MINNEAPOLIS — How could it not end this way for Shane Battier, Duke's all-everything senior?

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Duke's Shane Battier makes a remarkable basket with a backhanded tip late in the game. (AP photos) 600 | 800 | 1024

        As freshman Chris Duhon dribbled out the final seconds Monday night, Battier squatted with his head on his fists. He was helping deliver to the Blue Devils their third national championship.

        “I was just trying to take it in,” Battier said. “I said a quick prayer. Words can't do justice to what I felt.”

        Teammate Mike Dunleavy made his way over and grabbed Battier as the buzzer sounded. They were soon met by Jason Williams, who jumped onto both. The Blue Devils capped a splendid season and Battier's magnificent career by beating Arizona 82-72 at the Metrodome, site of Duke's last title.

        “It's complete,” Battier said. “All that's left for me is to ride off into the sunset on a white horse. ... This is just the perfect way for us to end it.”

        Battier, a first-team All-American and national player of the year, was named the Final Four's most outstanding player.

        He also can add prophet to his resume. On Sunday, he said: “It always seems to be the one person who does not have the huge headlines who ends up stepping up.”

        How right he was.

Coack K, Battier and Mike Dunleavy share a hug as national champions. | ZOOM |

        The Blue Devils got a big boost from (drum roll, please) Mike Dunleavy. The 6-foot-8 sophomore, son of Portland Trail Blazers coach Mike Dunleavy, scored 21 points — three shy of his career high.

        It was Dunleavy who first broke open a tight game with three 3-pointers in 45 seconds early in the second half.

        “I'm sure the rest of these guys were thinking, "It's about time,'” said Dunleavy, who was 1-of-6 from the field in the first half. “Good timing, too.”

        Battier and Williams, who combine to average 41.7 points a game, totaled 34 Monday. Battier had 18 points and 11 rebounds; Williams, who was in foul trouble much of the night, scored 16.

        “I frankly thought that Jason Williams was fouled out twice with push-offs, but it didn't happen,” Arizona coach Lute Olson said. “Officiating wasn't what got us; it was Duke's play that got us.”

        Dunleavy came in averaging 12.4 points a game and was hardly at the heart of the pregame hype. Duke had lived by the 3-pointer all season but made made just four of its first 17 3-point attempts.

        Then came Dunleavy, who finished 5-of-9 from long range. His first 3-pointer gave Duke a 43-37 lead. After a jumper by Arizona's Jason Garner, Dunleavy hit another 3.

Duke takes home the trophy. | ZOOM |

        Gardner drove to the basket but had his shot blocked by Battier. On the other end, Dunleavy connected from long range again to put the Blue Devils ahead 49-39.

        “I think that gave us a lot of confidence,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. After an Arizona turnover, Williams was fouled and made one of two free throws for an 11-point Duke advantage.

        Arizona came back with nine unanswered points to pull within 50-48 with 14:11 left.

        But Duke then went on a 14-4 run, and after Battier completed a three-point play it was ahead 64-52 with 8:27 left. That was the biggest deficit of the night.

        Again, Arizona would not fold. It pulled within three points four times but could get no closer.

        The clincher: Up by five, Williams nailed a 3-pointer with 1:45 left.

        How right he was.

A T from Coach K. | ZOOM |

        “We just did tough things, and I think we're deserving of it,” Krzyzewski said.

        Senior center Loren Woods led Arizona with 22 points and 11 rebounds, and Richard Jefferson added 19 points. Both were named to the all-tournament team, along with Duke's Williams, Battier and Dunleavy.

        Sophomore Carlos Boozer came off the bench to pitch in 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Blue Devils.

        Duke (35-4) previously won national championships under Krzyzewski in 1991 and '92. This was its ninth Final Four appearance in 16 years.

        Arizona (28-8) lost in its second NCAA final appear ance; the Wildcats beat Kentucky for the 1997 title.

        “I told them in the locker room that I don't want to see anyone come out with their heads hanging,” Olson said. “Because of all the emotion that they've had to go through, they've withstood that very well and done a great job. We gave it a good run. In the end, we couldn't get it done.”

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ARIZONA (72)
                      fg    ft    rb
               min   m-a   m-a   o-t  a pf   tp
Wright          28   5-9   0-1  4-11  0  4   10
Jefferson       35  7-13   1-3   2-8  3  2   19
Woods           37  8-15   6-8  4-11  1  4   22
Arenas          34  4-17   2-3   2-4  4  1   10
Gardner         40  2-11   3-4   1-3  2  2    7
Wessel           2   0-0   0-0   0-0  0  0    0
Edgerson         8   0-0   0-0   0-1  0  4    0
Walton          16   2-6   0-0   2-3  4  3    4
_______________________________________________
TOTALS         200 28-71 12-19 15-41 14 20   72
_______________________________________________


Percentages: FG-.394, FT-.632. 3-Point Goals:
4-22, .182 (Jefferson 4-8, Woods 0-1, Arenas 0-4,
Gardner 0-8, Walton 0-1). Team rebounds: 4.
Blocked shots: 7 (Woods 4, Wright 2, Jefferson).
Turnovers: 9 (Jefferson 5, Arenas, Walton, Woods,
Wright). Steals: 5 (Arenas, Gardner, Jefferson,
Woods, Wright).


DUKE (82)
                      fg    ft    rb
               min   m-a   m-a   o-t  a pf   tp
Battier         40  7-14   3-6  4-11  6  1   18
Dunleavy        32  8-17   0-1   2-3  0  3   21
Sanders         10   0-1   0-0   0-2  1  1    0
Duhon           39   3-5   2-3   1-4  6  2    9
Williams        29  5-15   4-6   0-3  4  4   16
Boozer          30   5-9   2-3  1-12  1  3   12
James           20   2-3   2-3   1-3  0  3    6
_______________________________________________
TOTALS         200 30-64 13-22  9-38 18 17   82
_______________________________________________


Percentages: FG-.469, FT-.591. 3-Point Goals:
9-27, .333 (Battier 1-5, Dunleavy 5-9, Duhon 1-1,
Williams 2-11, James 0-1). Team rebounds: 4.
Blocked shots: 5 (Battier 2, Boozer 2, James).
Turnovers: 11 (Williams 6, Boozer 2, James 2,
Duhon). Steals: 5 (Williams 3, James, Sanders).
__________________________________
Arizona            33   39  -   72
Duke               35   47  -   82
__________________________________
Technical fouls: None.  A: 45,994. Officials:
Scott Thornley, Frankie Bordeaux, Ed Corbett.

       

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