DURHAM, N.C. -- Blame the judge. That's right, it's Judge Edmund Sargus' fault.

	Duke will play four games in three days against club teams in England.

While the rest of the country has been waiting to begin college basketball practice tonight at the stroke of midnight, Duke has been practicing for the past 10 days. When coaches are allowed by NCAA rules to greet their 2002-03 teams in full for the first time, Mike Krzyzewski and company will already be barnstorming across the pond in London -- blending six new freshmen with the existing core of talent, well prepared to play four games in three days against professional English club teams.

But, anyone who believes Duke has gained too much of an advantage already by practicing for 10 days, and will only get more of a head start on the rest of the college world by playing a handful of games in London this weekend, should blame Judge Sargus.

Not the NCAA, or Coach K.

It's Judge Edmund Sargus' fault.

Under NCAA rules, Duke has been able to practice the past 10 days in preparation for a foreign trip. It's going to London because it still could under NCAA rules. Now, had the Columbus (Ohio) federal judge ruled in favor of the exempted tournaments' case to get rid of the 2-in-4 rule, instead of ruling in favor of the NCAA in July, then Duke wouldn't look like a team ready for its first game in late November when it's only the second weekend in October. The Blue Devils would be just like any other team with six new faces, practicing for the first time Saturday, running basic drills and going through the growing pains of players not knowing the offense or defensive adjustments.

Had Sargus ruled against the NCAA, Duke would have been free to play in another exempted tournament. The Blue Devils would have played in the Guardians Classic, serving as one of four host schools in what was a 16-team field. Their final destination in November likely would have been Kansas City and the Guardians semifinals. Instead, the Blue Devils are boarding a plane for London's Gatwick Airport tonight.

Across the Pond

ESPN.com's Andy Katz is traveling with Duke during its five-day tour of London. He will file daily reports from inside the Blue Devils' camp. Here is a look at Duke's itinerary: FRIDAY (ET) 6:35 p.m.: Depart Raleigh-Durham Airport SATURDAY (GMT) 6:30 a.m.: Arrive at London Gatwick Airport 2 p.m.: Scrimmage vs. Racing Basket Antwerpen SUNDAY (GMT) Int'l Challenge Series Noon: Game 1 vs. Racing Basket Antwerpen 6 p.m.: Game 2 vs. London Towers MONDAY (GMT) Int'l Challenge Series 1 p.m.: Game 3 vs. Brighton Bears 7 p.m.: Game 4 vs. London Towers TUESDAY Noon GMT: Depart London Gatwick Airport 3:30 p.m. ET: Arrive at Raleigh-Durham Airport

You see, the Blue Devils had a foreign trip exemption still available in their four-year cycle. An ace up Coach K's sleeve, so to speak. Teams are allowed one foreign trip and two exempted tournaments in a four-year cycle. Duke may have played in exempted tourneys the past two seasons, but they hadn't left U.S. soil.

And, while it isn't uncommon for teams to take foreign trips in the spring and summer. What makes Duke's trip unique, however, is the timing of the tour. No one, at least that anyone can remember among D-I coaches (and the NCAA doesn't keep this stat) has taken a trip during a four-day fall break -- until Duke. Duke's Midnight Madness will be on a red-eye flight to London. And while other schools are having dunk contests, the Blue Devils will be scrimmaging Racing Basket Antwerpen of Belgium.

Rivals across the country are calling the move to get practice time and games this early a stroke of genius.

Coaches like Wake Forest's Skip Prosser, Marquette's Tom Crean and Georgia Tech's Paul Hewitt say it's a decided advantage -- and they would do it if they could. Duke coaches and players expect other schools to follow suit in the coming years if they have the exemption and the fall break.

What makes this October trip possible for Duke is like some, but not all schools, the Blue Devils have a fall break. School is out Monday and Tuesday. The Blue Devils were in class Friday and will be back from London on Tuesday and in class Wednesday without missing a beat.

It's legal under NCAA rules, and while coaches are jealous of the move, it was hardly planned by the Duke brain trust in advance. It wasn't even a consideration before July.

"This was our second alternative," Krzyzewski said. "We were all set to be in the Guardians Classic. I just wanted games. The practices are great. We're going to have to give them time off and pace them because of it. I just wanted more games for our guys. We would have much rather been in the Guardians Classic. If I had a veteran team I would never do it."

Like, for instance, last season's team? A preseason No. 1 with returning stars Jay Williams, Mike Dunleavy and Carlos Boozer?

"No way," Krzyzewski said Thursday of the 2001-02 team that lost to Indiana in the Sweet 16 before those three underclassmen bolted for the NBA. "No way would I do it."

Picking London as the destination was done out of convenience more than anything. Krzyzewski said Duke considered playing four games in Toronto or Mexico City, but a direct flight to London out of Raleigh International Airport made the decision easier. So, too, did the timing for the London Towers, the top pro club in England, which was willing to play two games against Duke this weekend. The Towers also roped in the Brighton Bears and Basket Antwerpen for a game each, in addition to the scrimmage with Antwerpen.

"Everyone thinks we had this planned for six or eight months," Krzyzewski said. "It was our second alternative. Some even thought the only reason we were going there was for recruiting. That's stupid. (Duke is vying against Missouri, Virginia, Indiana, Texas and GW for Class of 2003 top-five player Luol Deng, whose parents live in London. But Duke can't meet with the family because it's a quiet period).

"I wouldn't have a problem if a team we're playing next season went to a four-team tournament in Toronto during their fall break," Krzyzewski added. "This is our year to do it."

Krzyzewski is a proponent of playing in an exempted tournament every season. He feels foreign trips, though, should be taken in the spring (after school) or in the summer when "you can go for three weeks."

	“	(The trip) was very smart by coach, especially with a young group of players. He gets a chance to see us in competition, gives him a chance to look at rotations and get a substitution pattern down. ... Guys will be starting practice Saturday and we'll be playing games. ”
		— Chris Duhon, Duke junior guard

One drawback to these trips, however, is teams can't take their signed newcomers if they go during the spring or summer. Players who were eligible at the time of the trip are the only players allowed on the trips. Again, Duke couldn't have asked for a more perfect scenario on this front. Junior point guard Chris Duhon, senior swingman Dahntay Jones and sophomore shooting guard Daniel Ewing will lead Duke, but the nucleus of the team will consist of freshmen big men Shavlik Randolph and Shelden Williams and shooting guard J.J. Redick -- the three freshmen who have a legit chance of starting and/or getting major minutes.

"It was very smart by coach, especially with a young group of players," Duhon said. "He gets a chance to see us in competition, gives him a chance to look at rotations and get a substitution pattern down. He'll find out ways to make us better. It's a great advantage for us."

Duhon said if any team wants a head start on the season then they should figure out a way to take trip like this, too.

"I would advise it," Duhon said. "Guys will be starting practice Saturday and we'll be playing games."

Duke was forced to alter its entire preseason because of this trip, though, using the individual workouts for teaching Coach K's system instead of skill instruction. The results are evident. Thursday's practice wasn't sound, but it didn't look like day one. Of course, there were a few miscues from the freshmen that weren't in the right spot every once in a while, but on the whole, the newcomers already have the basics of the system down. For example, how and when to screen and who to turn to and where to be on the break.

As usual, Duke is preparing its players to succeed while in England. This past week, Duke received a shipment of "BBL" (British Basketball League) balls to get a feel for what they'll use this weekend. The Cameron Indoor Stadium court was also lined with the international lanes so the players will be familiar with a wider lane.

"We're not preparing for ACC competition, but we're giving them enough to be competitive," Krzyzewski said. "We're going to see if our kids are gamers. That type of thing I don't know. The practices are good but the games are better. We have had to do more five-on-five because we're playing five-on-five. When we come back we'll do some more basic practice reps."

Krzyzewski also stressed that he wants the players to have fun. He doesn't want the trip to be too "heavy."

"Maybe the best things on the trip will be the plane rides, the team meals, to get us closer as a group," Krzyzewski said. "We need all of that. We need to be around each other in a different setting. It's a long road trip. But it's good for them."

Friday night's plane trip alone will humble the Blue Devils. Duke rarely flies commercially. Trainer Dave Engelhardt couldn't remember the last time the team flew the pedestrian skies. Duke is used to traveling in the plush fleet of NBA chartered planes like those used by the Hawks, Knicks, Nets or Wizards when those teams aren't using them.

"We're a little spoiled over here," Duhon said. "We'll have to get on a regular flight and worry about autographs. This will challenge our mental toughness getting off a plane and playing games. We'll see if we use excuses about being tired and jet lagged. We want to see if guys are ready to go. Coach is doing a great job getting us ready for that."

And Krzyzewski, who admits he'll learn on this trip how he wants to coach this team, had to get the freshmen ready for their first trip by ensuring they know how to dress on the road. That means no holes in the jeans. Duke attire is a streamlined look even in sweats. Clean, well-mannered and well-dressed.

This is, after all, still a Duke road trip. The Blue Devils just happen to be taking it before any other team takes the court for their first practice of the season.

Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.