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RALEIGH Arizona State senior center Eric Boateng started to say that tonight's game is just like any other.
The Duke transfer was a reluctant center of attention as the Sun Devils and Blue Devils prepared to meet in an NIT Season Tip-Off semifinal at Madison Square Garden in New York.
It's an unavoidable topic, but Boateng doesn't want to talk about Duke.
During a phone interview following practice Monday, he politely declined to reflect on why he chose Duke out of high school, the 2005-06 season he spent there, and on why he left.
But Boateng stopped himself when he started to say this is just another game. Duke is still Duke, and playing the No.7 Blue Devils (4-0) in New York on national television (ESPN2) isn't an everyday occurrence.
The winner will meet the Connecticut-Louisiana State winner in Friday's final.
"It's a big game," Boateng said. "It's a chance to get to the final, and we're going to have to prepare well. Definitely, they're a well-coached team, so we're really going to have to prepare well for them."
Boateng's basketball odyssey began in London. He played for the Brixton Topcats, a club that also counts former Duke forward Luol Deng among its alumni.
Like Deng, Boateng came to the United States to develop his basketball skills in a private school. After three years at St. Andrews School, he signed with Duke and became the first McDonald's All-American in the state of Delaware.
He was part of a recruiting class considered by many to be the best in the nation along with forward Josh McRoberts and point guard Greg Paulus. Boateng lasted one season at Duke, though, as a little-used reserve.
In 20 games, he totaled 50 minutes and 14 points. After the season, he followed former N.C. State coach Herb Sendek to coach Arizona State.
At 6-foot-10 with some perimeter skills, Boateng seemed to fit Sendek's motion offense.
But even with the Sun Devils, Boateng didn't make an immediate impact. After sitting out one season in accordance with NCAA transfer rules, he averaged just 3.9 points as a sophomore and 1.8 points as a junior.
Stuck behind four-year starter Jeff Pendergraph, Boateng said he didn't get discouraged.
"My whole thing was to keep on working no matter what and seize every opportunity to learn and get better," Boateng said. "That's pretty much been my mindset."
Boateng finally entered the starting lineup this season. After four games, he ranks second on the team in scoring at 11.5 points per game and leads the Sun Devils (4-0) in rebounding at 8.0 per contest.
In a second-round NIT game last week, Boateng scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to spark a 52-49 defeat of Texas Christian that lifted Arizona State into the tournament semifinals.
"Eric's done well, although he's in his fifth year now," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "He plays for an outstanding coach, so he's going to (do well). ... Herb's one of the best coaches in the country. I saw part of one game, when they beat TCU, and Eric had a great game."
Whatever thoughts Boateng has about Duke will remain private, though. He acknowledges that tonight's game is big for his team.
If it carries any added significance for Boateng, he's keeping it to himself. Staff writer J.P. Giglio contributed
