March 9, 2001

Chris Boyer
TheACC.com

ATLANTA - Duke Senior Shane Battier begins his final ACC Tournament tonight against the North Carolina State Wolfpack. Duke and Battier come into the Tourney as the #2 seed and one of the favorites to win it. Yet, Battier, as usual recognizes that all teams in this conference are a threat to pull the upset.

"They (the Wolfpack) are a very good team. There is no question that they have as much raw talent as any one in the league. Plus at this time of year, teams start to get a little tired, jump shots start to fall a little short. We don't want to be that team that falls off and gets upset. It's going to be a tough physical game for us."

After four years in one of the nation's top conferences, Battier recognizes the differences between teams with talent and teams that convert talent into wins.

"I think winning is a mindset. It's a mindset of coming to play every game and every practice, regardless of when it is or who it is. We prepare the same way for playing Clemson and Florida State as we do when we are playing Maryland or North Carolina. We don't get too high or too low, and I think you'll find a team like NC State, with great physical talent, will put more emphasis on a game against us. And that's what I find is the key separation in this league."

Battier feels Duke head coach, Mike Krzyzewski is part of that attitude, but it really starts with the players.

"We follow after coach. Coach K is probably the best coach at preparing and bringing the enthusiasm every day. We feel like if he can do it, there's no reason we shouldn't be able to bring the energy day in and day out. Good coaching is important, but at the end of the day it's the players that make the plays."

One of the players, that Battier has seen make a lot of the plays for Duke over the last two years, is sophomore point guard Jason Williams. Battier has seen a lot of growth in the Blue Devils floor general since last season.

"His talent was never in doubt. People who saw him play last year knew he was an extremely talented player. This year the biggest difference is his mental grasp of the game. He understands game situations much better. As a result he is a much more efficient player and he is even more valuable to us this year."

Battier is also quick to add his opinion of the merits of staying in school, as he did himself for the full four years.

"I think another year would help him. It definitely wouldn't hurt him. You can never learn too much about the game of basketball. I don't know how many people are ready for the pros even after four years of playing in college."

So now as Battier prepares to play his final ACC Tournament and his first outside of the state of North Carolina, he downplays the significance of playing it outside of Duke's home state.

"I think it will be exciting. Coming here reminds me a lot of playing in St. Petersburg. The first time you walk in it seems so vast, but come game time it makes for a great atmosphere. I don't think players would talk much about playing in a dome if the media didn't. Once you walk on the court, the rims are 10 feet high, the floor is 90 feet long. It's just like the movie "Hoosiers".