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Jet, April 23, 2001

Navigated by two multitalented players, steered by a potential Hall of Fame coach and powered by a talented crew, the Duke Blue Devils basketball team recently claimed its third national championship.

Senior forward Shane Battier and sophomore guard Jason Williams--both All-Americans--led Duke to an 82-72 victory over the Arizona Wildcats in Minneapolis.

Battier, the national player of the year, finished the game having played all 40 minutes, scoring 18 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. He ended his career with 131 victories which tied the NCAA record.

"I was trying to take it in," Battier said of capping off a great season. "I couldn't believe it. Words can't do justice for what I was feeling."

Battier added, "It's complete. All that's left for me is to ride off into the sunset on a white horse."

Williams finished with 16 points, two three-pointers and four assists, despite picking up two fouls in the first 5 minutes.

Duke (35-4) kept in stride with the fast-paced game to lead the Wildcats by 10 late in the second half, but Arizona would not roll over. Four times Arizona (28-8) got within 3 points.

Battier's dunk on a pass from Williams put Duke up 77-72 with 2:31 left, and Williams hit a 3-pointer with 1:45 left that gave Duke an 8-point lead. The Wildcats couldn't recover, and the Blue Devils stole the momentum and kept rolling to a championship victory while fans erupted into a roaring celebration.

Duke won its other NCAA championships in 1991 and '92, all under coach Mike Krzyzewski, who is now in elite company on the all-time winning list.

The champions returned to Durham, NC, to a crowd of about 4,000 fans cheering so wildly, they had to be quieted down so that the team could speak.

"I'm just glad we brought the championship back where it needs to be," said Williams.