LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky's players took final exams last week, but their first real test of the young season comes tonight as they take on top-ranked Duke in the Jimmy V Classic at East Rutherford, N.J.

UK vs. DUKE

• When: 9 p.m. today.   • Where: Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, N.J.   • Records: Kentucky 6-1; Duke 9-0.   • Series Record: Kentucky leads, 11-7.   • TV: ESPN.   • Radio: WSAI-AM (1530).   KENTUCKY   Player-Ht-Yr-PPG Tayshaun Prince-6-9-Sr.-18.8 Marquis Estill-6-9-Jr.-11.0   Gerald Fitch-6-3-So.-6.2   Keith Bogans-6-5-Jr.-14.5   Cliff Hawkins-6-1-So.-6.7   Coach: Tubby Smith (116-34, fifth season; 240-96, 11th overall).   DUKE   Player-Ht-Yr-PPG Dahntay Jones-6-5-Jr.-10.9 Mike Dunleavy -6-9-Jr.-16.9   Carlos Boozer-6-9-So.-17.2   Chris Duhon-6-1-So.-9.3   Jason Williams-6-2-Jr.-20.9   Coach: Mike Kryzyewski (542-164, 22nd season; 615-223 overall).

        “You try to approach every game the same way no matter who the opponent is, but some games just jump off the page at you,” senior guard J.P. Blevins said. “When you see Duke coming up on the schedule, it's tough not to get excited.”

        The seventh-ranked Wildcats (6-1) lost their season opener to Western Kentucky before reeling off six straight victories, the latest a 118-63 dismantling of Division II Kentucky State.

        The unbeaten Blue Devils (9-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), a unanimous No.1 for the third straight week, are coming off a 93-51 thrashing of North Carolina A&T on Sunday.

        With the victory, Duke extended its winning streak to 19 games, the longest in the nation.

        “I think every team wants to knock us off, but we're not going to let that happen,” said sophomore guard Chris Duhon, who had 13 points and six assists Sunday against North Carolina A&T. “We like being on top and we're going to fight for every inch to stay there.”

        Four of Duke's five starters are averaging in double figures (only Duhon is below at 9.3 points per game), led by All-American point guard Jason Williams.

        Williams, who is averaging 21 points and nearly five assists per game, hit six 3-pointers and scored all 18 of his points in the first half of Sunday's victory. He played just eight minutes in the second half after straining a hamstring, but said he will be ready tonight.

        Kentucky coach Tubby Smith said the showdown between two of college basketball's winningest teams — Kentucky ranks first all-time with 1,801 victories; Duke is fourth with 1,657 — will allow him to gauge just how much his team has improved since its disappointing loss to the Hilltoppers.

        “Duke is an extremely talented team with players who can beat you so many ways,” Smith said. “They do a good job spreading you out and beating you one-on-one. That's what makes them so good.”

        Smith said it will take a host of players to slow down Williams, who is hitting 37 percent of his shots from 3-point range.

        “He's just an awesome player,” Smith said. “One guy cannot stop him. You just hope you can contain him and limit his opportunities.”

        Sophomore point guard Cliff Hawkins, who will draw the defensive assignment on Williams at least part of the time tonight, said he was eager to test himself against one of the nation's best players.

        “I knew this day was coming,” Hawkins said with a coy smile. “I've tried to prepare myself for it. I'm going to go out there and see what I'm made of. I feel I can guard anybody.”

        The Blue Devils will have to play some defense as well. Senior All-American Tayshaun Prince is hitting 52 percent of his shots from the field, including a robust 41 percent from 3-point range.

        In fact, Prince has made 10 of his last 18 from behind the arc — including a 7-for-11 performance in which he made his first six against North Carolina — in his last three games.

        “I hope we don't leave him open like that,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said.

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