Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, April 1, 1991 TAG: 9104010046
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL BRILL EXECUTIVE SPORTS EDITOR
DATELINE: INDIANAPOLIS LENGTH: Medium
The prevailing opinion was that Duke would have difficulty matching the emotional high after beating unbeatable Nevada-Las Vegas in the semifinals.
And, somehow, Kansas has been advanced as an unappreciated underdog.
The coaches of the surviving teams did their best to refute those attitudes Sunday.
Duke's Mike Krzyzewski refuses to look back to the eight previous times the Blue Devils have reached the Final Four. "This team is playing in its first Final Four," he said.
But he did have one piece of advice for his team, which hasn't handled big victories well.
So it was that Duke players were reminded how they lost at North Carolina State after whipping North Carolina; how they didn't regain their focus after three victories in four days and were beaten at Wake Forest; how, after blitzing N.C. State in the ACC semifinals, they were crunched by Carolina by 22 points.
The mental factor is considered critical, particularly for the Blue Devils (31-7), who just knocked off the team that some had considered the greatest of all time.
Krzyzewski said he believes his team will respond favorably.
"We have smart kids who listen. They know Kansas is good because they did something we couldn't do the last time; they beat North Carolina," he said. "There is concern because people like to revel in what they have done rather than think about what they can accomplish."
What about Kansas?
Nobody can question that the Jayhawks deserve to be here. In succession, they have beaten the nation's No. 3 (Indiana), No. 2 (Arkansas) and No. 4 (North Carolina) teams.
"There are not any miracles," Kansas coach Roy Williams said. "The reason we're in the Final Four is because we're a good team."
At 27-7, the Jayhawks were the co-champions of the Big Eight. Like Duke, they lost in their conference tournament.
Unlike Duke, Kansas knows what it's like to win the NCAA Tournament.
The Jayhawks won in '88, beating Duke in the semifinals, and have two championships in eight previous trips to the Final Four.
The Blue Devils can match Kansas in Final Four trips. Only UCLA (14) and North Carolina (10) have more, but Duke has become the perennial bridesmaid, especially after getting that far four straight years and five of the past six.
This team is younger than Krzyzewski's previous squads, but, he said, "This is my toughest team."
It is led by 6-foot-11 Christian Laettner, whose 28 points against UNLV included the winning free throws with 12.9 seconds left.
What sets the Blue Devils apart as a potential winner is point guard Bobby Hurley, whose improved scoring and decision-making has been attributed to maturity.
While Krzyzewski said he felt tonight's game was rated even, Williams liked the idea of being the underdog.
"I felt like we played a preliminary game anyway [against North Carolina]. I coached the jayvees for eight years at UNC and it felt like that," Williams said.
Krzyzewski also discounted the Carolina influence, claiming that Kansas didn't play like the Tar Heels, even though Williams is a Dean Smith protege.
"Kansas has its own identity," he said.
Each club also has players the other wanted.
Kansas star Mark Randall chose the Jayhawks over the Blue Devils. Thomas Hill committed to Kansas but signed with Duke.
There are numerous similarities, but differences as well.
One is the spelling of the coaches' name.
"There are 10 letters in my name," Krzyzewski said. "Except in Chapel Hill, where it's four."
In Chapel Hill, they will not find that funny. So, if they couldn't get a crack at Duke, they'll support alumnus Williams.
As Kansas was leaving the floor after beating Carolina, "That's the first time Duke ever cheered for me," Williams said.
by CNB