by BRYAN STRICKLAND Columnist , The Herald-Sun

DURHAM -- While the casual college basketball fan might not even know that Xavier is pronounced with a "Z" sound rather than an "X" sound, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski certainly understands that a matchup with the Musketeers -- this season and, in fact, most any season -- can spell trouble.

"Xavier is having a terrific year, but that's not uncommon," said Krzyzewski, whose sixth-ranked Blue Devils take on seventh-ranked Xavier today (2 p.m., WRAL) at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. "The last 20 years, they've been really good, but the last five years, going to the Elite Eight and now in the top 10, they've done a terrific job.

"Even when I grew up in Chicago in the Catholic League, everyone knew about Xavier. They just continue to produce great basketball teams."

This appears to be one of Xavier's best, and that is helping set up what looks to be one of the best matchups of the still-young season. The teams enter today's game with a combined record of 18-1, and even with teams just approaching double digits in games played, Xavier (9-0) stands as one of just a dozen undefeated Division I teams.

"Xavier will be the best team we've played thus far," Krzyzewski said. "They're really good, very athletic. They play outstanding defense, a very physical defense.

"They have a winning attitude. They're all together in the pursuit of one goal, and that's to play well and win."

The Musketeers have been coached in recent years by names that ring familiar to ACC fans, including former Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser -- who passed away in July of 2007 -- and former Virginia coach Pete Gillen.

Xavier currently is coached by Sean Miller, who was an assistant under Herb Sendek at N.C. State for five seasons. During that span, from 1996-2001, the Wolfpack went 1-12 against the Blue Devils.

"The starting point for any team that plays against Duke -- and what I learned from my five years in the ACC -- is that you just absolutely have to be ready," Miller said. "The faces have changed, but the one constant is their incredible intensity on defense and how their defensive pressure a lot of times create those big runs that become the difference.

"To me, their readiness and their competitive spirit separates them from so many programs around the country. Whether it's a November nonconference game, a pivotal ACC game or a game in March that means the NCAA Tournament, that same intensity is prevalent."

That's something Miller has worked to maintain and even build upon at Xavier, where he spent three seasons as associate head coach before landing his first head coaching job when Thad Matta left for Ohio State. Miller's brother, former N.C. State player Archie Miller, now is on Matta's staff.

Matta's final game at Xavier was a 66-63 loss to Duke in the Elite Eight of the 2004 NCAA Tournament, and Miller's team ended the 2007-08 season with a 76-57 loss to UCLA in the Elite Eight.

Three of the top five scorers from that team are back, with forward Derrick Brown and wings B.J. Raymond and C.J. Anderson each enjoying a game with at least 22 points already this season.

"They don't have just one guy that you stop," Krzyzewski said. "They just have a good team."

All that aside, the Blue Devils will pose a threat on a level not yet experienced by this Xavier team. Duke has the type of tradition that even the most casual fan knows about, and a significant part of that tradition played out at the Meadowlands arena, where Duke is 17-1 including a 10-0 mark in the NCAA Tournament.

"We've been fortunate to play some of the biggest games in the history of our program in that building," Krzyzewski said. "Every time I either fly over it or drive past it or obviously play in it, it conjures up memories of some great, great games -- some of the best games really in the history of college basketball ."

Today's game may not rank on that level, but it could be the kind of thing that catapults its participants to a higher level.

"It's one of those games that you play in December in hopes that you have a game of this magnitude in March," Krzyzewski said. "That's why you schedule it, and you schedule it in a place that loves basketball and has been the site of many NCAA games."

Copyright 2008 The Durham Herald Co.
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