All season long, head coach Gail Goestenkors has warned the No. 1 Blue Devils-if they lack focus and intensity, no matter the opponent, they will lose.
Goestenkors' words were almost prophetic Monday night, when Virginia Tech gave Duke a scare, with the Blue Devils narrowly edging the Hokies 75-65. After their first truly close game against an unranked team, the Blue Devils (22-0, 7-0 in the ACC) will take nothing for granted tonight when they travel to Charlottesville, Va. to play Virginia (12-9, 2-5).
"We're capable of great things when we play with tremendous intensity," Goestenkors said. "However, if we're not all on the same page, if we don't bring the focus and energy that we need, we're capable of losing to anybody."
Even though Duke is ranked No. 1 in the polls, Goestenkors does not yet consider her team to be "great." Great teams play to their own level, not up or down to their competition, she said. Goestenkors has conveyed that message to her team throughout the season, but it has struck a chord during the past few days.
"We don't want to be a team that relies on turning it on and off," senior captain Lindsey Harding said.
The Blue Devils have no problems getting psyched for their biggest games-they are 7-0 against ranked opponents. In addition, they are 2-0 against top-five teams, defeating then-No. 1 Maryland Jan. 13 and then-No. 4 Tennessee Jan. 22. Against the Lady Volunteers, Duke scored the first 19 points of the game, an indication of its intensity.
Sometimes, though, it can be even tougher to prepare for the lesser-regarded foes, especially with a looming showdown at No. 2 North Carolina next Thursday night. Mental preparation becomes even more challenging for the Blue Devils against these teams, because they have a target on their backs no matter whom they play.
"It's not difficult for me, because I know we can be beat at any time," Goestenkors said. "But sometimes for the players, I think it could be a bit difficult. Teams will always be up for us, and we have to be respectful enough to get up for them, too."
Monday night, Duke's overall performance was essentially defined by Harding's individual play-her ups and downs mirrored the team's intensity. The senior point guard knows she must set the standard.
"I need to set the tone-offensively, defensively, and through emotion," said Harding, who scored 15 points Monday night. "I am that kind of leader, and want to be the kind of leader that leads by example. I put a lot of pressure on me, but not pressure in a way that freaks me out-I want it."
Goestenkors may just be talking "coach speak" in constantly warning her team about the upcoming opponent, but she has reason to be wary of tonight's game.
Virginia has lost its last four ACC games, but Goestenkors knows the Cavaliers are better than their record indicates. In addition, 6-foot-1 forward Lyndra Littles is a tough matchup for any team. Littles is currently fifth in the ACC in scoring at 16 points per game.
"They're an angry team, they're a desperate team, they're a team playing at home," Goestenkors said. "That's a tough combination, so we better be ready to play because I'm quite sure they will be."
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.