The Return of Hill Bolsters Duke

As one of the nation’s premier college players, Grant Hill already owns two NCAA championship rings--not that anyone can recall seeing them on his fingers.

A third ring remains a possibility as Duke begins this season’s NCAA tournament as the third-seeded team in the difficult Midwest Regional. The Blue Devils (23-7) will play Southern Illinois (23-9) on Thursday at Rosemont, Ill.

Hill is an All-American, as is teammate Bobby Hurley, but there wasn’t much Hill could do from the bench after suffering a sprained toe Feb. 13 against Wake Forest.

Hill, 20, sat out seven games, returning for the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament last weekend. Duke was beaten in the first round by eventual champion Georgia Tech, 69-66. Hill had 14 points in his first defeat in 16 postseason games.

Still, the team believes Hill’s return makes Duke formidable for the tournament.

“He gives us a certain intimidation factor,” Hurley said.

Said Antonio Lang, Duke’s sophomore forward: “Sometimes you think, if Grant’s not there, someone has to step up. Someone has to take the shots. But you can’t replace him.”