Jabari Parker scored 23 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and, for good measure, chipped in five assists as eighth-ranked Duke ran away from UCLA in the second half for an 80-63 victory before a nationally televised audience and a crowd of 15,410 at Madison Square Garden.
The 6-foot-8 forward from Chicago came into the game averaging 22 points, so he did just a little better than par. But his performance left UCLA Coach Steve Alford reaching high into the pro ranks for a comparison.
"There's a lot of Melo in him as far as a guy who stretches to the three-point line, he can drive the basketball, he creates space off the dribble to create jump shots, and he can take you in the post," Alford said, referring to New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony.
There's a lot of basketball to be played before we'll find out whether Parker can do the same, but Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski likes where the Blue Devils (9-2) are headed. "We're becoming a really good team right now," he said.