THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 14, 1996 TAG: 9603140520
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: INDIANAPOLIS LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
The last time Duke played here, the Blue Devils took home the 1991 NCAA title. But things have changed.
The building is now known as the RCA Dome instead of the Hoosier Dome, and for the last couple seasons, Duke has not been known as one of college basketball's powers.
``We're one of those teams other teams aren't gunning for like they were in the past at Duke,'' senior guard Chris Collins said.
``We don't have a Grant Hill, Bobby Hurley or Christian Laettner,'' junior center Greg Newton said. ``All five of us on the floor have to scrape and work for us to get a win.''
Duke (18-12) got enough - just barely - to get back in the tournament after a one-year hiatus. The Blue Devils' No. 8 seed is the lowest for the program with the winningest NCAA tournament percentage (.767).
Duke plays Mid-American Conference champ Eastern Michigan (24-5) at approximately 2:45 p.m. today in the Southeast Regional. The winner likely will meet top-seeded Connecticut on Saturday.
``For this group of guys, it's great we're just back in the tournament,'' Collins said.
``We know who we are,'' Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. ``We understand we're not a powerhouse team, but we have a team with a great deal of competitiveness and we play together.''
Still, Krzyzewski said his team is running the race to win a national title.
``I also understand we don't have pole position - being in North Carolina, I understand NASCAR now,'' he said. ``We're not in the first row, but who knows? You still run the race to win.''
FAMILIAR RING: Virginia Commonwealth coach Sonny Smith also has a sharp memory of his last trip to this dome, although it's not a fond one.
Smith's Auburn team was beating Indiana in a 1987 NCAA tournament second-round game, sending the Hoosiers' Bobby Knight into vintage tirades, including a near-altercation with Smith at the scorer's table.
Indiana eventually won by 17.
``One of the officials was from Carmel, Ind.,'' said Smith, who at one point had a 5-foot-10 player at power forward because of foul trouble. ``He earned his keep.''
TIP-INS: Collins said the injured foot that kept him out of the ACC tournament is fine, but he is just getting over an illness. Guard Steve Wojciechowski favored his injured ankle at Wednesday's practice and Krzyzewski tabbed him as doubtful. . . . In his last five games, Duke guard Jeff Capel has made 28 of 87 shots (26.4 percent). The last time Capel hit 50 percent or more of his shots in a game was Jan. 18, against North Carolina State. . . . Mississippi State coach Richard Williams said he has warned the Bulldogs all week about the perils of overlooking VCU following last weekend's SEC tournament win over Kentucky. ``The coaching staff has done everything we know how to do to avoid a letdown,'' Williams said. ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski chats with senior guard Mike Collins.
``We're one of those teams other teams aren't gunning for like they
were in the past,'' Collins said.
by CNB