Go Devils! Go 'Dogs! Go … Eagles?!

Carlos Boozer is like a little kid in a candy story today, almost giddy in anticipation of watching his old school, Duke, take on the Butler Hoosiers/Cinderellas.

That point was made loud and clear this morning before practice by Boozer, who helped the Blue Devils win their last NCAA title in 2001.

While media members assembled near bleachers inside the Zions Bank Basketball Center gymnasium, Boozer and Wesley Matthews exited the locker room together and walked toward the weight room. (Jazz players often lift a few weights before practice, so this wasn’t anything out of the ordinary.)

When about 75 feet away from reporters, a grinning Boozer looked over, raised his index finger up high in the air and yelled: “GO DUKE!!!”

Underdog-loving reporters refrained from retorting with a Bulldogs cheer.

Matthews didn’t hold back.

The rookie responded with a hearty: “Go Butler!”

Matthews, whose alma mater was eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, then added with a laugh and much less volume: “And Marquette.”

Boozer was all smiles again while talking about Duke when reporters caught up with him.

“We’re balling. We’ve got a good chance of winning tonight,” Boozer said. “We’ve got good size. We’ve gotta be one of the most fundamental teams in college basketball.”

He knows there will be a lot of people, like Matthews, cheering for the Horizon League school.

“Butler’s beat a lot of good teams,” Boozer added, “and obviously it would be an incredible story if they won tonight.”

But he’s not going to let his strong allegiances get in the way of a good story. Plus, Boozer claims his school is “on a mission right now – get back on top of basketball right now, baby!”