March 13
When I look at the South Region, I see only one team really challenging Duke.

The only team lurking that could give the Blue Devils an absolute nightmare is USC. You'd better believe Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski is well aware of the Trojans, since the teams squared off in the NCAA Tournament last year.

	USC forward Sam Clancy, left, and coach Henry Bibby are familiar with the NCAA Tournament routine.

Coach Henry Bibby's Trojans gave Duke some trouble in the Elite Eight last March. With the inside power of Sam Clancy, the perimeter play of Brandon Granville, the quickness of diaper dandy Errick Craven and the experience of David Bluthenthal, USC is athletic enough, experienced enough and tough enough to really challenge Duke. It would be a special Sweet 16 matchup.

I've been hearing people say Duke has a cakewalk to Atlanta, that there are no challenges. Think again, my friends. Trust me, a game against the Trojans would not be Cupcake City, and this is not an automatic run to the Final Four for the Blue Devils. USC could present all kinds of problems.

Think about it: What happens if Clancy and his teammates on the interior get Duke center Carlos Boozer in foul trouble? I can almost hear Coach K saying now, "Forget about it, I have to worry about Winthrop first." And then, in the second round, Duke would face either Charlotte or Notre Dame (coached by former Duke assistant Mike Brey). And Bibby feels the same way, as USC's first-round opponent is a tough UNC-Wilmington team coached by Jerry Wainright and led by Brett Blizzard.

Still, Jason Williams, Mike Dunleavy, Boozer and company versus USC would be awesome with a capital A, baby!

I'm only looking ahead and projecting, just like Peter Jennings would on election night ... then again, I'm not Jennings. I'm well aware of that, in many ways -- like articulation, talent, brilliance and most of all, paycheck!

If my projection becomes a reality, the South Region will have a sensational Sweet 16 matchup: Let's see another Duke-USC tourney showdown, baby!