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Duke To Retire Shane Battier's Number 31 at Game Wednesday
DURHAM, N.C. (Feb. 20) -- Duke senior forward Shane Battier will have his number 31 retired prior to Duke's game vs. Georgia Tech on Wednesday, February 21, at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Battier will be the 10th Blue Devil player to be honored at "Retirement Day" at Duke, joining Dick Groat (#10), Art Heyman (25), Jeff Mullins (44), Mike Gminski (43), Johnny Dawkins (24), Danny Ferry (35), Christian Laettner (32), Bobby Hurley (11) and Grant Hill (33).
10th Blue Devil To Have His Jersey Retired |
"I could not be more pleased that the administration at Duke has seen fit to award this honor, which has been so rightfully earned, to Shane Battier," said Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski. "I am extremely happy for Shane and proud to be his coach."
"It is a tremendous honor for me to join such an elite group of players," said Battier. "I hope that every person who has helped me in the past four years can take pride in that banner. It is as much for all those who have been part of my great experience at Duke as it is for me."
Battier currently ranks among Duke's career leaders in scoring (1,706-15th), rebounding (771-15th), three-point field goals (209-fourth-tie), three-point field goal attempts (489-fifth), three-point percentage (.427-second), steals (238-fourth), blocked shots (220-third) and charges drawn (101-first). He is one of four players in NCAA history to have at least 1,500 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists, 200 blocked shots and 200 steals, joining Danny Manning of Kansas, Lionel Simmons of LaSalle and George Evans of George Mason. Off the court, Battier is involved in several activities, including being president of the Student Basketball Council, a committee of basketball players concerned about the welfare of the game.
Heading into Wednesday's game with Georgia Tech, the Birmingham, Mich., native is averaging 19.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 2.1 steals and 2.1 blocked shots per game. Battier is currently the only player in the Atlantic Coast Conference to rank among the league's top 10 in scoring (fourth), rebounding (10th), field goal percentage (.494-seventh), three-point percentage (.451-second), three-pointers per game (3.3-first), steals (fourth) and blocked shots (fourth). He is a leading candidate to earn National Player of the Year, National Defensive Player of the Year, All-America and Academic All-America honors this season.
As a junior in 1999-2000, Battier earned consensus second team All-America status, his second consecutive National Defensive Player of the Year award and first team Academic All-America honors.
