[TomWilkinson]

It is our first Saturday without college football in a long while but we get something to make up for it in college basketball. #1 Duke takes on #2 Texas in what should be a great matchup.

This is only the 35th 1-2 matchup since The Associated Press poll started in 1948. "I told our team we were given a preseason ranking of No. 2, it's not something we've earned," Texas coach Rick Barnes said. "If you want to be the No. 1 team in the country you have to beat the No. 1 team in the country. These are the games kids come to school for."

Both teams are 8-0 but both teams have had close games. The Longhorns needed a putback and a blocked shot in the final seconds from LaMarcus Aldridge to beat West Virginia last month in the semifinals of the Guardians Classic in Kansas City, Mo. Duke needed a 40-footer at the buzzer from Sean Dockery to beat Virginia Tech at home last Sunday. "We try to play all good teams that are well-coached and have a chance to win their leagues," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "As a result, our weaknesses will be exposed, and the experience that we need to beat other good teams will be developed, and that's what we try to do."

Duke has returning All-America guard J.J. Redick (22.7 ppg, 44 percent 3-point) and all-Atlantic Coast Conference center Shelden Williams (18.3 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 63 percent field goal); Texas has sophomore point guard Daniel Gibson (13.4 ppg, 3.7 apg) and the 6-foot-11 Aldridge (17.5 ppg, 10.4 rpg), who missed the last two months of his freshman season because of a hip injury.

"I think we know how good we can be and we're not there yet," said Texas forward P.J. Tucker, who missed the end of last season because of academic problems and is averaging 16.8 points and 8.0 rebounds this year. "We're taking the challenge and we'll do what we do best. I think we're definitely ready for this game."

Duke is 2-3 in these 1-2 matchups, splitting four as a No. 1 team, the last a win over Michigan State in the 1999 Final Four.

Technically the court is neutral but Duke is 16-1 in the Meadowlands, 10-0 in NCAA tournament games, and the Blue Devils have won nine straight there. “This isn't a neutral court. We know this is Durham north," Barnes said. "That's OK."