Sound familiar?

It should, considering the teams jousted for the championship in 1995, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Duke, seeded third this season and an upset winner over second-seeded Maryland on Saturday, owns a 4-2 lead in the title game series against North Carolina.

North Carolina, winner of the past three ACC championships, enters today's contest as the top seed and owns two regular-season victories over the Blue Devils, having beaten them on the road 93-76 on Feb. 4 and at home 82-51 a week ago.

But both teams agree that this tournament serves as a new season, in which the past carries little, if any, weight.

"We're a different team today than we were yesterday," Duke coach Joanne P. McCallie said after the Blue Devils, full of vigor and determination, dispatched Maryland 74-63.

The 12th-ranked Devils attacked with energetic steps and held their poise throughout a bump-and-grind game.

Gone were the shell-shocked looks players wore in the last regular-season game when UNC sprinted to victory and looked dominating as the No. 2-ranked team in the nation.

After that game, McCallie said her team rushed too many shots, failed to control the tempo and did not get the ball inside. She said the players lacked leadership and cohesion.

Duke senior Wanisha Smith said they went back to the drawing board in practice last week and have found what McCallie called a "fighting spirit."

"Everybody wants to win," Smithsaid. "Nobody wants to go home after a loss. The team that focuses the hardest and plays the entire 40 minutes is going to win the game."

Jubilant after the signature win of their season thus far, the Devils spoke less about the Tar Heels and more about the importance of playing together as a team. With newfound confidence, the Devils seemed not to worry about today's game, one that could recast the perception of a season in which they lost their most regular-season games since 1997-98.

Even Duke freshman guard Jasmine Thomas said, "I'll be able to sleep fine."

The Tar Heels enter today's game with the confidence of a team that leads the nation in scoring (88.0) and are second in scoring margin (24.4).

"We just play like we always play," UNC coach Sylvia Hatcheel said. "Playing a lot of people, up and down the court, getting the ball inside."