Durham Hillside linebacker Jamal Marcus said he wanted to go to Ohio State as soon as he spoke with new Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer.

Jamal Marcus, Durham Hillside's 6-foot-3, 230-pound defensive end, is expected to announce his college choice on Wednesday, Feb. 1, the national letter of intent signing day.

Duke’s Austin Rivers, a shoot-first guard, doesn’t play like his father, now-Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers.

But here’s a trait they share: Both have a blunt, analytical way of dissecting a loss.

Freshman Austin used the word “embarrassing’’ frequently in describing an 85-63 loss to Ohio State Tuesday night. To Rivers, the Blue Devils didn’t just lose their first game, they lost their identity.

DURHAM – Duke freshman Austin Rivers has already experienced a lot of things this season. Rivers is averaging 14 points and made the key assist on Tyler Thornton’s 3-pointers late in the second half that secured Duke’s 68-61 victory over Kansas last week in the Maui Invitational title game.

Now, Rivers says he’s ready to experience his first road game Tuesday night when the Blue Devils (7-0) play Ohio State (6-0).

He expects the fans in Columbus, Ohio will be yelling and screaming plenty of things at him during the Big Ten/ACC Challenge game.   

“I’m excited for that,” Rivers said Sunday afternoon. “That’s what college basketball is. That’s why people like coming here to Duke to see the Cameron Crazies.”

CARY – Notre Dame players kept shooting and finally slipped one by Ohio State goalkeeper Katie Baumgardner. 

Irish midfielder Mandy Laddish booted a left-footed shot from 18-yards out in the 83rd minute to secure a 1-0 victory over the third-seeded Buckeyes in the semifinals of Friday's NCAA Women’s College Cup.