Rib Injury Slows Blue Devils’ Duhon

Duke guard Chris Duhon could miss today’s first-round NCAA tournament game against Alabama State because of a rib injury.

Although Blue Devil Coach Mike Krzyzewski said the senior’s availability would be determined at game time, Duhon insisted he would play.

“I have to learn to play through it,” he said. “This is something that’s going to be with me for a while and I just have to handle it the right way. I’ll be ready to go, as much as possible. It’s hopefully my last six games and I don’t want to spend them on the bench.”

Duhon was injured on Sunday while diving for a ball in the final of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament, a 95-87 overtime loss to Maryland that ended Duke’s five-year reign as tournament champions.

Duhon rammed into the bottom of a stanchion put in place to hold a stationary TV camera.

“What you saw him do out there today, that’s all he’s done,” Krzyzewski said of Duhon’s minimal work during a shoot-around Wednesday. “He needs to do more than that if he’s going to play.”

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Guard LeVar Seals will miss DePaul’s NCAA tournament game today against Dayton because of a punch he threw during the Conference USA championship game.

Seals was ejected Saturday for punching Cincinnati’s Tony Bobbitt in the groin. Seals said it was unintentional, but referees called it a fight.

NCAA rules call for an automatic, one-game suspension if a player is called for a flagrant personal foul for fighting.

Seals averages only 3.8 points and 1.7 rebounds, but he is one of DePaul’s top defenders.

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Seton Hall forward Marcus Toney-El is day-to-day because of a strained left quadriceps muscle.

Toney-El was injured during practice Monday. Seton Hall plays Arizona tonight. Although Toney-El’s status for the game was unclear, he expected to play.

“I’ll be all right,” he said.

Toney-El has started every game for the Pirates, averaging 6.8 points and 5.2 rebounds.

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Western Carolina junior guard Kevin Martin has submitted his name for the NBA draft.

Martin, who finished the season ranked second in the nation in scoring after averaging 24.9 points a game, will not sign with an agent and will keep his option open of returning for his senior season.

“I have always said that Kevin Martin will be an NBA pick,” Western Carolina Coach Steve Shurina said. “The question is, will the NBA be ready for Kevin at this time?”