I went over to the Meadowlands yesterday to watch #1 Duke dismantle #2 Texas, 97-66. Saw a good game and some familiar faces. But the highlights were unquestionably the fans seated around me.

The woman beside me may have known basketball. But what she didn't quite grasp were English idioms. "How you like apples?!" she taunted. "Don't in our houses!" Since we were in the Continental Airlines Arena, 530 miles north of Duke's "house" in Durham, this barb was doubly strange.

A few rows ahead of us, four enthusiastic young men congratulated each other on virtually every possession. With their help, J.J. Redick (above) hit 9 three-pointers. But when things didn't go well, where were these die-hards? To me, if you're going to take all the credit for precise shooting and crisp passing, you deserve to take the hit when your team lapses into a lazy defensive spell.

All in all, a good afternoon. I'm surprised Redick didn't get any Heisman votes.