No. 3 Maryland at No. 1 Duke

GAME TIME:	Thursday, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN)
LAST MEETING:	Duke 95, Maryland 84 (March 31, 2001; National Semifinals)
SERIES:	Duke leads, 95-53

	Chris Wilcox is one-third of Maryland's imposing front line that awaits Duke.

The hottest rivalry in college basketball resumes Thursday evening in Cameron Indoor Stadium, but the ferociousness of this event is not due to just the proximity or history between the two teams. As it should be, the fever pitch of this game results from the inescapable fact that No. 1 Duke and No. 3 Maryland are two great teams fighting for preeminence -- in the ACC and nationally.

The repeated performances of the players and coaches, under incredible duress, have more than lived up to the pre-game hype.

Don't be deceived by Duke's three wins over Maryland last year, against just one loss. Maryland held double digit leads in each game, winning convincingly in Cameron, and each Duke win was a nail-biter that exhibited extraordinary heroics on each side. The best and most passionate coaches in each school's history pace the sidelines, each now presiding over their team's most successful run ever. Jason Williams and Juan Dixon are the ACC's two leading scorers, each an All-American that will have his number retired. Mike Dunleavy is the nation's most versatile player, and Chris Wilcox has the most upside of any frontcourt player on the floor. From Steve Blake to Chris Duhon, and Carlos Boozer to Lonny Baxter, this match-up features game-breakers at every turn.

Which team holds the advantage? Duke's famed homecourt advantage hasn't bothered the Terps, who have won in Cameron the past two years. Duke's vulnerabilities are on the backboards and down low, where Maryland is strong. The Blue Devils were outrebounded by the Terps last year by nearly 12 boards per game, and were pounded on the glass this year by Florida State and Kentucky. Maryland methodically pounds the ball inside to Baxter and Wilcox, and the Terps have three of the best shotblockers in the ACC.

Duke's counter to Maryland inside strength is clutch perimeter shooting and free throws. Duke hits over nine 3-pointers per game to Maryland's six, which translates to an advantage of nine points a game. Duke also marches to the free throw line 29 times per game, and scores 52 percent of its points off made 3-point field goals and free throws. Maryland is the best defensive team in the ACC, allowing teams to shoot just 37 percent from the floor and 28 percent from 3-point territory.

The relative strengths of these two giants have seemed to cancel each other out, providing deadlocked games with the clock winding down. The winner has been determined by late game heroics, and recent history almost guarantees another classic.

Maryland is undefeated in ACC play, and has a unique opportunity to place Duke two games behind in its rear view mirror. Over the last few years, it has been Maryland that has slipped up against some of the league's bottom feeders, but this year it was Duke losing to Florida State, and Maryland should look to take advantage of it.

The Terps are the best defensive team in the ACC, and one of the best in the nation. Maryland throws a very good 1-2-1-1, full-court press at opponents, along with a very good 2-1-2¾ court trap, and forces almost 16 turnovers per game. Maryland holds its opponents to a league-lowest 37 percnet mark from the floor, and a paltry 28 percent from behind the 3-point arc.

Dixon leads the Terps in scoring, and is second in the ACC only to Williams at 19 points per game. He also leads the league in steals, with 3.3 per game, and hits over 90 percent of his free throws. Dixon is a fearless burglar on the court, and can cut your heart out with his savvy play at both ends. He loves to curl off of screens, and has a great mid-range game to compliment his deep-ball shooting. Over his last two games, Dixon is averaging 27.5 points and almost six steals.

Baxter is back near full strength after spraining his ankle in practice, while Wilcox is emerging as perhaps the hottest big man in the ACC. If Dixon is Maryland's "Mr. Outside" and Baxter the Terps' "Mr. Inside", then Wilcox is "Mr. Upside". No big man in the ACC has more potential than Wilcox, and he is improving by leaps and bounds.

Duke, meanwhile, is coming off of two emotional wins over Georgia Tech and N.C. State, which followed an embarrassing loss to Florida State. Mike Krzyzewski has taken a more involved role with this team, investing himself much more emotionally into his team's make-up over the last week. Duke started over after the loss to Florida State, going back to basics in practice, and stripping itself of the amenities of successes past to focus on success in the future.

Krzyzewski, as he has done on past occasions, stripped the locker room of pictures and reminders of what has been accomplished in the past, to spotlight the fact that this particular Blue Devil edition has not yet accomplished anything. Reportedly, Kryzyzewski even removed the chairs from the locker room and had his All-Americans sitting on the floor watching film.

Whatever mental gymnastics Duke undergoes to re-focus efforts on championship level basketball, the Blue Devils have the goods to produce on the floor.

Williams leads the league in scoring at 21 points per game, and scores an amazing 69 percent of his points off of made 3-point field goals and free throws. Dunleavy has established himself as the nation's most versatile player, and he has the ability to get every bit as hot from the floor as Shane Battier ever could.

However, Duke has a different look defensively with Battier's graduation. With Chris Duhon starting, he often takes the opposing point guard and primary handler because he puts the best pressure on the ball at the point of attack. Dahntay Jones, a marvelous athlete still working to find his niche with this team, often takes the opposition's best perimeter scorer. Jones, if he concentrates on his defensive assignment, running the court and finishing in transition, and hitting the offensive glass, can be a great player for this Duke team. Dunleavy, as versatile as he is on offense, sometimes has to guard inside, where he can be attacked, and Maryland will try to go at him and Boozer with its 2-3 offensive set, and its flex cuts and duck-ins.

Duke, meanwhile, looks to run motion offense and a variety of set plays, which include ballscreens to free Williams, get Boozer isolated in the lane, and to bring Dunleavy up to the 3-point line. The Blue Devils play pressure man-to-man, they have been more physical of late, and they force over 20 turnovers per game. Maryland and Duke do it differently, but both do it very well.

The question for Duke is whether the Blue Devils can free themselves for open looks from behind the arc, attack Maryland's pressure to score, dribble penetrate and get fouled, and rebound with the Terps. Both teams bring different strengths to this game, and both are capable of winning a national championship.

This game will greatly affect the ACC race, seeding for the ACC Tournament, and the battle for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Oh, it is also a tantalizing preview of another potential match-up in the Final Four.

Key Match Up: Dunleavy vs. Wilcox

Although they may not guard each other, their mere presence in the lineup affects the match-ups in this game. Dunleavy is as complete a player as there is in college basketball on the offensive end. He can shoot it from deep, hit the pull-up jumper, and he is an expert handler and passer who creates havoc on the other team's match-ups. Dunleavy is having a great season, and is playing very well entering the Maryland game.

Wilcox is a crazy athlete who can run the floor, finish with incredible athleticism and strength, and his post-up game is vastly improving by the game. Wilcox has a great jump-hook, and he is an outstanding shotblocker. Both of these guys are game-changers.

Key Stat: Rebounding, 3-Point Shooting and Free Throws

This will be a difficult game to officiate. Both teams are athletic, Duke plays pressure man defense that includes some contact, and Maryland is a physical inside team that creates and dishes out contact. Maryland should be frothing at the mouth to get onto the offensive glass and gobble up rebounds that will yield high-percentage shots. Because Duke scores over 52 percent of its points off of made 3s and free throws, the Terps have to limit Duke's opportunities in those two areas. Maryland will want to see if Duke can make enough two-point field goals to win, rather than risk watching Duke attempt a ton of 3s while Maryland protects the basket.

What to Watch For: You've probably seen plenty of Williams, and he is a magnificent college player. But keep your eye on Dixon -- both on and off the ball.

Dixon is an incredible college basketball player, and is an absolute killer on the floor. His offense speaks for itself, with over 19 points per game, but his defense is just as spectacular, if not more so. If you show the ball, he will take it from you off the pass or the dribble. Juan Dixon is the best all-around shooting guard in America, and he should be the leading candidate for the Iba Corinthian Award as the nation's best defensive player. He is one of the best the ACC has seen.