Arizona, Duke meet again in NIT Season Tip-Off final

Sean Miller wanted no part of the question. And neither did Mike Krzyzewski.

"I haven't given the scouting report in the last three minutes," said Krzyzewski, jumping in to answer a question directed at one of his players about Friday's game with No. 4 Arizona (6-0) following Duke's win Wednesday night in the semifinals of the NIT Season Tip-Off.

Probably, but he's well aware of Miller's Wildcats, a team he later described accurately as being pretty darn good.

Miller was similarly evasive in talking about the Blue Devils, a team just as capable of making the Final Four this year as Arizona. But first comes their meeting Friday for a different (if less meaningful) tournament crown.

"I'm not going to get into that," Miller said after UA beat Drexler 66-62 at Madison Square Garden. "We came here to have an opportunity to play in a big tournament. This is an honor for our program to be here. We all come here (with the) hope to have a chance to win the championship. We hope to enjoy Thanksgiving and be a better team on Friday."

The Wildcats will have to be their best yet to beat nemesis Duke (6-1).

It's nearly always a classic when these two programs get together, and there's no reason to think Friday's meeting will be any different.

Duke, currently ranked sixth, seemingly always brings out the best in Arizona, and vice versa. This will be ninth meeting in series history, but the rivalry really started 26 years ago when Sean Elliott faced Danny Ferry in an Arizona win in Tucson and was most recently reprised in 2011, when UA dominated Duke 93-77 in the Sweet 16 behind a spectacular effort from Derrick Williams. Overall, the series is tied 4-4.

Of course, there have been plenty of other huge games. Sandwiched between the Elliott-Ferry game and the Sweet 16 blowout was a star-studded matchup featuring Richard Jefferson, Luke Walton and Gilbert Arenas (and more) against Carlos Boozer, Mike Dunleavy and Jason Williams (and more) for the NCAA title in 2001. The Blue Devils took home the championship that year.

This year's game isn't lacking for intrigue, either. Aaron Gordon vs. Jabari Parker. Miller vs. Krzyzewski. Arizona vs. Duke. Or is it Duke vs. Arizona? Each side can make an argument for top billing.

Duke is, well, Duke. There's a plethora of talent that always gets national recognition, usually deservingly so. Arizona, while nationally relevant for years, always feels that it's playing for the respect granted other elite programs.

Krzyzewski certainly respects the Wildcats.

"Arizona is older, and they are really big for us," he said, just before saying it was too early to talk about the Wildcats. "Over the years, we have always played really difficult schedules, and this year is no different.  I'm just glad we have an opportunity to play for a championship."

It's a matchup that most everyone -- especially within the Arizona fan base -- has long anticipated.

"I mean, that experience, not just playing against a very talented (team) -- Arizona is probably ahead of some other teams," Krzyzewski said in his evaluation. "Arizona, Michigan State ... because they have guys who have played prominent roles.  And, they have added a great guard (T.J. McConnell) and a great wing (Gordon) to their lineup, and so they are big.

"It will be different, completely different, from playing (Alabama)."

Ditto for Arizona, which struggled greatly against Drexler on Wednesday, falling behind 27-8 early only to rally and then hold on for the win. Arizona had no assists in the first half; McConnell was in foul trouble and UA shot horribly at 26 percent. Clearly, this team is not a well-oiled machine just yet.

But that's not necessarily a bad thing for Miller, who understands -- as does Krzyzewski -- that nothing is won in November (other than NIT Season Tip-Off titles, of course). March is what matters. Until then, it's about preparation for the games that will determine the success or failure of your season.

What Miller has found out thus far is that his team can be a bit individual-oriented. Not always, but it's a concern.

"I don't want to say selfish, but we didn't share the ball," Miller said of Arizona's win over Rhode Island. "We struggled (against Drexel, too). We had zero assists (in the first half).  It's hard to play basketball and have zero assists at the half. If you look at our second half, we had eight, so we shared the ball a lot more in the second half.

"Playing together is always the right recipe, because part of why we had 20 (points) at the half and 46 the second half is we were much more willing to share the ball and pass it. No team is going to function at the highest level when the individual is trying to make plays."

Against Duke, Arizona will undoubtedly need plenty.