Duke Blue Devils
Overall Rank: #44
Conference Rank: #7 ACC
Duke failed to make the NCAA Tournament last year for the first time since Coach Joanne P. McCallie took over the program in 2007. This group has some talent, but a lack of three-point shooting and the inability to take care of the ball really cost the Blue Devils last season. This year will not be too much better with top scorer and rebounder Azura Stevens gone, but that big freshmen class now has experience and that should be enough for Duke to start a new NCAA Tournament streak.
2015-16 Record: 20-12, 8-8
2015-16 Postseason: None
Coach: Joanne P. McCallie
Coach Record: 225-53 at Duke, 541-201 overall
Key Departed Players (starters in bold)
Azura Stevens, Forward, 18.9 ppg
Angela Salvadores, Guard, 8.7 ppg
Amber Henson, Center, 4.5 ppg
Key Returning Players (starters in bold)
Rebecca Greenwell, Junior, Guard, 15.1 ppg
Oderah Chidom, Senior, Forward, 9.6 ppg
Kyra Lambert, Sophomore, Guard, 6.2 ppg
Crystal Primm, Sophomore, Guard, 4.6 ppg
Haley Gorecki, Sophomore, Guard, 4.5 ppg
Kendall Cooper, Senior, Forward, 3.7 ppg
Lynee Belton, Sophomore, Forward, 2.7 ppg
Faith Suggs, Sophomore, Guard, 2.0 ppg
Erin Mathias, Junior, Forward, 1.8 ppg
Key New Players
Lexie Brown, Junior, Guard, Transfer from Maryland
Leaonna Odom, Freshman, Forward
Sofia Roma, Junior, Center, Transfer from Wagner, not eligible this season
Emily Schubert, Freshman, Center
Projection
The addition of Lexie Brown, a transfer from Maryland, will certainly help too. The versatile guard can help in the shooting and ball handling departments. With Rebecca Greenwell and her 15.1 points per game back, Duke has at least two very dangerous and capable shooters. Promising sophomore Kyra Lambert could emerge as a more dynamic scorer as well after averaging 6.2 points per game as a freshman. With more shooters, the Duke frontcourt will have more room to operate. The pressure will be on 6-4 senior Oderah Chidom to emerge as a leader in the frontcourt. Getting production from freshman Leaonna Odom would be helpful too. If this team continues to play solid defense and Brown picks up where she left off at Maryland, Duke will be a very tough team in a very tough ACC.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 68.4 (94th in nation, 7th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 59.0 (64, 4)
Field-Goal Percentage: 44.5 (27, 3)
Field-Goal Defense: 35.3 (18, 2)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 4.9 (210, 12)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 34.3 (45, 3)
Free-Throw Percentage: 66.4 (264, 11)
Rebound Margin: 7.2 (28, 2)
Assists Per Game: 13.8 (110, 7)
Turnovers Per Game: 18.5 (306, 14)
Madness 2016 Women’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#9 Leaonna Odom
