Question: Who remains undefeated between No. 1 Virginia and No. 3 North Carolina after they play against each other in the Big City Classic this weekend?

Matt Danowski: “It’s hard to be sure on that because it depends on who’s healthy for UNC. If [senior Sean] DeLaney’s back, he’s a big, strong middie who can run with the Brattons [Shamel and Rhamel, a pair of juniors] and that first midfield. But I think Virginia just has the best midfield in the country in the Brattons and [senior] Brian Carroll, and I always go with the stronger midfield. [Attackmen] Steele Stanwick, Chris Bocklet and Matt White are crafty around the cage, and defensively, it seems like Virginia has been playing like it hasn’t been playing the last couple years. So I’d go with Virginia.”

Q: Which teams do you like to be in the Final Four at M&T Bank Stadium on Memorial Day weekend?

MD: “I like Virginia, UNC, Syracuse, and then that fourth team for me is kind of a wildcard depending on who gets the draw and what the field looks like. I think Duke is a team that can get to the Final Four as is Maryland. I think Duke is playing its best right now and only getting better.”

Q: What is Duke doing differently after losing three of its first five games?

MD: “I think coming into the preseason as the No. 1, you can feel pretty entitled, that you can just go out there and win because you have ‘Duke’ on your jersey. They got smacked around a little bit, and I think that was good for them. Those guys have been to a Final Four almost every year that they’ve been there. So it was good for them to get a couple losses early and realize that they’re not going to win just because ‘Duke’ is on their jerseys. I think they’ve re-dedicated themselves, and I think they’re playing better. If they can peak at the right time, I think they become a very dangerous team.”

Q: Which player has separated himself from the pack to win this year’s Tewaaraton Trophy?

MD: “That’s an interesting question considering that [North Carolina junior attackman] Billy Bitter has been hurt, and stats-wise, that might affect him a little bit. But there’s no arguing that he’s the most dynamic attackman in the game right now. The Tewaaraton has been an offensive award, but I think you have to look at a guy like [junior goalkeeper] John Galloway at Syracuse. He does more than just stopping the ball. He starts Syracuse’s transition and gets the ball out, and that makes him a candidate in my eyes. And then you have [Duke senior attackman] Ned Crotty who has the points, but he has the fifth-year stigma at Duke. So I think it’s kind of open. [Virginia junior] Shamel Bratton has proven to be one of best midfielders in the country, but he was hampered by a hamstring earlier in the year. But if I would say anybody, I would go with Bitter, Bratton, Galloway and Crotty.”

Q: You’re just two years removed from playing. How has the transition from the field to the broadcaster booth been?

MD: “I’d much rather be out there playing. I’d much rather be back in my Duke blue and running around out there with No. 40 on my back. But aside from coaching, this is probably the closest thing to [playing]. It’s been great so far, the people at CBS Sports have done an unbelievable job helping me along. I’m kind of learning as I go here. It’s been a lot of fun. I couldn’t believe how much dedication goes into being good at that. There’s a lot that goes into it, not just walking out there and watching a game. From the production crew to the stat people, it’s an unbelievable production and cool to be a part of.”