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ACC POSTSEASON PREVIEW
Table of Contents
sportsstaff Editor: Andy Moore Managing Editor: Jeff Scholl Photo Editor: Margie Truwit Online Editor: Scott Rich Features Editor: Laura Keeley Associate Editors: Dan Ahrens, Chris Cusack, Tom Gieryn, Alex Krinsky, Patricia Lee, Matt Levenberg, Jacob Levitt, Andy Margius, Vignesh Nathan, Jason Palmatary, Stuart Price, Nicholas Schwartz, Danny Vinik, Tim Visutipol Senior Associate Editors: Sabreena Merchant, Felicia Tan First-Year Writers: Andrew Beaton, Maureen Dolan, Sarah Elsakr, Dawei Liu, Danny Nolan, Steven Slywka, Bo Triplett, Jay Vitha Photographers: Larsa Al-Omaishi, Eliza Bray, Chris Dall, Ted Knudsen, Margie Truwit, Toni Wei Special thanks to: Chronicle Editor Lindsey Rupp, Photography Editor Courtney Douglas, News Editor Taylor Doherty, Online Editor Christina Pena, Managing Editor Toni Wei, Gene Hackman The Women’s ACC tournament Preview is a sports supplement published annually by The Chronicle. It can be read online at: www.dukechronicle.com Founded in 2007 and renamed in 2011, The Blue Zone is The Chronicle’s daily presence online: www.sports.chronicleblogs.com
ABOUT THE COVER When you think of Indiana, you think of basketball. And, more specifically, Hoosiers. Our cover this year is an homage to that seminal movie, as well as the setting the Blue Devils will step into if they make it to the Final Four in Indianapolis. Cover design by Margie Truwit.
3
Duke may have won the ACC regular season title, but head coach Joanne P. McCallie doesn’t want her team to slow down just yet.
4
Jasmine Thomas has been a clutch performer for the Blue Devils this season. Can she keep it up in March?
5
Haley and Casey Peters are the only brothersister duo to play at Duke at the same time. Read about the competitive drive they share.
5
All-ACC freshman Chelsea Gray became a legitimate scoring threat, then was injured. What role will she play in the postseason?
6
Nicholas Schwartz and Jacob Levitt square off and debate whether Duke will make the first Final Four in McCallie’s era.
8
The defense, a hallmark of every successful Blue Devil team in recent memory, is again Duke’s defining feature.
ACC POSTSEASON PREVIEW
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POSTSEASON PREVIEW
acc tournament preview
McCallie not letting squad slow down yet by Jeff Scholl THE CHRONICLE
The Blue Devils received the No. 1 seed in last year’s ACC tournament and again have the inside track to win a second straight banner this season. Just don’t tell that to head coach Joanne P. McCallie. After Duke reeled off three straight wins to capture a share of the regular season conference title, McCallie has no intention of letting her squad rest on its laurels before its first ACC tournament game Friday at 3 p.m. in Greensboro Coliseum. “We’re getting healthy, we’re getting stronger, we’re growing as a team,” she said. “At the same time, we’re not the least bit satisfied because we can be a whole lot better in pursuing what we want.” The Blue Devils (26-3, 12-2 in the ACC) were back on the practice court Monday, less than a day removed from their 66-58 victory over then-No. 13 North Carolina. As the top seed in the tournament, the team receives a first-round bye. Nevertheless, the weekend will be a test of endurance, with a possible three games in three days. “It definitely is a challenge for mental toughness as far as not having any rest time in between games,” guard Jasmine Thomas said. “Something that the team is definitely focused on is trying to go hard, like us having practice [Monday] instead of being off. I definitely think that we started the postseason mindset with our last three games of the regular season.... Everyone understands what it’s going to take to be successful.” Every Blue Devil may understand the level of effort required to produce wins in the ACC, but Duke’s five freshmen have never experienced the rigors of the postseason. McCallie said the rookies cannot fully grasp the nature of the tournament until they step onto the floor in Greensboro, but she believes their youthful exuberance will work in Duke’s favor. Moreover, the freshman class brings an unprecedented level of depth to the squad that no other team in the conference can match. All the freshmen average over 10 minutes of play per game, and the Blue Devils are the only eliza bray/The Chronicle
See preview on page 11
Duke may have won the ACC regular season title in Cameron last week, but head coach Joanne P. McCallie said, “We’re not the least bit satisfied.”
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ACC POSTSEASON PREVIEW
jasmine thomas ted knudsen, chris dall, toni wei/Chronicle file photo
POSTSEASON PREVIEW
THE CLUTCH ARTIST
Jasmine Thomas is ready to make magic again in postseason play by Alex Krinsky THE CHRONICLE
The scenario is commonplace in college basketball: As the clock winds down in the last stretch of the second half, two teams battle for the chance to sink the game-winning bucket. Fortunately for Duke, it has Jasmine Thomas. Thomas possesses the complete package for a superstar: natural talent, a thorough knowledge of the game and strong leadership. But it’s been her uncanny ability to step up and hit clutch shots with the game on the line that has distinguished her from the rest of college basketball’s elite. “She has a natural clock in her head relative to time and score,” head coach Joanne P. McCallie said. “So she’s ready to take on whatever the situation is. She’s always in attack mode, and when you’re in attack mode you don’t think about anything else, and I think that’s what has made her very special.” Her late game heroics began this season with the Blue Devils’ first marquee matchup at home against then-No. 7 Texas A&M. Down by one with a minute left to play, Thom-
as was unable to find an open teammate as she controlled the ball at the top of the key. With the shot clock winding down, Thomas drove into the lane and drained a contested jumper to give the Blue Devils the win. Two weeks later, Duke and then-No. 4 Xavier were tied with just two seconds left on the clock. After missing
“She has a natural clock in her head relative to time and score. She’s ready to take on whatever the situation is.” — Joanne P. McCallie her first free throw attempt, Thomas sank her second free throw to give Duke the lead, but the game wasn’t over. As the last seconds expired, Thomas sprinted down the court and blocked a breakaway layup from Xavier’s
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Special Jennings to seal the victory for Duke. And with two minutes left to play against then-No. 14 Maryland Jan. 6, Thomas nailed a trey and then a jumper to give Duke the lead and eventually the victory. The senior scored seven points in the last two minutes of the contest. “I don’t necessarily have to take the last shot, but make the last play, yes,” Thomas said. “Whether it has to start in my hand and I have to find the right person to pass to because I am double-teamed, or whether I put the ball in the basket, I am very comfortable in that situation and would prefer to be in that situation.” Despite her success in the most pivotal moments of the biggest games, Thomas is currently averaging only 14.8 points per game compared to last season’s 16. This minor drop-off, though, can be attributed to the excess of offensive talent in freshmen guards Chelsea Gray, Tricia Liston and Chloe Wells. “I think both Chloe Wells and Chelsea Gray have helped take off some of the pressure.” McCallie said. “Last year it was all Jasmine all the time, no matter what. This year if she’s being face-guarded, we can play her off-ball and bring her off screens more effectively than last year. There’s been many times when Tricia has penetrated and kicked and found Jasmine.” Although the Blue Devils’ scoring has been considerably more balanced this season, statistics can be deceiving. Thomas has repeatedly put up impressive numbers in the most important games. Jan. 14, Thomas dropped 22 points in a victory over then-No. 21 Florida State. And most recently, Thomas led Duke in scoring with 17 points in an emotional victory over North Carolina on Senior Night in Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Blue Devils have clinched a No. 1 seed in the ACC tournament, and the NCAA Tournament looms just beyond that. Thomas has been in this situation before and she understands that hard-fought games await, but she’s not worried. If one of those contests comes down to the wire, Thomas knows what to do. “I let go of everything that has happened in the first however many minutes,” Thomas said. “It’s a long game and mistakes are made, but when it comes down to those last few minutes, you really have to be as intense as you can, but as focused and calm as you can at the same time.”
Follow Duke’s progress in the ACC tournament over Spring Break online: dukechronicle.com
ACC POSTSEASON PREVIEW
POSTSEASON PREVIEW
5
the freshmen
Peters’ competitiveness Healthy Gray brings comes from childhood big game for Duke by Caroline Fairchild THE CHRONICLE
When the Peters kids play basketball together, father Kurt Peters has one rule: Don’t ever let someone win. As the youngest of three siblings, freshman Haley Peters grew up knowing what it means to fight to win. And she partly has older brother Casey Peters, a senior on the men’s basketball team, to thank for it. “I just spent all day with my brothers and with my dad and I spent a lot of time with them playing basketball,” Haley said. “When I got older we would play one-onone. They are a big reason why I am good at basketball because I got to play with
them.” Head coach Joanne P. McCallie said Peters is one of the hardest working players she has ever seen. A McDonald’s All-American selection, Peters joined Duke’s squad this season and has already solidified herself as a strong presence on the team. She averages 16 minutes per game and shoots 52 percent from the field while chipping in an average of 5.7 points. “Haley’s grown all season long,” McCallie said. “She plays so hard. Nobody has a better work ethic or character.” Haley’s father said that the success she See peters on page 9
by Tom Gieryn THE CHRONICLE
In the popular card game Spades, players are allowed to pass cards to their partners before each hand. But the process is blind—you can’t look at your partner’s hand before you pass them the cards—and as a result, passing is rare. Freshman point guard Chelsea Gray has popularized the game among her teammates, but fortunately for them, her passing on the basketball court is a lot more common and far less blind. “I’ve never seen a passer like Chelsea in terms of her seeing the entire floor,” head coach Joanne P. McCallie said, comparing Gray’s vision to that of NBA great Magic Johnson. Gray is second on the team in assists, despite playing some 350 minutes less than Jasmine Thomas, who leads the squad. It was not surprising that Gray, the charismatic point guard with the constant smile, brought her freshman class together, in basketball and spades alike. “She’s been key in making sure the five of us are a unit, that we stick together as a class,” fellow freshman Haley Peters said. “She has a unique relationship with everybody.” Gray’s relationship with her teammates
ted knudsen/Chronicle file photo
Freshman star Chelsea Gray is day-to-day with an ankle injury—but if she regains her health, Duke could go far.
See gray on page 11
THE ROAD TO THE 2011 NCAA WOMEN’S FINAL FOUR ®
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BEGINS IN
margie truwit/Chronicle file photo
Casey Peters said of his sister [pictured], “Haley is a lot like Kyle Singler—she is all about winning.”
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6
ACC POSTSEASON PREVIEW
IS THIS THE YE
Gray’s health, recent disappointments hurt Duke’s chances When Duke was 20-0, before facing Connecticut, even the New York Times made a case for the team to be No. 1 in the country. Since then, things have unraveled. And the Blue Devils’ health issues and recent disappointments mean they won’t make the Final Four. For Duke to make the Final Four for the first time since 2006, the Blue Nicholas Devils are going to have to be at full strength, especially given the top 15 teams’ relatively even level of competitiveness. While there is obviously a great divide between the Huskies and Stanford and the rest of the pack, this season has shown that nearly every team is vulnerable to an upset or two on a poor shooting night, especially on the road. Duke will be concerned primarily with the health of standout freshman Chelsea Gray. The freshman gives the Blue Devils a reliable second scoring option after Jasmine Thomas and has exhibited the ability at times to take the game over offensively. Starting the sea-
Schwartz
son on the bench behind more experience players, Gray has blossomed throughout the season, and had become a matchup problem for nearly every team she faced. That was before a series of unfortunate events threw off Gray’s progress. And it may cripple Duke’s chances of making it to the Indianapolis. Gray missed the game against Maryland in College Park with the flu. Without their second leading scorer, the Blue Devils crashed to a 69-47 loss. After returning to action in the following game Feb. 20, Gray lasted little more than three minutes against Virginia Tech before an ankle sprain left her crumpled on the Cameron Indoor Stadium floor. She would later return to the bench— on crutches. Her status is currently listed as day-to-day, but McCallie admits it might be a stretch to expect Gray to be back and ready to play on short rest. Gray’s absence puts the Blue Devils in a tough position on both ends of the court. Defensively, her athleticism lended itself to McCallie’s fullcourt press that typically provides Duke with double-digit points off turnovers. In the offensive halfcourt, Gray
takes a great deal of pressure off point guard Jasmine Thomas, who tends to struggle shooting the ball in big games. This year, Thomas has shot just 35 percent in Duke’s three losses. Thomas will be called on to be the primary producer offensively, especially if Gray has trouble regaining her late-season form when, and if, she returns to the floor. The Blue Devils’ difficulties over the final weeks of the season may haunt them come late March, as well. Ugly losses to the Terrapins and then-No. 2 Connecticut mean Duke likely has played its way out of a top seed, making the road to Indianapolis that much more challenging. While winning the ACC tournament may be enough to place the Blue Devils among the first quartet of teams, they’ll likely have to beat one of the top four teams in the nation to advance to the Final Four. While the talent is certainly there for a deep run, the memories from the Huskies demolition of the Blue Devils in Storrs, Conn., are still vivid. For Duke to be considered an elite program, it first is going to have to beat an elite program.
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In Duke’s first test of the year, Jasmine Thomas hits a last-minute jumper to give her team the win
In a defensive battle, Duke took down Xavier thanks to a game-saving block
Duke takes its 15th str points from Thomas a
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ACC POSTSEASON PREVIEW
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EAR FOR DUKE?
No reason a team this talented can’t make it to Indy
Although Duke has faltered of late—going only 6-3 since its 20-0 start to the season—there’s reason to believe that the Blue Devils are capable of making a run to the Final Four. All it will take are two home wins and a pair of neutral court Jacob victories, where Duke’s staunch defense will lead the team to Indianapolis. First and foremost: We know for a fact that the first two rounds will take place in Cameron Indoor Stadium, where Duke is 15-0 and has won by an average margin of more than 20 points, despite having played six ranked teams. Only five of the wins were by single digits and those only came against top-15 opponents. The Blue Devils’ first two oppo-
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nents would be heavy underdogs on a neutral court. In Cameron, they essentially have no chance. The third and fourth rounds, the real focus of the question, will obviously be more difficult for Duke. But for defensive teams like the Blue Devils, overcoming “difficult” does not require a miraculous shooting night or an awful performance from the opponent—it just requires maximum intensity on both ends of the floor. Fortunately for the Blue Devils, they’ve proven they can bring that energy. In their three losses, Duke has allowed its opponents to rack up an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.2. In the Blue Devils’ wins, though, their opponents notched more than twice as many turnovers as assists. Those stats were generated against some of the best teams in the country, too, not just cellar-dwellers. Then-No. 4 Xavier, for example, managed only eight assists and 30 turnovers. Even with the Blue
Devils struggling to get buckets and putting up their fewest points and lowest shooting performance of the year, they still won because their defense was impenetrable. The Musketeers held an 11-percent edge in shooting percentage but lost, fittingly, as a result of Jasmine Thomas’s last-second block. In addition to a dynamic defense, Duke has shown it has the deep bench needed to advance to the Final Four for the first time in the McCallie era. Yes, the Blue Devils will undoubtedly need major contributions from their seniors, Jasmine Thomas, Krystal Thomas and Karima Christmas. And based on their talent and experience, there’s no reason to doubt the trio can provide them. But the X-factor will be the play of Duke’s supporting cast, which includes Tricia Liston, Haley Peters and Allison Vernerey. As See point on page 11
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traight win thanks to 22 and 12 from Tricia Liston
The Blue Devils travel to Storrs, Conn. and are treated to their worst loss in over a decade
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ACC POSTSEASON PREVIEW
POSTSEASON PREVIEW
the defense
Duke believes ‘defense wins championships’ by Stuart Price THE CHRONICLE
Come tournament time, it seems that the saying “defense wins championships” dominates media discussion. Some may think the adage is cliché, but defense may be exactly what propels Duke to be the last team standing at the conclusion of the ACC tournament. Throughout the season, the Blue Devils have relied heavily on their defense to stymie opponents. Entering the tournament, Duke is first in the ACC in scoring defense, limiting its conference opposition to an impressive 52.6 points per game. The team also ranks 20th nationally in the statistical category. It’s something the Blue Devils take great pride in. “We set a goal for each game of what we want to hold the other team to,” Jasmine Thomas said. “So just having that goal out there and striving for it the entire game and always showing that as a reference is something that keeps our intensity up.” Duke often depends on its defense to generate extra possessions, as marked by its 12.9 steals per game, good for second in the conference. These takeaways spark fast-break opportunities and facilitate easy buckets. “We get offense from our de-
fense, so being able to shut down the go-to players on the other team is something we highly focus on, [especially] getting one-
on-one stops,” Karima Christmas said. “In our team defense when we play with a matchup [zone], we’re trying to make sure that ev-
erybody’s on the same page and knowing where they need to go, where they need to be and just trying to bounce off each other.”
While Duke’s players have honed their offensive skills through practice and repetition, their defensive performances stem from effort, determination and teamwork. Adopting this philosophy, the Blue Devils stress that every member of the team has the capacity to contribute on the defensive end. “Coming in as a freshman, you’ve scored so many points and that’s how you got [recruited],” Christmas said. “So I guess it’s hard to flip that script and go to a mindset of playing defense first and then letting your offense come. I think we’ve caught onto it, though. [Head coach Joanne P. McCallie] is really harping on defense and rebounding… [since] they start our offense and make it easy on us.” In order to facilitate this transition to defensive-minded basketball, McCallie called on her senior trio of Christmas, Jasmine Thomas and Krystal Thomas to mentor her five freshmen. The three have certainly not disappointed. “[They] really set the tone for us and when they’re really focused, they can be extraordinary defensively,” McCallie said Feb. 15 before the Maryland game. “There’s a lot of good
eliza bray/The Chronicle
The Blue Devils, who rank second in the ACC in both blocks and steals, see much of their offense stem from defensive effort.
See defense on page 11
ACC POSTSEASON PREVIEW
9
peters from page 5 has seen in her first year traces back to her close relationship with her brothers. Along with Casey, Haley has an older brother, Ryan, who is a sophomore forward at Emory. “Casey and Ryan were a big part of the reason that she learned how to compete against bigger, stronger people,” Kurt said. “She has outworked everyone since she was a little girl. If she has a success, she works hard and if she has a failure she works even harder.” Casey and Haley Peters represent the first brother-sister pair to play basketball at Duke at the same time, but their roads to becoming Blue Devils could not have been any more different. While Duke recruited Haley heavily in high school, Casey was a student manager for two seasons before he joined the team as a walk-on. “Their experiences are so different, but they both love their teammates and the game,” Kurt said. “That is where their experiences are the same and that is the best part.” Casey said he was excited when he heard the news that his little sister would join him as a Blue Devil—almost as excited as when he was told that his two years of hard work as a manager paid off. “When I heard I was going to be on the team it really was like a dream come true, and I was also happy for Haley,” Casey said. “Haley and I have been so close all of our lives, and we are so similar. I didn’t want to be a part of her decision process, but I knew it would be a factor and when she decided to come I was happy.” Although Haley said her brother wasn’t the only factor she considered when she decided where to sign, she said it was a significant part of her decision. “From my point of view, having him here was an important part of it because I
larsa Al-Omaishi/Chronicle file photo
Haley Peters has made the most of limited playing time this season. The freshman averages 6.2 points and a 52 percent shooting percentage in only 16 minutes of play. knew from him how much better you could and downs of the season and dealing with get from [being at Duke],” Haley said. school,” Haley said. “He has been a manNow that Haley and Casey are on Duke’s ager and a walk-on and a student, and he campus together, has had every Haley said they are experience here “Haley is a lot like Kyle Sin- that you could closer than they have ever been. think of. It’s just gler—she is all about winWhether it’s a really nice to have friendly face at all ning. She is happy when they someone like that her home games, that you aren’t a are winning.” someone to listen teammate with when she is frus— Casey Peters and not a classtrated or someone mate, but he is just to have dinstill my brother ner with, she said and I can talk to her brother’s presence has been helpful him about anything.” throughout Duke’s eventful season. Haley said she has been happy with “He’s been really helpful with the ups her progress this season as a Blue Devil.
She said she is particularly impressed with her ability to play more “free” in the last couple of games—she recently had a strong six points and seven rebounds in nine minutes of play against North Carolina—and she is confident if she continues to work hard she will continue to play better. Her brother said that her drive to continue to improve is similar to what he sees in one of his fellow teammates. “Haley is a lot like Kyle Singler—she is all about winning,” Casey said. “She is happy when they are winning. She is incredibly competitive and I know what she can do and when she gets the chance to contribute, they have a really good chance of success.”
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ACC POSTSEASON PREVIEW
Thursday
No. 4 Maryland
No. 5 Georgia Tech
Saturday
Sunday
11 a.m.
11 a.m. No. 12 Virginia Tech
2011 ACC Tournament Bracket
1 p.m.
No. 1 Duke No. 8 Virginia
3 p.m.
3 p.m. No. 9 Wake Forest 1 p.m. No. 2 Miami No. 7 Boston College
6 p.m.
6 p.m. No. 10 N.C. State
2011 ACC Tournament Champion
3:30 p.m. No. 3 Florida State
No. 6 North Carolina
8 p.m.
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ACC POSTSEASON PREVIEW
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preview from page 3
gray from page 5
team in the ACC to have every member of the squad average double-digit minutes. Even though players struggled to carve out their roles earlier in the season, the even distribution of playing time has ultimately helped the team become a more cohesive unit, according to Thomas. “I’ve seen our assists go up in the last few games, which is really good,” Thomas said. “Our turnovers are still too high, but seeing the assists go up shows that the chemistry is really getting there. That’s something we’ve had trouble with just because we have so many weapons, and everyone is trying to figure out, ‘Where do I fit in?’” Duke leads the conference in assists with 16.7 per game and also boasts the best assist-to-turnover ratio in the ACC. Freshman Chelsea Gray, one of the Blue Dev-
off the court is just as productive on the hardwood. The guard opened the season coming off the bench, but quickly earned her way into the starting lineup after posting a combined 28 points and 11 rebounds in backto-back road games against James Madison and Wisconsin. She broke double digits in scoring in her first three starts, and dished out 12 assists in those games before a pair of scoreless contests against Xavier and Temple saw her lose her starting spot, if not her playing time. She got back into the lineup after just a two-game absence, though, and became a mainstay. She is the team’s best 3-point shooter at 39.4 percent, and despite ranking fourth on the team in minutes played, she sits in second behind only Jasmine Thomas in points per game, assists and steals. Gray takes full advantage of Thomas’s presence. “You couldn’t ask for a better role model to model your game after,” Gray said. “[I] only have this year with her, so that just means a lot of learning.” Learning has been the theme of the season for Gray,
“We have so many weapons, and everyone [was] trying to figure out, ‘Where do I fit in?’” — Jasmine Thomas ils’ primary facilitators, has brought stability at the point guard position. Gray, however, is still recovering from an ankle injury she suffered against Virginia Tech Feb. 20. McCallie could not say whether she would be back at full strength for Friday’s contest. “She’s getting back day by day,” the coach said. “She’s a young lady who is learning how to rehab. That’s the key. It’s how much you commit to rehab [that usually determines] how quickly you come back.” Gray played only five minutes against North Carolina Sunday, forcing Thomas and Shay Selby to carry the load in the backcourt. Fortunately for Duke, its potential opponents in the quarterfinals—either Virginia or Wake Forest—were no match for the Blue Devils during the regular season. Duke knocked off the Cavaliers by 23 points and demolished the Demon Deacons 82-39. If the Blue Devils win Friday, a more daunting matchup awaits in the semifinals, assuming No. 4 seed Maryland wins its opening-round game. Gray did not play the last time the two teams met in College Park due to illness. In a game McCallie described as “a health debacle,” the Terrapins routed Duke 69-47 Feb. 17, the Blue Devils’ largest loss to Maryland since 1993. But Duke has not dropped a game since, and if the Blue Devils can regain their health, they may be hitting their stride at the most important time of the season. “We really want to finish out strong,” Karima Christmas said. “We’ve grown a lot, we’ve learned from our losses and it’s about that time to kick it into another gear.”
even if her numbers suggest a fully mature player. In addition to everything she’s tried to sponge from Thomas, she’s had to adjust to adversity brought on by injuries. She missed a game against Maryland with the flu, and then sprained her ankle just three minutes into a contest against Virginia Tech Feb. 20. “It’s been great to see her challenge and taking on the rehab process, the not-so-exciting parts of being a basketball player,” McCallie said. “I think that will really help her in the long run, even though in the short term it’s not been a lot of fun.” Gray has yet to return to full strength from that injury, and McCallie said she remains day-to-day. It’s unclear whether she’ll take the court in the ACC tournament, but the feisty mentality that she brings to practice every day should be an asset to the Blue Devils for some time to come. “If a coach gets on her for something, she’ll take it, but it doesn’t affect her confidence one bit,” McCallie said. If Gray is to ascend to stardom for Duke, she’ll need every ounce of that confidence. But fortunately for the Blue Devils, she has it—in spades.
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McCallie said at the press conference following Sunday’s victory over North Carolina, “People have to be ready and know their role…. On any given night it could be somebody different—and that’s what our team has to embrace… because of the nature of these games.” Ultimately, the physicality of late-round NCAA Tournament games make the games unpredictable. The defense is nearly always there, though, to keep the team in contention and lay the foundation for victory. There’s no way I’m going to say a team like that can’t win two gimmes at home and a couple on neutral courts.
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defense from page 8 leadership there.” The experience of the senior trio has also helped McCallie implement her sophisticated defensive scheme. Rather than relying on one defensive set, Duke uses multiple defensive looks and presses, from the fullcourt to the halfcourt and quarter-court, to confuse and bewilder opposing offensive attacks. “We can’t really get bored because we play too many [defenses],” McCallie said Feb. 15. “I think that’s a key, to be a multiple defensive team and be very, very effective with it.”
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