Duke Blue Devils
ACC (30-2, 17-1)
Duke was the last remaining undefeated team in all of college basketball. After a 16-0 start, the Blue Devils did not lose until January 21st when they took a trip to Connecticut. And it is that one game against the Huskies that many will look at as a clear sign that this Duke team is not at the same level as the handful of elite teams in the nation. The Blue Devils were down by just two at the break. And then UConn happened. Duke was outscored 47-19 in the second half and went home like every other team that thinks they might be able to pull off a victory at Connecticut.
Big Wins: 12/2 California (77-63), 2/3 at North Carolina (84-63), 2/24 at Maryland (75-59)
Bad Losses: 1/21 at Connecticut (49-79), 2/28 at Miami (65-69)
Coach: Joanne P. McCallie
Why They Can Surprise:
Coach Joanne P. McCallie’s team knows how to score. It starts in the paint with 6-3 sophomore center Elizabeth Williams, who leads the Blue Devils with 15.4 points per game. Williams is a menace offensively. The opposition has little choice but to double team her in most situations. Williams can either score through the double team or find one of the scorers on the perimeter. The result is often open looks for shooters Tricia Liston and Chloe Wells. This is not a Duke team that hoists up many three-pointers, but when they do, they are good looks. Liston shoots 47.6 percent from long range and Wells knocks down 49.1 percent of her attempts from beyond the arc. Haley Peters and Alexis Jones may not be as effective outside shooters as Liston and Wells, but they are capable scorers. Peters is also a superb rebounder and, along with Williams, will usually dominate the glass.
Why They Can Disappoint:
Between the frontcourt grabbing rebounds, the backcourt nabbing steals and Williams swatting away shots, Duke will usually get more shots off than their opponents. The one thing that keeps the playing field a bit more level is the amount of turnovers Duke commits. Chelsea Gray is a superb point guard, but she is the only player on the team with a halfway decent assist-to-turnover ratio and now she is out for the year with a knee injury. When the Blue Devils are trying to take on the Connecticut’s, Notre Dame’s and Baylor’s of the world, the turnovers must remain under control and that is asking a lot without Gray on the floor.
Probable Starters:
Chloe Wells, Junior, Guard, 5.1 ppg, 1.6 apg
Alexis Jones, Freshman, Guard, 9.3 ppg, 3.7 apg, 4.2 rpg
Tricia Liston, Junior, Guard, 13.1 ppg, 1.5 apg, 4.9 rpg
Haley Peters, Junior, Forward, 12.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg
Elizabeth Williams, Sophomore, Center, 15.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.8 bpg
Key Roleplayers:
Richa Jackson, Junior, Forward, 5.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg
Allison Vernerey, Senior, Center, 3.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 75.0 (11th in nation, 3rd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 51.5 (11, 1)
Field-Goal Percentage: 45.8 (7, 3)
Field-Goal Defense: 33.5 (8, 1)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 5.3 (127, 3)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 41.7 (1, 1)
Free-Throw Percentage: 73.3 (53, 3)
Rebound Margin: 7.7 (20, 2)
Assists Per Game: 16.2 (21, 2)
Turnovers Per Game: 16.8 (155, 2)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
2012 NCAA Round of 64 win over Samford
2012 NCAA Round of 32 win over Vanderbilt
2012 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over St. John's
2012 NCAA Regional Final loss to Stanford
2011 NCAA Round of 64 win over Tennessee-Martin
2011 NCAA Round of 32 win over Marist
2011 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over DePaul
2011 NCAA Regional Final loss to Connecticut
2010 NCAA Round of 64 win over Hampton
2010 NCAA Round of 32 win over LSU
2010 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over San Diego State
2010 NCAA Regional Final loss to Baylor
2009 NCAA Round of 64 win over Austin Peay
2009 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Michigan State
2008 NCAA Round of 64 win over Murray State
2008 NCAA Round of 32 win over Arizona State
2008 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Texas A&M
*all team stats through 3/7
See All Women’s Basketball Postseason Capsules
