Duke Blue Devils
Overall Rank: #4
Conference Rank: ACC #2
Duke Team Page
Admit it. When you think Duke basketball you think Christian Laettner, Grant Hill, Mike Krzyzewski, Kylie Irving, and countless other players or coaches. That’s unfair to the Duke women, which blazed a pretty impressive trail all on their own on the way to an Elite Eight finish in the NCAA tournament. Stanford was the team to knock the Blue Devils out of the running in the regional finals, but the team has four double-digit scorers back for more in 2012-13 and it figures to be a strong year in Durham.
2011-12 record: 27-6, 15-1
2011-12 postseason: NCAA
Coach: Joanne P. McCallie
Coach Record: 457-180 overall, 141-32 at Duke
Strengths:
It’s all about the scoring. Points and more points helped Duke to their third straight Atlantic Coast Conference championship and the first outright crown since 2007. Four starters and 10 letter winners are back on a club that brings back close to 89 percent of its scoring from a year ago. Led by center Elizabeth Williams and her 14 points per game, which earned Williams National Freshman of the Year honors, these players leave other ACC teams shaking their collective heads and wondering what they have to do to knock off a team like the Blue Devils. With five returning double-digit players total, it could be a fantastic season. These players are adept at perimeter shooting, which is a big plus for the Blue Devils.
Weaknesses:
The team has a very strong foundation, with all positions filled. About the only thing missing will be guard Shay Selby and her 6.9 scoring average, but everything else is rock solid.
Final Projection:
This might be the year where you hear Duke’s name mentioned in women’s basketball circles. You hear Dick Vitale wax poetic about Duke a million times a year during men’s basketball – even in games not involving Duke – but most years the team lives up to his praise. This is a year where the women may outrank the men, albeit not by much. Look for another 25-30 wins, another NCAA tournament appearance, and maybe even a trip to the Final Four if everything works out right.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
Projected Starting Five:
Chelsea Gray, Junior, Guard, 12.5 points, 6.1 assists (first in ACC)
Haley Peters, Junior, Forward, shot 51.2 percent from field last year
Tricia Liston, Junior, Guard, 57 3-pointers a year ago
Elizabeth Williams, Sophomore, Center, voted national freshman of the year
Chloe Wells, Junior, Guard, 10.4 points in first 10 games (missed second semester – academic violation)
Madness 2012 Women's Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#3 Alexis Jones
#33 Sierra Moore
#75 Katie Heckman
