Get-even time for Duke

INDIANAPOLIS -- Considering that there’s a strong institutional memory-bank within the Duke basketball program, the Blue Devils will be anxious today to show West Virginia’s players how much things have changed over a couple of years.

Late in the Mountaineers’ 73-67 second-round NCAA win over the Blue Devils in 2008 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., a few West Virginia players aggressively taunted Duke. The Blue Devils were called overrated and soft.

WVU guard Joe Mazzulla and forward Da’Sean Butler were among those who mocked Duke by slapping the floor. When the two teams play today in the Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium, that '08 humiliation won’t be left in the Duke locker room.

“I definitely remember the game, and you remember parts of what people say,” said Duke guard Jon Scheyer, who scored 15 points in 29 minutes as a sub. “So we want to beat a team that knocked us out. Who wouldn’t? That’s our approach.”

Aside from Butler and Mazzulla, current WVU starter Wellington Smith played frequently in ‘08. All five Duke starters played in the loss.

Historically, Mike Krzyzewski’s teams have found a way to get even, including a 1991 Final Four win in Indianapolis over Nevada-Las Vegas. In the 1990 championship game at Denver, the Runnin’ Rebels gave Duke a merciless 103-73 beating that ended with several UNLV players ridiculing the ACC’s reputation and making fun of Duke freshman playmaker Bobby Hurley, who was slowed by a much publicized stomach ailment.

In ‘91, the same two teams met in the semifinals. UNLV, ranked No. 1 nationally almost all season and undefeated, was a heavy favorite. Many experts were rating Jerry Tarkanian’s team among the all-time best, better than Indiana’s 1976 undefeated team.

Duke won 79-77, Hurley played the full 40 minutes, finishing with 12 points, seven assists and two steals, and Christian Laettner, in 40 minutes, got 28 points against super-stopper Stacey Augmon.

Minutes after the Duke celebration ended, Hurley said, “Guess What? My stomach’s not hurting at all now.”

Just a couple of weeks ago, Hurley phoned Krzyzewski to remind the guys that California ended the guard’s career during the second round of the 1993 tournament. In a second-round game at Jacksonville, Duke sent home the Bears, 68-53.

The punch, counter-punch ploy long has been a staple of Duke’s series against North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland in ACC play. Although West Virginia has been tough enough to win big games _ including Kentucky _ with playmaker Darryl Bryant sidelined by an injury, the Mountaineers know Duke will use ‘08 as motivation.

Slapping the floor and making remarks to Duke’s players was a “spur of the moment thing,” according to Mazzulla.

“You get caught up in the emotions. They’re obviously a great team with great tradition.”Asked if he might do the same thing if WVU gets ahead today, Mazzulla smiled and said, “Depends on how the game is going.”

Caulton Tudor, staff columnist