TODAY’S GAMES : This Time, Duke Isn’t Doubting Itself

Not since 1973, when UCLA won its seventh consecutive NCAA title, has a school repeated as national basketball champion.

But as half of this year’s 64-team tournament field begins play today, Duke appears poised for a run at a second consecutive title.

The Blue Devils, who ended Nevada Las Vegas’ bid to successfully defend its championship last year, have made four consecutive Final Four appearances and five in the last six seasons.

Duke’s victory over Kansas in last year’s final was its first in five championship games.

Duke (28-2), the Atlantic Coast Conference champion, plays Big South champion Campbell (19-11) in the East Regional at Greensboro, N.C.

“This is the first time we know we can win the national championship,� Duke senior Brian Davis said. “In the past years, maybe there’s been some apprehension. There have been some other good teams. We know how it’s done, we know how to get there. All the things that are needed, we can provide.�

The Blue Devils, led by All-American center Christian Laettner, are back at full strength. Point guard Bobby Hurley has recovered from a broken right foot and swingman Grant Hill is no longer bothered by a sprained right ankle.

In other East Regional games, Seton Hall (21-8), which made the Final Four in 1989, plays Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champion La Salle (20-10), which leads the nation in three-point baskets with 9.5 per game.

Missouri (20-8), making its sixth tournament appearance in seven years after missing last season because of NCAA probation, plays West Virginia (20-11), the Atlantic 10 Conference runner-up.

Texas (23-11), making its fourth consecutive tournament appearance, has won 11 of its last 13 games. The Longhorns play Iowa (18-10), which is 5-5 in its last 10 games.

MIDWEST REGIONAL

Scott Edgar, who served as an assistant coach under Arkansas’ Nolan Richardson for 11 seasons, faces his mentor when Murray State (17-12) plays the Razorbacks (25-7) at Milwaukee.

Arkansas is coming off a defeat in the semifinals of the Southeastern Conference tournament. Murray State won 11 of its final 12 games in winning the Ohio Valley Conference title.

Georgia Tech (21-11), making its eighth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, plays Southwest Conference tournament champion Houston (25-5), which has won nine consecutive games.

SOUTHEAST REGIONAL

Last season, Rod Sellers of Connecticut (19-9) was ejected during a semifinal loss to Duke after slamming Christian Laettner’s head against the floor.

Because of those actions, the NCAA tournament committee has suspended Sellers for the Huskies’ first-round game against Nebraska (19-10) at Cincinnati.

Ohio State (23-5), the Big Ten champion, is heavily favored against Mississippi Valley State (16-13), which is undersized and has not played this month.

Alabama (25-8) had a costly Southeastern Conference tournament, losing its momentum and sixth man Andre Perry for a first-round game against Stanford (18-10).

North Carolina (21-9) has lost six of its last nine and was beaten by Duke, 94-74, in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament final. The Tar Heels will play Miami of Ohio (23-7).

WEST REGIONAL

If Indiana (23-6) beats tournament newcomer Eastern Illinois (17-13) at Boise, Ida., and Louisiana State (20-9) defeats Brigham Young (25-6), Hoosier Coach Bob Knight could go up against LSU’s Dale Brown, a longtime unfriendly rival.

Knight and Brown both put on emotional bench displays in their teams’ final pre-tournament games. Indiana has lost two of its last three games and Knight was visibly upset in regular-season ending loss to Purdue. And a brawl in LSU’s Southeastern Conference quarterfinal against Tennessee last Friday sent Brown running onto the court.

LSU center Shaquille O’Neal, who was ejected for fighting against Tennessee, is eligible after serving a one-game suspension against Kentucky in the SEC tournament semifinals.

Georgetown (21-9), led by center Alonzo Mourning, plays South Florida (19-9). which traveled more than 2,500 miles to meet the Hoyas.

Florida State (20-9), which finished second during its first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference, plays Big Sky Conference champion Montana (27-3).