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Tuesday, April 3
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This was Duke's magic number all season. It lived and died with the 3-pointer, shooting more than any national champion, and it was its weapon of choice again Monday with Mike Dunleavy pulling the trigger. Oh, and the Blue Devils just happen to win the school's third national title. | 
Battier Ready For
His World Tour
Monday night isn't the end of Shane Battier's stardom. It's just beginning. The NBA can't wait to get him, to show him off like a trophy for everything good about the game. Battier will be an instant hit in any city that he arrives in come June. And when his playing days are over, he'll likely stay in the public domain – possibly in politics, an arena that definitely intrigues him.
More ...
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Championship Callout
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Shane Battier lets out a championship yell as the Blue Devils cut down the Metrodome nets Monday night.
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Question of the Day
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"OK, Who will win next year's national championship?"
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ESPN.com's Andy Katz
Duke can repeat, but only if Jason Williams stays in school. If he doesn't, they've got no shot. Losing Shane Battier will be enough of a blow -- something the Blue Devils won't be able to recover from easily because of his leadership and defensive play. But the Blue Devils will have one of the best backcourts in the country if Williams stays to join returnee Chris Duhon and redshirt Dahntay Jones. Even though it's Monday night and the national championship game is still so fresh, the favorite for the national title now is Florida. But once again that's only if the Gators get Kwame Brown to go to school instead of declare for the NBA draft. Brown and forward David Lee would join a monster frontcourt of Udonis Haslam and Matt Bonner. Guards Brett Nelson, Teddy Dupay and a healthy Justin Hamilton would give the Gators a complete team worthy of wreaking havoc on the SEC and the nation. They'll be hungry too to get back to the Final Four after an abreviated run due to injuries this season. If Gilbert Arenas and Richard Jefferson return then Arizona will be a factor, too. So, too, will Maryland. Michigan State won't be too far behind again, either, with newcomers Kelvin Torbert and Alan Anderson. And, yes, even Indiana will be a serious threat with everyone returning, including a true, quick point in freshman Donald Perry. But don't count out Kentucky with the return of Tayshaun Prince, Keith Bogans, Marvin Stone, Marquis Estill, Jason Parker and newcomer Rashaad Carruth.
ESPN's Dick Vitale
My team next year for No.1, since they call me "Dukie Vitale" is the Duke Blue Devils. If Jason Williams is coming back, with Chris Duhon and Carlos Boozer and Michael Dunleavy -- and Dahntay Jones, remember that name, he's going to be sensational. And there is Casey Sanders. I'm going to be "Dukie Vitale" again in 2002. But I was right this year. Duke was super this season and they'll be super again next year.
ESPN's Digger Phelps
Jason Williams will be the player of the year if he comes back, but I love Florida. Why? Teddy Dupay is back. Brett Nelson is back. Nelson, Bonner, Haslam -- all back. The Gators also have two freshman -- David Lee, if he shows up, is 6-9 and can play, and 6-11 Kwame Brown if he doesn't go to the NBA is super. Billy Donovan, as good as he coached the Gators this year, he they stay healthy and this team shows up, I pick Florida as my preseason No. 1 team.
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Monday's Storylines
PLAYER OF DAY..............................
Mike Dunleavy. Looking for a turning point in the title game? Look no further than Dunleavy's three 3-pointers in the span of 45 seconds of the second half. Dunleavy was so hot after halftime, Arizona as a team had trouble keeping up with the sophomore. The Wildcats had scored just 19 second-half points by the time Dunleavy was finished scoring his 18 second-half points.
RANDOM THOUGHTS.............................
Duke, which won its 1992 title in Minneapolis, is now 4-0 in the Metrodome, which may have hosted its final Final Four. Minnesota is trying to get funding for a new outdoor baseball field, while the University of Minnesota and ownership of the Minnesota Vikings are looking into building a outdoor football facility. What that means is the old "Humpy Dome" could go the way of the Kingdome and Three Rivers Stadium in the near future.
Arizona's streak of beating No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament was ended by Duke. The Wildcats had defeated five top-seeded opponents in a row. Arizona became the only team in NCAA history to defeat three No. 1 seeds (Kansas, UNC, Kentucky) while winning the 1997 title. The Wildcats defeated Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky to win that championship. This season, the Wildcats were coming off victories over No. 1 seeds Illinois and Michigan State. The last time the Wildcats had lost to a No. 1 seed was in the '94 national semifinals to Arkansas.
Duke set an NCAA record by winning its 133rd game over a four-year period. The Blue Devils (133-15) broke the
record set by Kentucky from 1995-98 and 1996-99. Shane Battier, who played in 131 of the victories, tied an NCAA
record for a four-year period set by Kentucky's Wayne Turner. Fellow Duke senior Nate James redshirted the 1997-98 season and has
a different record.
STOCK RISING.....................................
Shane Battier. Seniors who play key roles on national championship teams look good in NBA scouts eyes -- even if they don't have a defined NBA position.
STOCK FALLING..................................
Minneapolis. Sorry, we tried to give the Twin Cities the benefit of the doubt, but after five days of gray (OK, a little sun), it's clear the Final Four and northern states just don't mix. Atlanta, here we come!
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Duke, but only because 35% of ESPN.com users said they "Hate the Blue Devils" in a recent poll. We suspect Duke wasn't the last team standing in their brackets.
ESPN BRACKETS
SportsCenter anchor Jim Frazier is the Big Man on Campus, winning ESPN's featured group in the Tournament Challenge. Frazier picked Duke to win it all after nailing the Final Four teams to finish with 1,430 points. Check it out at Bristol University's Best.
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"(Winning the title) is fitting. I've had an unbelievable individual career. I've had my jersey retired and I'm proud of the fact that I can hang a banner on the other side for 2001. When I'm old, bald and fat and my grand kids can come to Duke, they can see the banner."
Shane Battier on ending his Duke career as a national champion.
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Katz: Olson's family of players sticking together
Frozen moment: Dunleavy's triple plays
Full-Court Press: Saturday, March 31
Full-Court Press: Sunday, March 25
Full-Court Press: Saturday, March 24
Full-Court Press: Friday, March 23
Full-Court Press: Thursday, March 22
Full-Court Press: Sunday, March 18
Full-Court Press: Saturday, March 17
Full-Court Press: Friday, March 16
Full-Court Press: Thursday, March 15
 Mike Dunleavy says he did not lose confidence, and found his shooting touch in the second half (Courtesy: NCAA Production).
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ESPN's Brad Daugherty talks with Jason Williams after Duke's national championship performance.
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Shane Battier attacked the offensive boards to help lead Duke to another title.
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ESPN.com's Andy Katz catches up with Jason Gardner after Arizona's loss to Duke.
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Lute Olson says Duke was too strong down the stretch for his Wildcats (Courtesy: NCAA Production).
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Mike Krzyzewski knew early that Duke would have to play great to beat Arizona (Courtesy: NCAA Prduction).
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 Duke Blue Devils' news conference.
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Arizona Wildcats' news conference.
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Players and coaches sound off after Duke's victory over Arizona in the NCAA championship game.
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