The 15-11/5-8 Lady J's have had the week off since blowing out lowly Clemson this past Sunday to prepare for the Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium Sunday. This is Senior Day for the Blue Devils as it is their final home game of the regular season. Duke has been struggling of late since having to do without the A.C.C.'s 2nd leading scorer - towering 6'6" post Azura Stevens who was averaging 19.1 ppg - due to a foot injury. They have lost 3 of their last 4 and 4 of their last 6. They are coming off a close win in Blacksburg last night (Thursday) by 4 points. It is unclear whether Stevens will be back and if so, when. She did not play at Blacksburg last night.
The game will be carried via Duke's Live Video package. It is unclear to me whether it is free or PPV. Here's the link to access the live video link if you want to check Sunday around tip time... http://www.goduke.com/liveEvents/liveEvents.dbml?SPSID=22762&SPID=1846&DB_LANG=C&db_oem_id=4200
Duke, 18-10/7-7, is very much on the NCAAT bubble and needs this game badly to enhance their chances. They have a very winnable road game finale against the Cheaters after a week off to freshen up the legs and prep. Duke already blew out the Cheaters by 16 pts earlier this season at CIS. Their RPI is a respectable 45 and their RPI SOS is a solid 18th in the nation.
There were no significant surprises in the A.C.C. last night. ND blew out Wake in Winston as expected which moves the Deacs to 6-8 in the A.C.C., just a half game ahead of the LJ's for the 8th spot in the conference. Virginia, as expected, lost by 15 to Louisville, which means the LJ's have a full game lead over them for the 9th seed. UVA, UNC, and Pitt are all now tied at 4-9. Virginia has lost 7 of its last 8 games, but should get a W this Sunday hosting hapless Clemson. They also have very winnable games next week hosting the Cheaters and then traveling to Blacksburg (who they lost to at home by 20 a couple of weeks ago though).
Tech of course has very winnable games remaining on the schedule as well...starting with Duke Sunday. Tech has a legit shot at qualifying for the WNIT if we can get to 18 wins come time for selections. That means either sweeping the remaining regular season or win 2 of these last 3 and get a W at the A.C.C.T. Both are "doable". Finishing with the 8th or 9th seed has upside in that you avoid playing on Day 1 at the A.C.C.T., but the downside is even if you win, you get Notre Dame in the next round. Having said that, the Lady J's actually played the Irish about as well as anybody not named Louisville in the conference this year in both games.
Back to Duke...without Stevens, the Devils turn to 6'1" R-So. Guard Rebecca Greenwell as now their main option for scoring as she is Duke's other double digit scorer at 14.6 ppg. Last night in Blacksburg, Duke outrebounded the Hokies 40-24 which is no surprise because the Hokies have no inside game at all. Duke shot 50% from the field and 46% from outside the arc. Yet, they only won by 4 (though down by 1 with just over a minute to go). This is primarily due to carelessness with the ball as Duke committed 22 turnovers. Tech should be fresh and hopefully can jump on Duke early.
This is a big game for both teams' postseason hopes as well as positioning for A.C.C.T. seeding. A Tech win would give great optimism to not only finish off another strong February run, but the 7-seed at the A.C.C.T. is within grasp as well as an important tie-breaker head-to-head over Duke is notched. Tech of course last season finally broke a 20+ year losing streak to the Devils at home on Senior Night in late February (though our only senior was on crutches). Hell, let's make it 2 in a row and start a streak for us, Lady J's! How 'bout it.
Go Lady Jackets!
The game will be carried via Duke's Live Video package. It is unclear to me whether it is free or PPV. Here's the link to access the live video link if you want to check Sunday around tip time... http://www.goduke.com/liveEvents/liveEvents.dbml?SPSID=22762&SPID=1846&DB_LANG=C&db_oem_id=4200
Duke, 18-10/7-7, is very much on the NCAAT bubble and needs this game badly to enhance their chances. They have a very winnable road game finale against the Cheaters after a week off to freshen up the legs and prep. Duke already blew out the Cheaters by 16 pts earlier this season at CIS. Their RPI is a respectable 45 and their RPI SOS is a solid 18th in the nation.
There were no significant surprises in the A.C.C. last night. ND blew out Wake in Winston as expected which moves the Deacs to 6-8 in the A.C.C., just a half game ahead of the LJ's for the 8th spot in the conference. Virginia, as expected, lost by 15 to Louisville, which means the LJ's have a full game lead over them for the 9th seed. UVA, UNC, and Pitt are all now tied at 4-9. Virginia has lost 7 of its last 8 games, but should get a W this Sunday hosting hapless Clemson. They also have very winnable games next week hosting the Cheaters and then traveling to Blacksburg (who they lost to at home by 20 a couple of weeks ago though).
Tech of course has very winnable games remaining on the schedule as well...starting with Duke Sunday. Tech has a legit shot at qualifying for the WNIT if we can get to 18 wins come time for selections. That means either sweeping the remaining regular season or win 2 of these last 3 and get a W at the A.C.C.T. Both are "doable". Finishing with the 8th or 9th seed has upside in that you avoid playing on Day 1 at the A.C.C.T., but the downside is even if you win, you get Notre Dame in the next round. Having said that, the Lady J's actually played the Irish about as well as anybody not named Louisville in the conference this year in both games.
Back to Duke...without Stevens, the Devils turn to 6'1" R-So. Guard Rebecca Greenwell as now their main option for scoring as she is Duke's other double digit scorer at 14.6 ppg. Last night in Blacksburg, Duke outrebounded the Hokies 40-24 which is no surprise because the Hokies have no inside game at all. Duke shot 50% from the field and 46% from outside the arc. Yet, they only won by 4 (though down by 1 with just over a minute to go). This is primarily due to carelessness with the ball as Duke committed 22 turnovers. Tech should be fresh and hopefully can jump on Duke early.
This is a big game for both teams' postseason hopes as well as positioning for A.C.C.T. seeding. A Tech win would give great optimism to not only finish off another strong February run, but the 7-seed at the A.C.C.T. is within grasp as well as an important tie-breaker head-to-head over Duke is notched. Tech of course last season finally broke a 20+ year losing streak to the Devils at home on Senior Night in late February (though our only senior was on crutches). Hell, let's make it 2 in a row and start a streak for us, Lady J's! How 'bout it.
Go Lady Jackets!
