[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQmJ72icAJw&w=560&h=315]
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski benched Jabari Parker, arguably the nation’s most potent offensive threat, for the final 3 minutes, 35 seconds of the Blue Devils 79-77 loss at Notre Dame Saturday.
“He just wasn’t having a good game,” Krzyzewski said.
Projected as potentially the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, Parker failed to score in double figures for the first time this season while playing about 90 miles from his home in Chicago.
He missed his first four shots, including a 12-foot baseline air ball, and had a jumper blocked by Austin Burgett (see video).
Parker had seven points on 2-for-10 shooting.
Without Parker’s scoring contributions, Rodney Hood went for 27 points and Quinn Cook had 22.
Eric Atkins scored 19 points and Pat Connaughton had 16 for Notre Dame, which won its first ACC game.
“It’s a historic day for us, our first ACC game,” Irish coach Mike Brey said. “To beat a program like Duke’s will always be a great memory for us starting off in Atlantic Coast Conference play.”
(The AP contributed)
