04/04/2001

MINNEAPOLIS – Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, after nine Final Fours, seven NCAA title games and three national championships, still describes his feelings as "unbelievable" after the Blue Devils' 82-72 defeat of Arizona on Monday night. After all, it has been awhile – nearly a decade – since Duke was on top.

This was the Blue Devils' first NCAA title since 1992, which was before Krzyzewski returned from back problems that forced him out for half of the 1994-95 season. Despite the gap in years, the winning formula was the same. The Blue Devils' title was built around one player who completed his career on top.

LOOKING AHEAD

Steve Richardson's picks for the 2002 Final Four: • Arizona • Duke • Florida • Kentucky

Possible breakthroughs in 2002: Kansas, Missouri, Michigan State, Cincinnati, Maryland, Connecticut, Texas, Iowa, Illinois

Steve Richardson's 2001 Final Four prediction: • Arizona • Florida • Illinois • Seton Hall

Duke's previous two NCAA team titles in '91 and '92 featured Christian Laettner as the centerpiece. The 2001 champions were led by senior forward Shane Battier, another national consensus player of the year, who finished tied with Kentucky's Wayne Turner for most victories over a four-year career.

"He is the best player I have every coached," Krzyzewksi said. "Every second he has been in our program he has been on. We will never have anyone like that again. If I was coaching in the pros, I would want him."

Despite the loss of Battier, Duke's future appears solid.

Four sophomores – guard Jason Williams, centers Carlos Boozer and Casey Sanders and swingman Mike Dunleavy – and one freshman, guard Chris Duhon, played key roles in Duke's victory over Arizona. That means the Blue Devils could be back in the Final Four next season for a third time in four years. In fact, the trials of this championship season may benefit Duke in 2001-02.

Duke's championship run was an example of how a potential problem could be turned into a positive. Center Carlos Boozer's injury (broken foot), which was suffered in the next-to-last game of the regular season against Maryland, actually made the Blue Devils a better team in the long run. More young players gained experience.

"It was just part of the season," Krzyzewski said. "But it was a huge part. When adversity hits you at some time – injury, academics – how do you turn it into a positive? The biggest thing when [Boozer] came back was the development of depth. And the insertion of Chris Duhon into the [starting] lineup really changed Jason's role. Jason had more energy on offense and didn't have to guard the ball."

When Boozer went down, Krzyzewski moved Duhon, a guard, into the starting lineup and sent senior swingman Nate James to the bench. It gave Duke more quickness and emphasized getting the ball down the court faster so the Blue Devils could score in transition. Krzyzewski's personnel move also gave Duhon the confidence to be the lead guard Monday night when Williams went to bench in the first half after picking up two quick fouls.

"Duhon is only 18 and he is playing before 46,000 people," Krzyzewski said. "And the guy he depends on [Williams] is in foul trouble and he is guarding one of the best guards [Jason Gardner] in the country. He finishes with six assists and one turnover. I couldn't have done that at 28. It certainly bodes well for the future."

Duke's future will be bolstered by Rutgers transfer Dahntay Jones, a 6-5 guard, and freshman Daniel Ewing, a 6-3 guard from Willowridge High School in Sugarland. Williams, the NCAA East Region Most Outstanding Player, has said repeatedly he will return for his junior season.

"There will be a number of good teams," Krzyzewski said. "But I am looking forward to coaching them. We will have to replace the leadership that Shane and Nate gave us. That's something you can't figure out how it's going to be. But hopefully by being around those guys, we learned a little bit about that."