After being torched by Battier and Williams for 33 first-half points, USC adjusted. Freshman Chris Duhon, whom Kentucky recruited so intensely last year, scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half. None seemed bigger than his three three-point baskets, each blunting USC charges. To contain Battier and Williams, Southern Cal doubled immediately and made the stars give up the ball. That was the game plan.
Somebody has to make some shots.
You can't shut down everybody on a great team. You give up Duhon. Duhon, who had made only four baskets in Duke's three previous tournament games, saw his clutch shooting as no surprise. Battier and Williams carried Duke to a 43-38 halftime lead with their 33 points. But Duke, which led the nation in three-point shooting this season, did not inflict significant damage from long range.