Sports / NCAA basketball Kansas Cruises in Opener Duke crushes NC Central, Tennessee takes Temple, Villanova routs Stony Brook By Lev Weinstein, Newser Staff Posted Nov 10, 2007 1:20 AM CST Copied Duke's Taylor King (20) drives to the basket against North Carolina Central during the second half of a basketball game in Durham, N.C., Friday, Nov. 9, 2007. Duke won 121-56. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) (Associated Press) No.4 Kansas battered Louisiana-Monroe 107-78 last night to take their home opener for the 35th straight time, and breaking100 in the opener for the first time in 16 years. The Jayhawks were aided by Sherron Collin's 22 points and second half prowess, which was instrumental in instigating a 17-2 surge. In yesterday's other openers: No. 13 Duke annihilated North Carolina Central 121-56 as freshmen King, Singler and Smith lived up to the hype No.7 Tennessee defeated Temple 80-63 to take their ninth straight opener No.25 Villanova beat Stony Brook 86-64, on the strength of Shane Clark's career Best 25 points No.22 Pitt crushed Houston Baptist 103-62, as freshman Blair had a formidable debut. (More NCAA basketball stories.) Report an error