When the Blue Devils returned to Durham, N.C., on Tuesday, the outside of Battier's apartment was completely decorated in blue and white crepe paper, with "national champions" banners hanging all over trees and his porch.

Shane Battier accepts the John Wooden award, becoming the third Duke player to take the honor.(AP)

He had a somewhat relaxing Wednesday, then attended an Atlantic Coast Conference banquet in Greensboro, N.C., on Thursday. That night, he hopped on a red-eye flight to Los Angeles International Airport.

On Saturday, Battier will catch a flight to Atlanta to accept the Naismith Award, and he hopes to end an incredible seven days by watching the final day of The Masters on Sunday.

He figured he has slept 15 or 16 total hours since Duke cut down the nets in Minneapolis, and Battier said John Wooden gave him the biggest compliment so far when Wooden said Battier is the type of player he would like to coach.

What will the well-rounded Battier do next? Prodded enough times about that by a television show host, he said, "Dominate the world." Then he was asked about a future run for the Presidency.

After a round of laughs, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said he could either help Battier attract the elderly vote in 20 years or so, or he would like to be appointed ambassador to Tahiti.

It's good to be the best Blue Devil these days.

Notre Dame junior forward Troy Murphy, who finished fifth in the Wooden Award balloting of 1,039 media members, watched Battier closely all season after the two met each other on a U.S. select team that scrimmaged the Olympic team in Hawaii.

Murphy watched Battier intently Friday. At some point when the proceedings hit a slow stage at The Biltmore Hotel that night, Murphy plans to listen to Battier just as intently about his experiences in college after he decided to stay in school for his senior season.

Murphy has more than a month to determine if he will enter the June 27 NBA Draft or return for his senior season at Notre Dame.

"People kind of pick you apart," Murphy said. "He was held up to a lot of scrutiny this year. It's hard sometimes to live up to that. He did a great job this year, how he was able to live up to all the expectations that were put on him.

"I'll pick his brain a little bit. It will be a tough decision, but it's not a bad place to be. I'm very lucky to be in this position."

Battier, 22, said he looked forward to advising Murphy.

"I will tell him that, basketball-wise, I'm much more prepared to make that jump now, mentally," Battier said. "Also, I think, last year, I was still a boy in many ways. I will tell him about all the benefits I received from staying my senior year. I think I matured a great deal my senior year, and for a lot of reasons.

"When I came back, people pegged me as a national player of the year. So I learned to live in the spotlight this year and perform under a tremendous amount of pressure, something that made me a stronger person and better player."

Murphy wasn't the only Wooden Award top-five nominee at the Los Angeles Athletic Club, as Battier's teammate, sophomore point guard Jason Williams, heckled Battier from afar.

Before the season ended, Williams said he would return next season. Many doubt that, although Williams talked Friday about returning in 2001-02 and attempting to give his best shot at replacing the leadership void left by Battier's departure.

"Whatever (an underclassmen) does, it must be in the best interest of that young man," said Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski. "This is a whirlwind time right now ... it's not the real world, so we have to get back to the real world and get things organized."

Plenty of people have cried about alleged favoritism Duke, and especially Battier, received from officials during the Final Four, and Krzyzewski didn't miss a chance to joke about that topic Friday.

" ... and by the way," he said during a telephone interview with a radio station, "no referees voted for Shane (for the Wooden Award)."

Battier got a laugh out of that, too.

"You hear about that on all the teams that have success, like the Yankees and Cowboys ... that great teams in any sport, refs want them to win," Battier said. "All that does is solidify those teams' hold on excellence and success. If they did, I would love that.

"I would love to have that. Unfortunately, I don't think that's the case. I just think that's the ultimate sign of respect."

Battier said he is going to recommend that Murphy take a look at every angle of his situation. However, Battier said being another year older has only enhanced his decision-making process.

"I think everyone sees how many cases of underclassmen who enter the draft early and don't have as great a career as they possibly could have," Battier said. "Troy is a good guy, and I want him to succeed. A lot of people wanted to weigh in on my decision. Ultimately, I told them I'd make my own decision."

Which culminated in a spectacular career.

Murphy himself brought up the fact that Mateen Cleaves was another driven senior who led his team, Michigan State, to the NCAA championship one year ago.

"It could definitely start a trend," Murphy said. "To see the teams that are winning the championships are led by the seniors, guys like that," Murphy said. "I think it definitely will start a trend."