to their
lineup, and so they are big. It will be completely different, from playing this
game. They can post three guys from their starting lineup. They post their front
line. Thats where we are not real big. That will be interesting how we try to
get that going." Nick Jacobs led Alabama (3-2) with 18 points and seven rebounds
while Trevor Releford and Algie Key added 11 points each. Duke is 25-2 in the
NIT Season Tip-Off and has won 14 straight games in the tournament. The Blue
Devils were coming off a 91-90 home victory over Vermont, a game that ended with
the Catamounts having the ball but not getting off a final shot. It didnt get
that close at the end Wednesday, but the Crimson Tide took advantage of the
turnovers to be within 56-51 with 5:19 left. Alabama was within six points three
times in the final 3:18 but the Blue Devils were able to go up by as many as 10
points. "Teams play well against us. Its a great opportunity for the sun to
shine on a program, and so we have to expect that," Krzyzewski said. The only
other Duke player to start his career with six straight 20-point games was Art
Heyman in 1961-62. "Hes probably, in my eight years as a head coach, the most
talented freshman Ive seen just from his size, his physicality and his skill
level," Alabama coach Anthony Grant said of Parker. "Hes able to make tough
shots and free himself for the open shot and hes able to get himself to the free
throw line. Hes just a really, really talented player. They have got a lot of
really good players around them, as well." Duke closed the firsts half on an
11-2 run to take a 33-22 lead and the Blue Devils opened the second half on a
13-6 run for their biggest lead of the game, 46-28 with 15:23 to play. The
Crimson Tide, taking advantage of Dukes turnovers, used a 12-0 run to get within
46-40 with 12:07 left. "They had a pretty sizable cushion," Grant said. "We
werent able to be effective enough to win the game. Whatever the turnovers were,
they scored 74 points in the game, shot a pretty good clip from the field, got
to the free throw line quite a bit. I would say their attack against what we
were doing was pretty effective." The Blue Devils are 23-7 at Madison Square
Garden under Krzyzewski and they have won 15 of their last 17 games there. Duke
has won 27 straight regular-season tournament games. The loss dropped Alabama to
32-99 against Top Ten teams. The Crimson Tides last win over a Top Ten team was
Feb. 18, 2006 against then-No. 8 Tennessee.
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Raptors run to an Atlantic Division title in 2013-14, were both given qualifying
offers by the team on Saturday.CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Jose Bautista extended his
torrid spring training with a double and Esmil Rogers gave up just one run in
five innings Thursday as the Blue Jays beat a Philadelphia Phillies split squad
3-1. Bautista went 1 for 3, and is hitting .359 with five homers, four doubles
and 11 RBIs. Erik Kratz homered twice and was 3 for 3, and Moises Sierra also
connected for Toronto. Phillies starter David Buchanan gave up two of the homers
but was sharp otherwise. Buchanan, who has a decent shot to make the team, gave
up the two runs and struck out six in four innings. Buchanan started six games
in Triple-A last year. Tony Gwynn Jr. went 2 for 2 with a double, a run and a
walk. Chase Utley drove in Gwynn with a first-inning double for the Phillies
only run. STARTING TIME Blue Jays: Esmil Rogers enjoyed his finest outing of the
spring, allowing just one run over 4 2-3 innings. Rogers is unlikely to make the
Blue Jays rotation, but could land a spot on the opening-day roster as a long
bullpen arm. He has a 5.27 ERA this spring. "It doesnt matter where Im going to
be I just want to help the team win," Rogers said. "It doesnt matter if its in
the bullpen or as a starter. Right now, they gave me an opportunity to compete
for a spot so Im going to do my best." Phillies: Buchanan, 25, is in his first
major league spring training camp, and looks to have a solid shot to either join
the Phillies hurting rotation or nab a spot in the bullpen as a long reliever.
Buchanans runs came on back-to-back homers in the second inning. "I was
impressed with his composure," Phillies manager Ryyne Sandberg said.
Cedric Thornton Womens Jersey. "He had a couple of balls that were connected on, one was an 0-2 breaking pitch, he kept
his composure, actually came inside on a couple of hitters after that to keep
them honest. I thought he rebounded well there to minimize." TRAINERS ROOM
Phillies: Darin Ruf was scratched from the Phillies split-squad lineup in
Kissimmee, Fla., after straining his left oblique during batting practice. He
will visit with team doctors Saturday. The injury will likely cause Ruf, a
leading candidate for a bench job, to miss opening day. "Hes a guy competing,
obviously, with what hes doing and his ability, his right-handed bat, hes
competing for a bench job," Sandberg said. "Well see what that means." Ruf is
hitting .217 this spring with two homers and seven RBIs. GWYNN IMPRESSING Tony
Gwynn Jr., who signed a minor league deal with the Phillies this winter, is
making a good impression on Phillies coaches this spring. Gwynn went 2 for 3
Thursday. Hes hitting .346 and provides crucial depth for a team thin on
outfielders. Its a strong possibility Gwynn begins the season on the 25-man
roster. "Hes a bright spot," Sandberg said. "His defence, his at-bats, his base
running, are quality." PICK UP The Blue Jays have claimed outfielder
Matt Tuiasosopo off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks. To make room on the
40-man roster, they cut left-hander Luis Perez. Tuiasosopo appeared in 16 games
this spring for the Diamondbacks, hitting .118 with six RBIs in 34 at-bats. He
hit .244 with seven homers and 30 RBIs in 81 games last year for Detroit.
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