The No. 1 Duke has proven itself without star player Zion Williamson, who defeated Syracuse on route 75-65 to take revenge for one of his only losses this season.

His teammate of the year at Williamson, R.J. Barrett, put the team on his back to the offensive and was virtually unstoppable in some thrusts. He finished with 30 points and seven assists on 14 out of 20 shots.

First-year players Cam Reddish (2-for-11 for five) and Tre Jones (2-for-12 for 11) struggled to find an offensive pace. The role player Alex O'Connell was Duke's X-Factor, finishing with 20 points on a 5-on-8 shot at three points.

Marek Dolezaj of Syracuse tries to protect R.J. Duke Barrett as head coach Jim Boeheim looks at Carrier Dome. (Photo11: Rich Barnes, Getty Images)

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The Blue Devils (24-3, 12-2 ACC) are currently considered to be the best seeded number 1 in the latest USA TODAY Sports supportology screening and have done nothing to prove it. The NCAA Tournament Selection Committee will evaluate Duke on the basis of the overall work but will mostly consider which team he will get on the selection Sunday – with Williamson in good health or not.

Williamson, who suffered a sprained right knee in grade 1 in the week's loss to the Blue Devils in North Carolina, was ruled out for Saturday's game and will be registered day-to-day.

Syracuse's American candidate candidate, Tyus Battle, struggled to get into the offensive, as in Syracuse's first victory over Duke on Jan. 14 – when he had 32 points in overtime. The battle came to an end with 16 points on floor shots against 4 for 17 on Saturday to beat Orange (ACC 18-9, 9-5).

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