You've got to dig harder in some places than others, but there are clues to be unearthed -- revealing both good and bad -- from ACC teams' most recent games, even the ones against awful competition.

Start at the top (sorry Maryland) with Duke, the overwhelming pick by ACC media to win the league title. The Blue Devils blasted Army 101-53, but the 48-point margin of victory couldn't hide Duke's lack of inside offense, even with superior athletes and size in the paint. In 39 minutes, centers Shelden Williams, Michael Thompson and Casey Sanders combined to score seven points, and unless that was a one-game fluke, Duke might wind up missing Carlos Boozer every bit as much as Jay Williams and Mike Dunleavy from last season's team.

	Yes, UNC is 3-0. But Raymond Felton needs to find his shot.

The Blue Devils' most potent big men are 6-foot-10 forwards Shavlik Randolph and Nick Horvath, both of whom have three-point range. Randolph, especially, might have to pick up some of the inside slack to create space for jump shooters J.J. Redick, Daniel Ewing and Chris Duhon.

"He has a nose for the ball and he can score points," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said of Randolph, a freshman. "We try to put him in positions where he touches the ball, not just inside but outside, too."

Maryland, especially, could give Duke trouble in the paint. That's the No. 1 clue to come from the Terps' otherwise ho-hum 64-49 victory against Miami (Ohio) in the first game at Maryland's new Comcast Center. Gary Williams revealed big lineups more than small ones, giving serious minutes to big men Ryan Randle, Tahj Holden and Travis Garrison -- who combined for 29 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks.

Other than their big presence and a stifling defense that held Miami to 29-percent shooting, the closest the Terps looked to a national contender came when they unfurled their 2002 title banner.

"When you look at the stats and see that (both teams) were even with rebounds, and you shoot 2-for-10 from three-point range and 40 percent (overall) for the game, it's hard to get too excited," Williams said.

In its 84-60 victory against Mount St. Mary's, N.C. State showed a defense that was nasty like Maryland's. The Wolfpack forced 27 turnovers, including 15 steals, but also like Maryland, the Wolfpack didn't thrill their head coach. Herb Sendek spoke to his team for almost 30 minutes after the game, his voice raised much of the time, about its lack of intensity after building a 45-21 halftime lead. The second half was even -- and Mount St. Mary's went 3-24 last season.

"I didn't think we came out of the gates early on in the second half, and I had to take a timeout," Sendek said. "From that point on, we weren't the same."

It was the same old, same old for North Carolina against Old Dominion -- another win for a program that didn't know how to win last season, but continued lack of production from freshman point guard Raymond Felton. The Tar Heels are 3-0 entering their Preseason NIT showdown with former coaching target Roy Williams and Kansas, but eventually Felton will have to score for North Carolina to be a serious player in the ACC. Through three games, Felton is averaging 6.8 points on 30.8-percent shooting overall, and 20-percent from three-point range.

The Tar Heels also would do well to avoid giving up 24 offensive rebounds, as they did in that 67-59 win against ODU.

"It scares me," UNC coach Matt Doherty said of the rebounding differential.

Although coach Larry Shyatt put up a brave front, Clemson should be scared by its 79-72 victory against Wofford, a Southern Conference team that went 11-18 last season. A good ACC team seemingly should dismantle a team with Wofford's credentials, so maybe Clemson won't be a good ACC team. Time will tell, but at the least, junior power forward Chris Hobbs could become an All-ACC candidate after slimming down to 260 pounds. With more spring in his step and better endurance late, Hobbs had 19 points and eight rebounds -- seven offensive -- in 19 minutes.

"Chris did some wonderful things," Shyatt said.

New Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton will count on similar things from Anthony Richardson, the only McDonald's All-American on roster. After coming off the bench last season, Richardson started and contributed 10 points, five rebounds and two steals in 24 minutes of a 79-46 victory against Savannah State.

Georgia Tech got exactly what it needed from its two celebrated freshmen, power forward Chris Bosh (26 points, 14 rebounds) and point guard Jarrett Jack (10 points, 12 assists), in a 113-75 victory against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. They won't do that well in ACC play, but if they do well, period, the Jackets could contend for the title.

As for Virginia, well, the Cavaliers still have work to do. Thought to have addressed their defensive shortcomings with the offseason addition of assistant coach Rod Jensen, a defensive specialist, the Cavaliers allowed 86 points and 48.5-percent shooting in a 90-86 win against Long Island. That kind of defense harkened back to last season, when Virginia lost 10 of its final 13, allowing 86.8 points per game in the 10 losses -- and allowing each of its final seven opponents to shoot 50 percent or better.

Games of the Week

North Carolina at Kansas, Friday Two of the great programs in college basketball. Madison Square Garden. Great freshmen. Oh, yes, and one more thing: Kansas coach Roy Williams not only is UNC coach Matt Doherty's mentor -- he also is a former Dean Smith assistant who turned down the UNC job two years ago, making it available to Doherty. Duke vs. UCLA at Indianapolis, Saturday Two more great programs. Conseco Fieldhouse. More great freshmen. Steve Lavin never had a chance at Coach K's job, though. Ohio at Providence, Saturday Two of the country's more underrated power forwards -- 6-foot-7, 270-pound Brandon Hunter of Ohio and Ryan Gomes (6-7, 240) of Providence -- highlight this intersectional battle. Temple at Wake Forest, Sunday The first of six straight road games for Temple, which also visits South Carolina, Charlotte, Pennsylvania, Penn State and Illinois before playing again at home.

Atlantic 10 hangs tough with Big East
On paper, including this one if you happen to print out your favorite ESPN.com college basketball writer, the Big East should be much better than the Atlantic 10. On the court, the early-season returns haven't agreed.

St. Joseph's struck a huge blow for the A-10 last Friday when the Hawks wasted Boston College, 85-58. It was supposed to be a game dominated by guards, and that's what happened -- but it was the wrong guards. St. Joseph's Jameer Nelson and Delonte West got the better of Boston College's Troy Bell and Ryan Sidney in points (33 to 21), assists (13 to 6) and three-pointers (5-for-12, compared to 0-for-9).

Meanwhile, St. Bonaventure made Virginia Tech look outclassed in a 91-78 victory in which the Bonnies' fast-paced style produced 13 three-pointers and forced 25 turnovers by the Hokies. With last year's superhero J.R. Bremer gone to the NBA, former sidekick Marques Green played the part of Batman with 28 points. To show that was no fluke, the Bonnies throttled another power-conference team, Michigan, 89-68 the next night in the Paradise Jam Tournament in the Virgin Islands.

Rutgers and Pittsburgh claimed victories for the Big East, though the No. 4 Panthers didn't exactly do its league proud in a listless 82-67 victory at home against Duquesne (9-19 last season). The Scarlet Knights were more impressive in a closer ball game, winning 59-53 at Temple behind Jerome Coleman's 28 points.

Meanwhile, Monday night, Connecticut defeated George Washington while Duquesne beat West Virginia. Add it up, and you've got a 3-3 mark between the two leagues.

Our bad? The heck with that. It's the Big East's bad. Wake up, fellas.

Around the East