Jan. 16
Some thoughts about Thursday night's Duke-Maryland showdown ...

Just how good are the players in this game? I'm willing to take these two teams and give you everyone else in America.

That's right, for my starting five, I'll take point guard Jason Williams, forward Mike Dunleavy and big man Carlos Boozer of Duke together with guard Juan Dixon and big man Lonny Baxter of Maryland. Then add Duke's Chris Duhon and Maryland's Chris Wilcox, Steve Blake and Tahj Holden off the bench. I'm ready to coach my guys ... let ESPN's Digger Phelps coach the other team!

Think about the players who would go against my squad: Tayshaun Prince of Kentucky, Drew Gooden of Kansas, Troy Bell of Boston College, Casey Jacobsen of Stanford, Jason Kapono of UCLA, Jared Jeffries of Indiana, Frank Williams of Illinois ... that's a pretty solid squad, too!

KEY PLAYERS and FOUL TROUBLE
If I had to pick one player each team couldn't afford to lose to foul trouble, it might surprise you. No, I wouldn't choose Jason Williams or Juan Dixon.

For Duke, it would be Carlos Boozer. Think back to last year, when the Blue Devils led the Terps in the second half at Cameron. Boozer went down after scoring 16 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Maryland rallied and won the game. When Boozer is in foul trouble or out injured, Duke is a different team. He gives the Blue Devils an inside presence that can't be easily replaced.

For Maryland, my pick would be Steve Blake. Last season at College Park, Blake fouled out and the Terps blew a 10-point lead in the final minute of regulation. Maryland's point guard has played well against Williams in the past.

DUKE on a ROLL
Just how good has Duke been in recent years? Since the start of the 1997-98 season, the Blue Devils are 147-16, with an an impressive 62-6 record in ACC games.

'97-98 | 32-4
'98-99 | 37-2
'99-00 | 29-5
'00-01 | 35-4
'01-02 | 14-1