At East Rutherford, N.J.
No. 1 Duke (35-1)
vs. No. 6 Temple (24-10)
Time: 2: 40 p.m. today
TV: Chs. 13, 9
Line: Duke by 16
Conference records: Duke won the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title with an unprecedented 16-0 record, followed by an ACC tournament championship. Temple finished first in the East Division of the Atlantic 10 with a 13-3 record.
Coaches: Mike Krzyzewski is 467-154 in his 19th year at Duke, and 540-213 in his 23rd year overall. John Chaney is 380-159 in 17 years at Temple; 605-218 in 27 seasons overall.
Starting lineups: Duke: PG William Avery (15.1 ppg, 5.2 apg), G Trajan Langdon (17.2 ppg), C Elton Brand (17.7 ppg, 9.6 rpg), F Chris Carrawell (9.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg), F Shane Battier (9.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg). Temple: PG Pepe Sanchez (8.2 ppg, 5.9 apg), G Rasheed Brokenborough (11.6 ppg), C Kevin Lyde (7.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg), F Lamont Barnes (12.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg), F Mark Karcher (13.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg).
Bench strength: The Blue Devils go about eight deep, with freshman forward Corey Maggette averaging double figures (10.8 ppg) off the bench. Chris Burgess usually spells Brand at center, with other bench help coming from G Nate James. If all is going right for Temple, Chaney will use just two players off the bench: G Quincy Wadley (9.5 ppg), and F Keaton Sanders (2.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg). Wadley played through a severely sprained left hand to have big first- and second-round games.
Key matchup: Brand vs. Temple's help defense. The matchup zone played by Temple will be geared to take away Duke's inside game. In fact, Temple will dare the Blue Devils to win from the outside. If Brand can still have a big offensive game against that defense, Duke will be in good shape to win.
What Duke has to do to win: Get big production from the perimeter game and in the paint from Brand. If that happens, Duke will win easily.
What Temple has to do to win: Sanchez, who has played with a cool confidence throughout the tournament, has to maintain composure against the most aggressive defense he will face this season.
Bottom line: The Cincinnati team that beat Duke in December was made up of tough guys -- players who didn't back down. While Temple might not be as athletic as Cincinnati, the Owls won't back down. And if Lyde and Lamont avoid foul trouble, Temple will be in a position to win. If those two are not factors, Duke is Final Four-bound. --