2000-01 record: 35-4; 13-3 in ACC (1st) Final Ranking: No. 1 ESPN/USA Today; No. 1 AP Postseason: Beat Arizona 82-72 to win national championship. RETURNING LEADERS Points: Williams 21.6 ppg | Rebounds: Boozer 6.5 rpg | Assists: Williams 6.1 apg | FG %: Boozer 60.4% | 3pt %: Williams 42.7% | FT %: Boozer 71.9% 00-01 Stats: Duke | ACC

		Wed., Oct. 31 Duke will again be the most skilled shooting and ball-handling team in the country, with experience at every position, and the nation's best player in Jason Williams. What will make Duke so tough to beat is the combination of 3-point shooting ability from several positions to spread the floor, especially in transition and off of broken plays, and dribble penetration for kickouts or drawing fouls. Duke's only question marks are consistent rebounding and the loss of Battier's leadership, voice and big-play ability. A real key is Carlos Boozer, who has the ability to dominate with higher and more consistent intensity.

Duke No. 1 in ESPN.com Top 25

Outlook
Let's get this straight -- national player of the year Shane Battier is gone, and the Blue Devils might be even better? It's true, it's true.

Battier and Nate James go, but McDonald's All-American Daniel Ewing, high-scoring Rutgers transfer Dahntay Jones and medically redshirted Nick Horvath are here. And the rest of last year's cast -- Jason Williams, Carlos Boozer, Mike Dunleavy, Chris Duhon, and on, and on -- is back, and presumably better.

First of all, has Duke ever been deeper inside the paint than it will be this season? The Blue Devils return 6-foot-9 All-ACC candidate Boozer (13.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg) for his junior season, and joining him will be 6-11 Casey Sanders (2.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg) , 6-10 Matt Christensen (1.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg) and the 6-10 Horvath.

When Boozer went down late last season with a broken foot, Sanders proved ready for more playing time. When Boozer returned, it raised the possibility of the twin towers playing together, which Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski says will become reality this season. Christensen, deemed good enough to start a few games two years ago, is a solid No. 3 center, and Horvath is a swing guy who can play down low but has the shooting range of a guard.

The things Krzyzewski will be able to with his personnel ought to be illegal. If he wants to play fast and press teams to oblivion, Krzyzewski can play Williams (21.6 ppg, 6.2 apg), Duhon (7.2 ppg, 4.7 apg), Jones (836 points in two seasons at Rutgers) and Dunleavy (12.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg) at the same time -- with Dunleavy the power forward in the Battier mold. If he wants to go big, Krzyzewski can play Dunleavy at shooting guard, with a front court of Sanders, Boozer and Horvath.

Rest assured, Williams and Duhon will see plenty of action together as a two-headed point guard, both able to beat teams with shots or passes.

What we like: Everything. This team can go big, small, quick, sturdy.

What we don't like: The way Dunleavy ties his shoes? It's hard to find faults here, but here's one: According to Krzyzewski, Battier was the best leader he's ever had at Duke, and that kind of intangible isn't so easy to replace.

The bottom line: If everyone stays healthy, Duke will contend for the national title. Heck, if everyone but one or two guys stay healthy, Duke will contend for the national title.

Key Players Returning
Player	Yr.	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Jason Williams	Jr.	G	6-2/196	PTS: 21.6 | REB: 3.3 | AST: 6.1
Carlos Boozer	Jr.	C	6-9/270	PTS: 13.3 | REB: 6.5 | AST: 1.2
Mike Dunleavy	Jr.	F	6-8/204	PTS: 12.6 | REB: 5.7 | AST: 2.6
Chris Duhon	So.	G	6-1/186	PTS: 7.2 | REB: 3.2 | AST: 4.5
Casey Sanders	Jr.	C	6-11/218	PTS: 2.5 | REB: 1.8 | AST: 0.2
Dahntay Jones	Jr.	G	6-5/206	Redshirted after transfering from Rutgers.

Key Losses
Player	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Shane Battier	F	6-8/220	PTS: 19.9 | REB: 7.3 | AST: 1.8
Nate James	G	6-6/200	PTS: 12.3 | REB: 5.2 | AST: 1.1

Duke Signings
Player	Pos.	Ht.	High School/College
Daniel Ewing	G	6-3	Houston-Willowridge (Tex.)