DUKE OR DIE BELIEVE IT: USC GETS ITS SHOT AT THE BLUE DEVILS.

Byline: Scott Wolf Staff Writer

PHILADELPHIA - USC forward David Bluthenthal remembers the precise moment last season, when he saw Duke basketball players run onto the court before meeting the Trojans.

``Just seeing them in their blue uniforms, I started thinking, 'I can't believe we're playing Duke,' '' Bluthenthal said.

There was a sense of admiration. Perhaps even some intimidation among the Trojans, when the Blue Devils defeated them 81-68 at the Pond in the Wooden Classic.

USC gets another look at Duke in the East Regional championship today at 4 p.m. at the First Union Center, but the Trojans won't look at the Blue Devils the same way. It's the byproduct of a marvelous NCAA Tournament for USC that includes three victories in the past nine days.

``We won't be in awe,'' shooting guard Jeff Trepagnier said. ``We've been playing big teams. We beat Kentucky and we almost beat Stanford twice, and they're the (then) No. 1 team in the nation.''

This won't be a completely different Trojans team facing the top-seeded Blue Devils (32-4), since that loss in Anaheim on Nov. 27, 1999. Actually, it's nearly the same team.

But USC (24-9) is far different today. Some players have matured physically, most notably Bluthenthal, who had 27 points against Kentucky on Thursday and only seven against Duke last year.

A far bigger change is the emotional growth spurred by tournament victories over Oklahoma State, Boston College and Kentucky. Instead of feeling bewildered or apprehensive, the Trojans can't wait to play perhaps the marquee program in college basketball.

``I'm excited about the game. Normally, I'm not excited until right before the game, but it's the biggest game of my life and I'm excited to get it done,'' forward Brian Scalabrine said.

``We don't expect them to win. We expect to win.''

The Trojans were loose and obviously confident Friday, even though they are about to play the biggest game in school history for at least 47 years. That's how long it's been since USC advanced to the Final Four.

Instead of stressing over facing its toughest opponent of the tournament - by far - USC players joked about the contrasts between the two schools. Everyone knows Duke is basketball royalty. USC, or Southern Cal as everyone calls it here, plays football.

``We have no tradition,'' sophomore point guard Robert Hutchinson said. ``I know it's a football school, but I didn't know so few people supported us. I was kind of surprised when I got here. I thought maybe it would change, but it was pretty consistent all year.

``We don't even have a ball rack for practice. The wheel's missing. Duke probably has top of the line everything.''

Even the veteran of the team, Scalabrine, was making references to the school's most-famous sport when asked what people thought about USC.

``We have football championships and Marcus Allen and a lot of Heismans,'' Scalabrine said. ``We're trying to become a basketball school. Duke has to live up to the fans. We have to live up to coach (Henry) Bibby.''

A massive step forward could take place today if the Trojans upset Duke and earn a trip to Minneapolis next week.

``All of us had dreams to play at a big institution,'' Hutchinson said. ``There's going to be a lot of emotion out there. That's why coach Bibby tells us to take a deep breath before the game.''

USC seems almost giddy at playing in a game it has never experienced; Duke has played in Elite Eight contests two of the past three years. There's also the presence of coach Mike Krzyzewski, who has two national titles and eight Final Four appearances.

Coach K certainly wasn't about to underestimate the Trojans, in their current hot condition, no matter how much disparity exists in the prestige level of the two schools.

In fact, Krzyzewski demonstrated some Los Angeles basketball knowledge with his own history lesson on the 1971 Trojans, who were ranked No. 2 in the nation and went 24-2.

``(Then USC coach) Bob Boyd, when he was there, had the second-best team in the nation, but only one team could get to the NCAA Tournament from the conference,'' Krzyzewski said.

Then he went on to compliment the current Trojans.

``They're men. I think they're really tough,'' Krzyzewski said.

As for his memories of last season, Krzyzewski remembered Duke forward Chris Carrawell having a pair of shots blocked by USC guard Jeff Trepagnier.

``Chris Carrawell had bad dreams about Trepagnier for three months,'' Krzyzewski said. ``It was like Godzilla vs. Rodan. He had a lot of dreams about this huge bird, Trepagnier, blocking a lot of his shots.''

Perhaps USC has already arrived, when it can cause Krzyzewski to make references to Japanese monster movies.

But it's clear he wasn't about to underestimate the Trojans, which Kentucky claimed it might have been doing while anticipating a Saturday matchup with Duke.

Krzyzewski also has a tough time forgetting Trepagnier from last year's game, when the guard had 15 points, 12 rebounds, three steals and two blocks.

``Trepagnier is a world-class athlete who happens to be playing basketball. They have used his strengths to the utmost,'' Krzyzewski said. ``Our perimeter guys are going to have to take away his lobs, because those are momentum plays.''

Such grand expressions aren't what the Trojans really want to hear, even though they constantly talk about seeking respect. The little secret is that the Trojans prefer to be overlooked. They love to find a reason to fuel resentment and foster their image as basketball orphans.

For one thing, it helps lower expectations.

``I like being the underdog,'' Scalabrine said. ``We played some games where we were supposed to be favored earlier this year and it was tough.''

USC vs. Duke

Today, 4 p.m.

--TV: Ch. 2

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo: (1 -- color) A resounding slam dunk by Carlos Boozer typifies the season of the No. 1-ranked Duke Blue Devils.

Erik Perel/Associated Press

(2) Duke's Shane Battier (31) is a favorite to win the Wooden Award as college basketball's top player. He will be a key for Blue Devils against USC today in the East Regional final.

Rusty Kennedy/Associated Press