2001 Duke vs. Arizona
Re-watch #14 - The Duke Basketball Project
Note: I’ve made a few more changes to the format - most notably, some plays are embedded in the article and links will take you to game clips on a dedicated YouTube playlist. As always, the full game and additional resources are included at the bottom.
#1 Duke (34-4) vs. #5 Arizona (28-7)
National Championship
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome - Minneapolis, MN
April 2, 2001
Background
Arizona began the season as the #1 team in the country, just ahead of Duke at #2. Coach Olson missed five games in December and January while on a leave of absence to be with his wife battling cancer. Bobbi Olson passed away on January 1st, a good reminder to us all that there are much more important things in life than basketball - and also how sports can, in a small way, help deal with tragedy. Upon Olson’s return, the Wildcats would win 20 of their next 22 games to earn a spot in the final game of the season. In the Final Four, Arizona knocked off defending champ Michigan State behind a 48-31 second half to win by 19 points. All five starters scored in double-figures, and it was a record fifth consecutive victory over a #1-seed dating back to 1997 for Arizona. They would have a chance to go for six in a row on Monday night.
After losing Carlos Boozer to a broken bone in his foot during a 91-80 Senior Night loss to Maryland, Duke had won nine straight games behind a lineup change. Coach K inserted Chris Duhon into the starting five, opting to go smaller and ramp up the pace offensively. The Blue Devils downed Maryland 84-82 in the ACC semifinals thanks to Nate James’ tip-in, won the rubber match with UNC 79-53, and saw Boozer return to limited action in the Sweet Sixteen. But Duke’s title hopes seemed to be slipping away in the Final Four. They were facing Maryland for a fourth time, and trailed the Terrapins 39-17 in the first half. The Blue Devils stopped calling plays, opting to “follow their instincts” as Coach K put it, and engineered a 33-point turnaround for the 95-84 victory. So, it would be the AP preseason #1 versus the preseason #2 for just the fourth time ever in the National Championship game (it’s happened once since then). Can you name the other four preseason #1 vs. #2 title games? See trivia answer below.
The Teams
Arizona
Jason Gardner (So.); Loren Woods (Sr.); Richard Jefferson (Jr.); Gilbert Arenas (So.); Michael Wright (Jr.); Luke Walton (So.); Eugene Edgerson (Sr.); Justin Wessel (Sr.)
Duke
Shane Battier (Sr.); Chris Duhon (Fr.); Mike Dunleavy (So.); Jason Williams (So.); Casey Sanders (So.); Carlos Boozer (So.); Nate James (Sr.)
Early Action
Arizona won the tip and got three quick buckets, a short bank shot from Richard Jefferson and two post-ups from Loren Woods, while opening the game in a match-up zone on defense. Jason Williams’ reverse layup was Duke’s only field goal early on. Carlos Boozer came off the bench less than 90 seconds into the game to help counter Woods on the inside, and Mike Dunleavy hit a three, assisted by Shane Battier, to help soften the zone. Despite hurting his shoulder in the Michigan State game, Gilbert Arenas responded with a two dribble pull-up jumper, followed by Michael Wright’s basket in the paint, and Billy Packer noted “...I really have not seen anybody handle Duke so easily offensively as what we’re seeing out of Arizona right now.” Nate James checked in for Chris Duhon, but Williams immediately picked up his second foul, sending Duhon back on the floor. A three-point play from Boozer inside and a deep three from Battier brought Duke back to within a point at the second media timeout.
1st Half 11:56 - Duke 12 Arizona 13
Closing the Half
After making six of their first eight attempts, Arizona had now gone over three minutes without a field goal. Luke Walton’s turnaround jumper from the baseline ended a string of six consecutive misses, before Duhon swished a floater over the outstretched arm of 7’2” Loren Woods. Back-to-back buckets from Boozer in the post put Duke ahead for the first time at 20-17, but the scoring slowed for both teams as the half continued. Battier and Woods traded twos, and Jefferson and Arenas knocked down jumpers to tie the game again with 3:30 remaining, before both offenses closed strong. Duke got threes from Duhon and Williams, while Woods and Wright scored inside for the Wildcats. Richard Jefferson was called for a goaltend on Jason Williams’ spinning attempt in the lane, giving Duke a two-point edge going into the locker room.
Halftime - Duke 35 Arizona 33
Out of the Break
The possession arrow favored Duke to start the half, and Battier immediately sliced down the left baseline for a layup. Arizona got a jumper in the lane from Michael Wright and two free throws from Jason Gardner, while Carlos Boozer scored a bucket inside and added a free throw a couple of possessions later. Duke led 40-37 when Chris Duhon drove middle, drawing in the Arizona defense, and starting one of the most memorable sequences in Duke (and Final Four) history. 55 seconds later, the Blue Devils led by 10 thanks to three consecutive threes from Mike Dunleavy - the last of which came as a result of Battier’s block and no-look save under the Arizona basket. Billy Packer exclaimed “oh boy, that is some sequence for Duke University.” Yes, it was…
Arizona answered Dunleavy’s 9-2 spurt with a 9-1 run of their own, including Jefferson drilling the Wildcats’ first three of the game, and baskets inside from Arenas and Wright. Duhon corralled an offensive rebound and immediately found Dunleavy underneath for an easy bucket. Two possessions later, Casey Sanders’ deflection and steal led to an uncontested run out dunk for Dunleavy. Richard Jefferson swished another three, this time trailing into an open look from up top. After a drop-off dime from Williams to Boozer for a dunk, Duhon drove baseline and found Dunleavy in the right corner - he faked a ball reversal, freezing the defense and drilling his fourth three-pointer of the half to put Duke ahead 61-51. It was a total of 18 points for Dunleavy in the first ten minutes of the second half, in the biggest game of the year. Battier got Edgerson in the air on a shot fake, absorbed the contact, and converted both the jumper and the free throw for a twelve-point lead. Jefferson made one of two from the line ahead of the under-eight timeout, and just as before, Arizona would continue to respond.
2nd Half 7:57 - Duke 64 Arizona 53
Winning Time
Loren Woods scored over Battier in the post, and then made the first of two free throws on the next possession. He missed the second, but Arizona kept the rebound alive and found Richard Jefferson, who buried another three. The Blue Devil lead was now cut in half.
2nd Half 7:03 - Duke 65 Arizona 59
It was Duke’s turn to throw the next punch. Arizona briefly doubled Boozer in the post, but Jefferson was unable to recover to Nate James cutting in from the opposite corner. James used the rim to shield himself from Jefferson’s leaping ability, converting the reverse layup and-one. Luke Walton knifed down the baseline through the Duke defense for a tough finish, and Woods put back a miss from Arenas on the next trip down the floor. Woods continued to assert himself, rejecting Williams’ driving layup and triggering a fast break finish by Arenas, as Jim Nantz calmly stated “Here we go in Minneapolis.”
2nd Half 5:25 - Duke 68 Arizona 65
It took Duke some time to get organized offensively, and as the clock approached the five-minute mark, Duhon used a middle ballscreen to drive the right lane and loft another attempt over Woods. The ball hit high on the backboard and softly bounced in as the whistle blew, sending Duhon to the line. The freshman completed the three-point play but it was immediately erased by Jefferson, who iso-ed at the top of the key before rising up for his fourth three-pointer of the half. I always admired the elevation and hang time on his jumper, though not in that moment.
2nd Half 4:43 - Duke 71 Arizona 68
Dunleavy fed Boozer on the left block - his attempt off the glass missed, but Battier came crashing in for a two-handed dunk. Luke Walton missed an open but fairly quick three, and Duhon attacked on the other end - also more quickly than was necessary, and much to my dad’s dismay. With Arizona in the double bonus, an off the ball foul sent Loren Woods to the line where he calmly made both.
2nd Half 3:57 - Duke 73 Arizona 70
Dunleavy drove Walton into the middle of the paint and took a pull-up jumper. An incredible play transpired from there as the ball bounced off the back rim. Battier was boxed out initially, but contorted his body sideways enough to get a finger tip on the miss, tapping home two more second chance points. In real time, it’s hard to tell how great Battier’s effort was, but the replay is awesome…
2nd Half 3:36 - Duke 75 Arizona 70
Luke Walton tried a turnaround over Battier in the post - it missed and Boozer came up with a strong rebound, but Jason Gardner was able to smother Jason Williams’ drive and force a turnover. Jefferson elevated in the lane and rattled in a short jumper, making it a one possession game again.
2nd Half 2:50 - Duke 75 Arizona 72
Williams probed the paint on the next possession and, with the Wildcats’ attention on the All-American guard, Battier was able to sneak behind Woods on the baseline for an emphatic dunk. Jefferson missed a three from the corner and Duhon tracked down the loose rebound.
2nd Half 2:15 - Duke 77 Arizona 72
It came as no surprise the Blue Devils elected to use some time on the next possession. As the shot clock moved under ten seconds, Jason Williams approached a middle ballscreen from Battier at the top of the key. To this point in the two Final Four games, Williams was just 2 for 19 from beyond the arc but, as he demonstrated throughout his career, he would fearlessly let the 20th attempt fly. Moving to his right off the screen, Williams drilled a dagger from deep, bringing Coach K to his feet imploring the defense for another stop.
2nd Half 1:42 - Duke 80 Arizona 72
Battier snatched a miss from Jefferson out of the air, putting the Blue Devils on the cusp of a title. Lute Olson elected not to foul, and Duke used all of the shot clock before Arizona forced a brief turnover but lost the deflection out of bounds, giving the ball back to Duke. Olson had no choice but to foul now - Williams split a pair but Battier came up with another offensive rebound. Duhon also split a pair, and Arizona missed one final attempt. Duhon pounded the ball just over halfcourt and Coach K made sure the Wildcats were not going to foul again, before jumping up and down in celebration and hugging his staff as time expired.
Final Score - Duke 82 Arizona 72
Postgame
Coach K praised the toughness of both teams, Battier flashed his wide smile as he ended his career with a win, and Nate James said “…we stuck together, and this is a total team.” Just minutes after his son lost in the National Championship game, the late great Bill Walton demonstrated nothing but class (as always).
The Stats
Arizona nearly had three guys with a double-double. Loren Woods led all scorers with 22 points to go along with 11 rebounds, while Richard Jefferson posted 19 points and 8 rebounds, and Michael Wright added 10 points and 11 boards. Shane Battier put up 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists in his final college game, Mike Dunleavy scored 18 of his 21 points in the second half, and Carlos Boozer had 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Big Picture
Coach K joined John Wooden, Adolph Rupp, and Bob Knight as the only coaches to win at least three NCAA titles (Jim Calhoun and Roy Williams have joined the club since). A couple of months later, four guys would be selected in the 2001 NBA Draft (pick): Shane Battier (#6), Richard Jefferson (#13), Gilbert Arenas (#31), and Loren Woods (#46). Jason Williams (#2), Mike Dunleavy (#3), and Carlos Boozer (#35) followed in the 2002 draft. Battier would win two NBA titles with the Miami Heat (2012 & 2013), and Jefferson would get a chip with the Cavaliers (2016). Arenas was a three-time All-Star (2005, 2006, & 2007), while Boozer was named to the All-Star team twice (2007 & 2008). Coach Olson retired in 2007 with 776 victories, 5 Final Fours, and the 1997 NCAA title. He passed away in 2020, and the floor at Arizona’s McKale Center is named Lute and Bobbi Olson Court.
Trivia Answer
AP preseason #1 vs. preseason #2 in the National Championship:
2021 - #2 Baylor def. #1 Gonzaga (86-70)
2001 - #2 Duke def. #1 Arizona (82-72)
1999 - #2 Connecticut def. #1 Duke (77-74)
1965 - #2 UCLA def. #1 Michigan (91-80)
1962 - #2 Cincinnati def. #1 Ohio State (71-59)
The preseason poll began in 1962. For more AP poll facts and figures, check out my article from last season - CBB History: AP poll by the numbers.
Full Game
Additional Resources
2001 Duke vs. Arizona - The Duke Basketball Project on YouTube
2000-2001 Duke Men’s Basketball - Sports Reference
2000-2001 Arizona Men’s Basketball - Sports Reference
“Remembering Lute Olson” - The Athletic
Box Score - Duke 82 Arizona 72
Box Score - Duke 95 Maryland 84
Box Score - Arizona 80 Michigan State 61
If you missed any previous re-watch articles, you can view them here. Thanks for reading, Go Duke!