Defensive intensity — the current Duke basketball specialty — is great and all, but heavy doses do come with potentially serious side effects.
Sure, against Cal (4-0) at the 2K Empire Classic from Madison Square Garden on Thursday — on ESPN2, 30 minutes after the conclusion of the 7 p.m. matchup between Georgetown (3-1) and No. 22 Texas (4-0), with the winners facing off on Friday 30 minutes after the conclusion of the 5 p.m. consolation game — Duke must embrace the defense that has anchored its own 4-0 start.
At the same time, though, the nation’s newly minted No.