Duke looking to break losing streak

Duke defensive end Patrick Bailey uses San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds to illustrate how a win in Saturday’s opener against Connecticut could lead to more wins for a team mired in a 20-game losing streak.

After Bonds reached 753 home runs on July 19 to close within two of Hank Aaron’s career record, he slumped. He hit just one homer in the next 15 days.

Bonds’ 755th homer, which tied Aaron’s record, began a 15-day stretch when he hit six homers.

"One he got (the record), it was like, ‘Bam, bam, bam,’ " Bailey said Tuesday.

Connecticut was 4-8 last season. Three years ago, the Huskies edged Duke 22-20 when a Blue Devil field goal attempt went wide left with six seconds remaining.

So there is optimism at Duke that the Blue Devils can win at home against this opponent.

"It would be a huge boost of morale," Bailey said.

The plan is for that boost to lead to more wins, and restore Duke to respectability, just as Bonds’ 755th led to more home runs. – Ken Tysiac