RALEIGH -- N.C. State entered Tuesday's game against Northwestern unbeaten on the season and unbeaten at home in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.

Both short-lived streaks are history after the Wolfpack's 65-53 loss to the Wildcats at the RBC Center.

DURHAM — Duke's schedule was designed to fit as many "manageable" non-conference games against "like-minded schools" as possible.

That doesn't say much for Duke's non-conference opponents, except like Duke, those opponents are better in 2008. Duke's opponents outside the ACC are 13-3 four weeks into the season.