CHAPEL HILL Wake Forest  senior Chas McFarland on Wednesday sized up North Carolina's basketball status in a manner many a Tar Heel fan will not find comforting.

"They're going to be a great team in a couple of years," the  Deacon enter said. "They've got a lot of talent, but they're just young. It's going to take them some time to develop."

Hardly the prognosis  that was widely expected when Roy Williams brought in a five-player recruit group  that some national analysts rated among Carolina's top harvests ever.

Midway through the season, the group's progress has been disappointing and particularly so for 6-foot-10 forward John Henson, who once was seen as a contender for the ACC top-rookie award.

By contrast, relative recruiting no-name newcomers C.J. Harris and Ari Stewart of Wake already have emerged as offensive threats. 

In the Deacs' 82-69 win at the Smith Center, Harris had 20 points and Stewart 11. Their point output easily upstaged the 25 combined points by the UNC rookies. On the wing, Henson, Dexter Strickland and Leslie McDonald combined for two field goals. Henson, in nine minutes, didn't get off a shot.

Only 6-10 Travis Wear is really catching on, and he's still a step-slow defensively. His 13 points and six rebounds with no turnovers was one of Carolina's only bright spots. Strickland, McDonald and Henson are have above-average quickness, but lack the court savvy of Wake's Harris, a 6-2 sharpshooter who played high school ball at Winston-Salem Mount Tabor.

"And if you think C.J.'s good now, just wait a while," said Deac senior guard Ish Smith. "That guy is cold-blooded, and I mean cold.  His range is just about anywhere on our side of the court and the way he gets off a shot is just lightning. It's unreal how fast he can strike."

Overall, McFarland's correct. It's not so much that Carolina's freshman are hopelessly overrated and there's still plenty of time for the group to contribute this season. But all that off-season talk about some of them being one-and-done early NBA entries? Not a chance. 

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Duke looked tired, dull; did Wake game wear them out?

RALEIGH Make no mistake, the Wolfpack was the better team, but there was also no question Duke was still feeling the effects of Sunday's rough-and-tumble win over Wake Forest.

That showed up everywhere, most notably in Duke's poor shooting (22-for-57) and abysmal perimeter defense. N.C. State guards Farnold Degand and Javier Gonzalez penetrated at will, opening up space for Tracy Smith (23 points) and combining for 14 assists.

"Our defense was the worst it''s been all year," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "It was never, ever good tonight."

Kyle Singler, playing with a brace on the right wrist he injured against the Demon Deacons, scored 10 of his 22 points at the free-throw line and was 6-for-16 shooting; Miles and Mason Plumlee, so effective inside against Wake Forest, combined for two points and six rebounds.

Duke looked tired, dull and lethargic, falling behind by as many as 17 midway through the second half. The Blue Devils may have beaten Wake Forest by 20, but that game may also have cost them this one.

"We didn't look fresh at all," Krzyzewski said. "We couldn't match their intensity."

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