Duke was in control last season in College Station, Texas, on its way to a big road win before a 15-point second-half lead evaporated in the blink of an eye.
The Blue Devils will have their home crowd behind them this time when they try to avenge that painful 63-59 loss.
No. 12 Texas A&M brings a very familiar team to Durham for a showdown Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Cameron Indoor Stadium against No. 14 Duke, but the Aggies will have to deal with several unfamiliar faces. It will be the first game against a marquee opponent for the five freshmen that make up Duke’s top-ranked recruiting class, and the Blue Devils’ veterans are making sure the newcomers understand the importance of this contest.
“For the returners, we all remember [last year], and how we were up and they came back and we lost,” sophomore forward Azurá Stevens said. “We’re using that and trying to tell our younger players this has got to be a comeback game for us.”
The Blue Devils (2-0) started two freshmen and three sophomores in Sunday’s win against Winthrop, but Texas A&M (2-0) started three seniors in its season opener Friday against Texas State, with two more seniors contributing off the bench. Senior starters Courtney Williams, Courtney Walker and Jordan Jones—the older sister of Duke shooting guard Matt Jones—combined for 52 of the Aggies’ 63 points against the Blue Devils last season and 16 of the team’s 17 assists.
These experienced guards will have to face a revamped Duke backcourt that features some of the most electric young players in the nation. Speedy freshman point guard Kyra Lambert started the Blue Devils’ first two games alongside classmate Crystal Primm, and Angela Salvadores—the No. 5 overall recruit in the Class of 2015—is gradually taking on a bigger role in limited minutes to start the season. Although Duke’s young backcourt will present Texas A&M with new challenges, its inexperience was evident when the Blue Devils combined to commit 47 turnovers in their first two games.
“We’ve got to slow down on offense and understand there’s a time and place, when to go fast, when to slow down, and just give the right passes to each other, play simple basketball and execute,” Duke head coach Joanne P. McCallie said. “The turnovers are unnecessary, and it’s very important that we get those down to 12 or less.”
Although the Blue Devils’ deep backcourt received most of the attention entering this season, Duke’s biggest advantage against the Aggies may be its height. The Blue Devils have five players that are at least 6-foot-4, and Texas A&M’s roster only features two players taller than 6-foot-1.
Stevens led the team in scoring in both games last weekend and dominated Winthrop inside with 18 points, 14 rebounds and eight blocks. The 6-foot-6 forward will need to continue to use her size to her advantage against 6-foot-5 Khaalia Hillsman and the rest of the Aggies. Duke’s guards are also much taller than their Texas A&M counterparts. Sharpshooters Rebecca Greenwell and Haley Gorecki are both at least six feet tall and should be able to shoot over their defenders either on their perimeter in the post.
“Especially if there’s a mismatch with Azurá, that seems to be the one that works the best for us,” McCallie said. “We’re always looking for mismatches, and the guards as well—our guards know how to get to the block and post up, and we’ve got to do some more of that.”
Duke finished with a 48-37 rebounding edge last season against Texas A&M, and McCallie noted that rebounding would be a key to the game again Wednesday, along with transition defense. The only two starters the Aggies lost from last season were both frontcourt players, giving McCallie’s squad the opportunity to dominate the glass even more this year.
The Blue Devils’ size helped them outrebound both Penn and Winthrop by 15, with Stevens leading an impressive team effort on the boards. Greenwell, junior Oderah Chidom and graduate student Amber Henson combined for 40 rebounds during the first two games, thanks in part to their activity on the offensive glass.
“When you stand around on offensive boards, it’s really easy just for someone to stand in front of you,” Stevens said. “But if you’re moving all the time, it’s hard for them to try to find you and then box you out.”
If Stevens has another big game against a smaller team and stays out of foul trouble—which she struggled with last weekend—she could help ease the pain of last year’s crushing loss and help Duke notch an impressive early season victory.
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