The most anticipated college hoops debut in a long time wound up being nothing but a tease.

On Monday night Duke freshman Harry Giles, who was at one point considered the best choice for No. 1 pick for the 2017 NBA Draft, finally stepped on the floor for the first time in a Duke uniform.

He didn't last long.

Fifth-ranked Duke (11-1) defeated a good mid-major foe, 8-3 Tennessee State, to the tune of 65-55. The irony was how quickly Giles' debut became a backburner story. While he was getting his legs under him, Tennessee State was giving Duke its toughest first-half challenge at Cameron Indoor in a long time.

Three Things to Know

1. Everyone needs to be patient with Giles

Giles logged just four minutes Monday night, all of them in the first half. He attempted (and missed) one field goal and didn't log a rebound, assist, block, steal, any of it. This was a ginger introduction to college basketball. But it was also an important one. Just getting Giles fully healthy and cleared for competition could be the final, vital step for Duke's goal of becoming the most dominant team in a most dominant season of college hoops.

I won't make much of Giles' debut because there's not much to make of it. He hasn't played organized basketball in more than 400 days. Giles tore his ACL mere minutes into the first game of his senior season of high school. Mike Krzyzewski should and is making sure Giles doesn't do too much too soon. He'll play again Wednesday in Duke's game against Elon.

2. Luke Kennard to the rescue again

Duke was taking some punches from Tennessee State, and then the ridiculous run came and suddenly it was 47-36 Duke after a 13-0 run. The game was done at that point. Guess why? Luke Kennard showed up. He continued his Player of the Year campaign with a game-high 24 points. Amile Jefferson had 18 boards for Duke.

Kennard is now averaging nearly 21 points, and it's looking like the offense is built to go through him in times of crisis. That is something no one in the universe thought would be the case as recently as four weeks ago.

By the way, Duke has won 132 straight games at Cameron Indoor against non-conference opponents.

3. Tennessee State absolutely could break brackets in March

Duke was held to 27 points in the first half and only led by four points. It was the first time since Ohio State in 2012 that Duke failed to hit 30 points by halftime at Cameron Indoor Stadium in a non-conference game. The Blue Devils had just 15 points at the five-minute mark of the first half. They trailed with nearly 16 minutes remaining in the game.

For 32-year-old coach Dana Ford, his Tennessee State team did something a lot of ACC opponents aren't going to do in that building this year. Before Monday night the fewest points Duke scored in a game this season: 75. I wonder if Duke will be held under 70 again this season in that building.

Tennessee State did it, though, and helped the game to 13 lead changes. Not bad. If anything, it was close enough that Krzyzewski didn't fool around with Giles. With the game that close. Tennessee State is going to push Belmont to be the best team in the Ohio Valley. Either of those teams will have a good chance at upsetting a 3 or 4 seed when the time comes.

Ford and Co. almost beat NC State on Dec. 10, ultimately losing in OT by two points. It gave Duke a good game. It's given quality mid-major Middle Tennessee a home loss, maybe the only one MTSU takes this season. Remember the Tigers, because you could well see them again a few months from now.