1 'Duke crashes Blue's party' Go online for List year's covcragc of the Michigan-Dukc game. michigandaily.com/sports N + o f f Oi L: pr1R S5/I .. U Nq 10 DECEMBER FRIDAY 8, 2000 ig ay to No regrets for Duke's Battier By Dan Williams Daily Sports Writer In 1996, Birmingham native and Detroit Country Day basketball standout Shane Battier announced his commitment to Duke over his other two finalists, Michigan and Michigan State. The Duke faithful rejoiced, as Battier's signing, coupled with fellow all-world freshmen Elton Brand, William Avery and Chris Burgess, appeared to spell the end to a three-year dip in the program's prestige. Duke missed post seasons play in 1995 and was shellacked by Eastern Michigan in the NCAA tournament opening round in 1996, raising the eyebrows of alumni that had come to expect Final Four appearances. Fast forward to 2000, with Battier the senior and Duke winning three ACC championships, two ACC tournaments and a national runner-up. "it went pretty fast, it seems like yesterday that I was all nervous and getting ready for (Robert) Tractor' Traylor and Michigan four years ago." Battier said. "It seems that the last four years flew by and I'm playing my last Michigan-Duke game." Time flies when you're having fun. Only Battier remains from one of the most her- aided classes in history. But Duke (8-0) is thriving on the court, its glorious image has been restored, and by the way, Battier is everyone's favorite for national player of the year. In the mean time, Michigan (2-4) seems to be chest high in quick sand. It hasn't been to the NCAA tournament since 1998, and ending that streak this year will be an uphill battle. If one were to tweak with the laws of time and space, return to signing day 1996, and convince Battier to send his letter of intent to Michigan, what kind of Ray Bradbury-esque changes would ensue ? Would the Wolverines have been playing in ABOVE: AP PHOTO. TOP: Shane Battier and the top-ranked Blue Devils are expected to shake Michigan all night long. The senior is 2-1against Michigan since arriving at Duke. March the last two years? Would they be a top ten unit this season'? Would the general image of the program glisten like the clean-cut poster-boy perception of Battier rather than the shady hue that seems to blemish Michigan? It's difficult not to wonder But while the contents of parallel dimensions remains a mysterv, the frigid reality is indisputable - Michigan is levels below tomorrow's opponent, No. I Duke. Battier has thrived as the golden boy of Durham., lie averages 14.6 points and six rebounds this season. The media adores him, and he has been asked to speak in front of Congress on behalf of the Student Basketball Council. The attention is time consuming, but Battier revels in the role. "It is very demanding," Battier said. "But it's something you dreamed about when you were growing up, when you are shooting in the drive- way at seven or eight years old. You would love to play the game where you are playing against Magic Johnson or Isiah Thomas, and you hit the game winning shot, and after the game you are conducting interviews to ESPN and the media. As long as I have that perspective and still make it fun it doesn't become too heavy." If there's anything left to prove for Battier and his teammates (a national title), it's not a concern of Saturday's matchup. A game that could have been very personal has turned pedestrian, another underdog trying to steal a win in Cameron Indoor Stadium. But for Michigan, it's marks an opportunity to instantaneously resurface . upon the national scene, to quickly tell recruits across the country that the Wolverines arc ready for a resurgence. The Matchups Point Guard Jason Williams vs. Ave Queen Williams has blossomed into one of the nation's top point guards, while the growth of Queen has just begun. Shooting Guard Mike Dunleavy vs. Bernard Robinson Robinson is struggling with shot selection. Dunleavy looks much stronger and more confident in year two. Small Forward Nate James vs. LaVell Blanchard Blanchard should be better in time. James is presently the more polished player. Power Forward Shane Battier vs. Chris Young While Young improves, he's still far from Batter's league. Center Carlos Boozer vs. Josh Asselin Boozer's post ability allows Duke's other four players to roam the perimeter. Asselin's role is still hazy. J a 1 1 i 1 9 F t i 1 t t 1 f t i c i t t r 1' C t t r r T r t S I' 1 5 i" r ti . t Uneven?,Yhe. Meanin les Never t was an era of black socks and notoriously baggy shorts, when arrogance and excellence paused for a moment in a misty mix of youthful _ passion and unbridled pride. Together in the rarest of moments when fortune shines on youth, it shone brightest on Michigan and a GEOFF Fab Five brush GAGNON with destiny. Into this atmosphere A where memori* G-Thang were made; a rivalry was born. Michigan was the brash and the bold - the unapologetic ushers of a new style. With all the bashfulness of a bullhorn and even less humility, the Wolverines were the tongue-flap- ping, trash-talking trendsetters des- tined to change the face of college basketball. At the same time, the other end of the spectrum was occupied by a straight-laced, no-nonsense squad clad in timeless blue and white. Sound in its fundamental approach, disciplined and determined, Duke was the All- American team with the pristine repu- tation and the sparkling championship resume. The Blue Devils were the bas- tions of a Carolina basketball dynasty deeply entrenched in success and-m mble pride. Poetic in its implications and com- mercial in its timing Chris Webbr and his Wolverines burst onto the college basketball scene and promptly pitted themselves against its reigning mon- archs. It was a rivahy flawless in its, creation --a movie-made story of td against new. After first meeting early in the 11 season, Michigan's upstart freshmar took the defending national champio6 to overtime before seeing the Blue; Devils slide past them despite 18 see ond-half points from Jalen Rose. With the emotional battle, a rivalry was showcased. So heated was the tension between the teams that the off-court verbalizing became the thing of t-shirts donnedby the veteran BlueDevils later that year in preparation for the 1992 champi' onship showdown with the trash-talk ing Webber-led Wolverines. The shirt posed the question: "You can talk, bt can you play?" Similarly simplistic shirts answerd the Duke challenge when Michigan replied with tees that said: "We can play The confidence and confrontation Michigan's Fab Five shared with the Christian Laettner Blue Devils helped usher in a rivalry like few others at tI time. Today the programs are the very pic- ture of divergence. Duke, the current standard-bearer of excellence, boasts a No. I ranking, a roster of blue-chip plyers, an unbeaten record and a home-court advantage unlike any other. Michigan meanwhile, is beset with inexperience, controversy and a 2-4 mark. Even despite setbacks like the 44- point whipping Michigan suffered at, the hands of the Blue Devils two sea- sons ago, and even in the midst of for- midable odds tomorrow, Michigan eyes its showdown with No. 1 Duke with 3 special optimism. But as the nation's elite, that opti- mism may not be shared by the Blue Devils -- even after a surprising Michigan squad came within a few baskets of an upset a year ago. Nevertheless, the game remains ci* cled on NMichiean's calendar. Even as a bruised squad limping its way through a tough season so far Othis year, this game means something more. Times have changed since the days of Webber and Laettner - that much is obvious. Today Webber says he doesn't AP PHOTO Shane Battler had 22 points and six rebounds against the Wolverines in last years game against Michigan. A . THE PLACE To BE FOR THE FLORIDA CITRUS BOWL x*.. IT, For Wolverines, a $109*rate. The Adam's Mark Orlando is the headquarters for your band; make it yours, too, for the big garne! Attached to Central Florida's largest indoor shopping mall featuring Saks Fifth Avenue, Dillard's, Burdines, Pottery Barn and over 250 specialty stores. Plus the Adam's Mark Orlando is The past five meetings 1999: Duke 104, Michigan 97 A late intentional foul by Josh Asselin ended any upset hopes Michigan had. 1998: Duke 108, Michigan 64 Michigan was humiliated from start to finish. Duke ended Michigan's three-game winning streak. 1997: Michigan 81, Duke 73 Robert Traylor and Louis Bullock played well as Michigan upset No. 1 ntjkt. P7