DURHAM Duke's basketball players have learned a lot about themselves seven games into this season. That was the team consensus after the undefeated Blue Devils won their fifth Maui Invitational title Wednesday night.

Players talk about momentum, and for sixth-ranked Duke, they suggested the energy from the tournament in Hawaii returned with them to campus.

That's what three wins in three days can do.

"When you're in fights like that and you come out on top, you learn about yourself," said sophomore guard Tyler Thornton, who hit a pair of 3-pointers to push Duke to a 68-61 win over Kansas in the Maui Invitational title game. "I think we learned we could play tough."

But momentum can change quickly, and the Blue Devils' nonconference schedule offers another test this week. Duke (7-0) will play its first road game Tuesday night against No. 3 Ohio State (6-0) in a Big Ten/ACC Challenge matchup (9:30 p.m., ESPN).

Duke freshman guard Austin Rivers said last week's tournament made Duke a different team, a group that had to evolve quickly under tight games against established programs. On consecutive nights in Lahaina, Hawaii, Duke knocked off Tennessee, No. 15 Michigan and then the No. 14 Jayhawks.

"We have confidence, and we believe we're one of the top teams," Rivers said Sunday. "We grew so much (in Maui). Everybody is more together."

Though Thornton's off-balanced 3-pointer with 20 seconds left was the highlight of the win over Kansas, Rivers pointed to several plays in the final minutes that led to the victory:

A block by Mason Plumlee.

Ryan Kelly forcing Kansas' Tyshawn Taylor into a critical turnover.

Seth Curry's assist on Thornton's second 3-pointer to put Duke up by five with 20 seconds left.

In order to remain undefeated, Duke will have to limit Ohio State sophomore forward Jared Sullinger. The 6-foot-9 preseason All-American is averaging 19 points and 11 rebounds.

"You have to stay between him and the basket," Mason Plumlee said of Sullinger. "He's a good free-throw shooter, so you can't bail him out with fouls, either."

The Blue Devils allowed Kansas' Thomas Robinson to score 16 points and 15 rebounds, but they kept Robinson scoreless in the final four minutes Wednesday.

Duke's offense has changed from a year ago.

"Last year, we could just give the ball to Kyrie (Irving) and Nolan (Smith), and basically we just played off those two guys," Thornton said. "This year, we have to use each other a lot more."

Many of the Blue Devils said they didn't know what to expect before the Maui Invitational.

Rivers now realizes coach Mike Krzyzewski used the tournament to prepare the Blue Devils for its next challenge.

Duke has the chance to beat its third Big Ten opponent (the Blue Devils beat Michigan State 74-69 on Nov. 15 in New York City), only this time it's on the opponent's home court.

"I think if we could beat Ohio State, that would take our confidence to a whole different level," Rivers said. "It would be huge."