Jan. 15
Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium will host something very special Thursday night (No. 1 Duke vs. No. 3 Maryland, ESPN, 9 p.m. ET). You know the place will be rocking and rolling -- the noise echoing in there will be unbelievable. The Terps are coming to town, and Maryland has left Cameron Indoor Stadium with a W the past two years.

	Jason Williams (22) and Duke face Maryland on Thursday for the first time this season.

The last team to leave Duke with wins in three straight years was Wake Forest from 1995 through '97. That Wake team had a guy named Tim Duncan, and he turned out to be a pretty good player.

Who could ever forget the four classic contests Duke and Maryland had last year?

There was excitement galore in the regular season (the teams split), the ACC tournament and the Final Four (both Duke wins). This is a huge matchup for early ACC bragging rights.

When they meet again this time, these teams will be fired up. You are talking about two very proud programs that mirror the image of their respective coaches, Duke's Mike Krzyzewski and Maryland's Gary Williams. Both men have built special programs, and you can sense the emotion.

One reason for Maryland's past success at Duke has been the scintillating play of guard Juan Dixon. In his last two trips to Cameron, he has averaged 37 minutes, 29.5 ppg and four steals while hitting 64 percent from the field.

Dixon performs well everywhere he plays. He has come through with several big-time performances lately, including a 29-point, eight-steal effort against North Carolina.

Dixon can beat you in so many ways -- with the long-range trifecta, the mid-range jumper and the ability to take it to the basket. Duke is also aware of his defensive prowess.

Thursday night's focus will be the battle of the backcourts as Duke's Jason Williams and Chris Duhon hook up with Dixon and Steve Blake. Dixon knows his teammate, Mr. Blake, can deliver the rock at the precise moment with his accurate passing.

In the past, Blake has held his own in the matchup against America's premier player, Williams. Last year, when Duke rallied from a 10-point deficit in the final minute of a regular-season game, Blake fouled out. If he stayed in the game, there probably wouldn't have been a Duke comeback.

	Guard Juan Dixon (3) was the ACC player of the year and led Maryland to its first national title.

It will be interesting to see how the Dukies respond, knowing that very few teams come into Cameron Indoor Stadium and leave with a W. Can the Blue Devils respond to this challenge the same way they did against Georgia Tech at home and at Raleigh last weekend? Coach K had his troops motivated following the shocking loss at Florida State.

One of the great matchups Thursday will be inside as Terps center Lonny Baxter meets up with Carlos Boozer. Can Boozer stay out of foul trouble (a must for Duke)? Coach K needs Boozer's presence in the lane. Remember, it was last year at Cameron against the Terps when Boozer suffered a broken foot. When he departed, the Blue Devils had the lead. It the end, Maryland got to the winner's circle.

Duke's Mike Dunleavy will also be key. In his last three games against Maryland, he has hit just 8-of-26 shots, so he has something to show. Some of the premier players in the nation will go at it, and it just gives you goose bumps.

But it could come down to an unknown making it happen in a magical moment.

Keep an eye on Maryland forward Chris Wilcox, who can make his mark with his unbelievable athletic ability. It could happen for Duke swingman Dahntay Jones, who has the explosiveness and defensive ability to check people and tie them up. That special moment, applying the glove to a Dixon or Byron Mouton, could be the difference in the game. Jones' athleticism can create a big-time spark. Remember, this will be a game played at a fast pace, an unbelievable tempo.

I can't wait for the opening tap. This is what college basketball is all about: competition, excitement and energy in a great campus environment. It should be awesome with a capital A -- let the party begin, baby!