Duke Blue Devils
Overall Rank: #11
Conference Rank: #3 ACC
Duke boasts one of the best backcourts in the country with Lexie Brown and Rebecca Greenwell. Brown led the team with 18.3 points and 3.9 assists. The two-time All-American can carry this team with her impressive all-around shooting and ability to get to the basket, but Greenwell will provide plenty of help. Like Brown, Greenwell is an experienced senior who can consistently knock down three-pointers. Both of them hit 39.9 percent of their three-point attempts last season. This team is built around Brown and Greenwell and they can carry Duke very far.
2016-17 Record: 28-6, 13-3
2016-17 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Joanne P. McCallie
Coach Record: 245-65 at Duke, 561-213 overall
Key Departed Players (starters in bold)
Oderah Chidom, Forward, 8.1 ppg
Kendall Cooper, Forward/Center, 6.4 ppg
Crystal Primm, Guard, 2.5 ppg
Key Returning Players (starters in bold)
Lexie Brown, Senior, Guard, 18.3 ppg
Rebecca Greenwell, Senior, Guard, 16.4 ppg
Kyra Lambert, Junior, Guard, 7.8 ppg
Leaonna Odom, Sophomore, Forward, 8.1 ppg
Erin Mathias, Senior, Forward/Center, 3.9 ppg
Faith Suggs, Junior, Guard/Forward, 1.1 ppg
Haley Gorecki, Sophomore, Guard, DNP last season
Key New Players
Jayda Adams Freshman, Guard
Mikayla Boykin, Freshman, Guard
Bego Faz Davalos, Senior, Center, Graduate Transfer Fresno State
Sofia Roma, Junior, Center, Transfer Wagner
Emily Schubert, RS Freshman, Center
Madison Treece, Freshman, Forward
Jade Williams, Freshman, Forward/Center
Projection:
In order for Duke to make a serious NCAA Tournament run, Brown and Greenwell need some help. Kyra Lambert and Leaonna Odom have starting experience and are capable scorers. Lambert, a 5-9 junior, averaged 7.8 points and 3.5 assists last year. Odom, a 6-2 forward, had a very promising freshman campaign, averaging 8.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks. Odom will get assistance from Bego Faz Davalos, a graduate transfer from Fresno State, and incoming freshman Jade Williams. With that experience and talent joining the frontcourt, the Blue Devils are more than just a couple of great guards. It will still be Brown and Greenwell leading the way, but Coach Joanne P. McCallie has interesting options in the frontcourt. If they pan out, this is a Duke team that can compete for an ACC title.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 73.7 (35th in nation, 5th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 55.4 (14, 1)
Field-Goal Percentage: 47.4 (7, 2)
Field-Goal Defense: 33.7 (4, 1)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 5.4 (192, 8)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 38.2 (8, 2)
Free-Throw Percentage: 75.0 (38, 3)
Rebound Margin: 4.6 (59, 5)
Assists Per Game: 15.6 (43, 3)
Turnovers Per Game: 15.6 (173, 8)
Madness 2018 WNBA Draft Rankings:
#7 Lexie Brown
#22 Rebecca Greenwell
Madness 2017 Women’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#13 Jade Williams
#28 Mikayla Boykin
#66 Jayda Adams
#120 Madison Treece
