2 | THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2010 the chronicle
sportsstaff
The Women’s ACC Tournament Preview is a sports supplement published annually by The Chronicle. It can be read online at: www.dukechronicle.com
Table of Contents 3
A mature Blue Devil squad already won an ACC regular season crown. Can Duke add to the trophy cabinet this March?
4
Seniors Bridgette Mitchell, Joy Cheek and Keturah Jackson have high expectations out of their last postseason
5
French freshman Allison Vernerey’s transition to American life—not to mention basketball—has been a smooth one
6
Duke’s post players—including some non-traditional inside performers— could define how far the Blue Devils go in the NCAA Tournament
7
Dynamic guard Jasmine Thomas (right) keys Duke’s offense, but can the Blue Devils beat good teams if she has an off night?
8
Chronicle columnists Nicholas Schwartz and Chris Cusack debate whether Duke can make the Final Four in San Antonio
larsa al-omaishi/Chronicle file photo
Editor: Gabe Starosta Managing Editor: Sabreena Merchant Photo Editor: Michael Naclerio Sports Photo Editor: Ian Soileau Recruitment Chairs: Taylor Doherty and Andy Moore Associate Editors: Dan Ahrens, Ryan Claxton, Harrison Comfort, Caroline Fairchild, Kevin Fishner, Laura Keeley, Kyle Lambrecht, Lucas Nevola, Jason Palmatary, Scott Rich, Jeff Scholl, Nicholas Schwartz, Felicia Tan Senior Associate Editors: Stephen Allan, Ben Cohen, Joe Drews, Alex Fanaroff, Will Flaherty, Archith Ramkumar, David Ungvary First-Year Writers: Rachel Apostoles, Chris Cusack, Tom Gieryn, Alex Krinsky, Patricia Lee, Jacob Levitt, Matt Levenberg, Andy Margius, Vignesh Nathan, Stuart Price, Tim Visutipol, Danny Vinik Photographers: Lawson Kurtz, Larsa al-Omaishi, Christina Peña, Caroline Rodriguez, Sam Sheft, Zachary Tracer, Xavier Watson, Melissa Yeo Special thanks to: Chronicle Editor Will Robinson, Managing Editor Hon Lung Chu, Design Editor Charlie Lee, News Photo Editor Courtney Douglas and the NUJI Group
SAVE UP TO $380* Sig
n up group of 3 with a and we w or more il all applica l waive ti processin on and g fees! *Contact office for more details
the chronicle
THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2010 | 3
postseason preview
tournament outlook
Blue Devils hope for revenge in tourneys by Patricia Lee THE CHRONICLE
No. 9 Duke enters the upcoming ACC and NCAA Tournaments secure in its place as regular season champion and confident on what its growth will allow it to accomplish, although the team has to overcome a series of setbacks to challenge the nation’s best. The Blue Devils (24-5, 12-2 in ACC) have advanced tremendously as a team this year. Elevating its level of play against difficult teams like Ohio State and Florida State, Duke has built itself into a more dominant defensive team and a threat offensively. But against elites like Connecticut and Stanford, the Blue Devils have come up well short. Still, head coach Joanne P. McCallie is impressed with her team’s development since the beginning of the season. “We are growing and have become more mature,” McCallie said. “From a team standpoint, we’re playing more aggressively and being smart, and everyone’s been a part of that. We’ve just had good, strong, aggressive, tough play by everyone defensively, fairly consistent rebounding, excellent leadership from everybody and the juniors and seniors together have formed a bond of understanding of what it takes to compete at this level.” Going in as the favorites to win the ACC Tournament this year, the Blue Devils are looking to focus on improving against teams they performed poorly against earlier in the season. Specifically, Duke had a disappointing loss against Boston College in early February in which junior guard Jasmine Thomas was the only scorer to get in double digits, and another gainst North Carolina to end the season. The offensive rhythm the team
has settled into later on in the year—with powerhouses Thomas and Joy Cheek both averaging more than 10 points per game and Karima Christmas not far behind with 9.5—will prove essential come the quick turnaround in both the ACC and NCAA Tournaments. “We’ve been practicing hard, and we’re looking forward to great competition, which is what the ACC brings,” senior forward Bridgette Mitchell said. “We always do a postgame scout report, so we’ll be ready to receive teams and more effectively counter their strong points.” Throughout regular season play, Thomas has been proud of the juniors’ and seniors’ strong presence on the court and in the locker room. “The seniors have definitely been big with emotion and have definitely been playing like it’s their last year,” Thomas said. “Their leadership on the floor is important, and if we need something big on the floor, we know that we can always look to them.” And though Duke has accomplished its goal of earning the regular season championship— although the Blue Devils split it with Florida State on the last day of the season—there are still elements that Duke needs to work on to attain a higher level of play that McCallie stresses. The coach often uses the metaphor of a series of games as a row of dominoes to be knocked down regardless of what teams the Blue Devils are playing. “We have a defensive intensity and the ability to really clamp down on opponents,” McCallie said. “But we need to continue dominating rebounding and our passing needs to improve tremendously in terms of the quickness of ball movement and throwing it harder. You’ve got to look the
michael naclerio/chronicle file photo
Duke hopes to celebrate this weekend and in the NCAA Tournament, just as it did against North Carolina three weeks ago. other team in the eye, and I’d love to see UConn again, but you can’t predict it. It’s NCAA basketball, and it’s amazing and unpredictable, but you can up your chances by bringing a mature team to the battle.”
And with their last game—a 6454 loss against the Tar Heels Sunday—behind them, the Blue Devils are preparing for more competitive ACC play and are confident they will be a foreboding presence at the NCAA Tournament.
“Hopefully you’ll go into it with the mindset that you’ll go as far as you can and that in every game you can’t save anything,” Thomas said. “As far as the ACC and NCAA, you have to face every opponent like it’s your last game.”
B o o k yo u r Fa m i ly g r a d u at i o n c e l e B r at i o n n o w !
Duke They’re your dining points.
Give them extra f lavor.
4-diamond dining, golf-view terrace, saturday & sunday brunch
bountiful breakfast buffet monday–saturday 7-10:30 am sunday 7-10:00 am
lively atmosphere delicious menu all your favorite beverages
light fare & beverages overlooking the course golfers & non-golfers welcome
Students always welcome • Dining Plan Points accepted • Reservations recommended for Fairview • Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
Publication: Chronicle Size: 6.625 x 5.125 Ad Number: 00-864-03 Job Number: 864-0005B | Dana Communications 609.466.9187
4 | THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2010 the chronicle
postseason preview
the three seniors
Senior trio brings attitude to Blue Devils by Rachel Apostoles THE CHRONICLE
There is a certain expectation of leadership that comes with being a senior. Having three years of play at the collegiate level under their belts, seniors often set the tone for the team—not necessarily by netting the most points or registering the most boards, but by relying on their experience to drive their team through trying situations. And Duke’s three seniors, Joy Cheek, Bridgette Mitchell and Kenturah Jackson, have performed that role to a tee. “I definitely think they all have different leadership qualities,” junior forward Karima Christmas said. “They all have their own qualities but they’re definitely great leaders. They just bring energy. They bring energy in different ways.” The senior trio has been a pillar of consistency for the No. 9 Blue Devils, stepping up and executing when the team has needed it most. Last Friday’s game against then-No. 18 Virginia illustrated their reliability. Cheek, Mitchell and Jackson propelled Duke to a 83-65 victory over the Cavaliers, a win that guaranteed the Blue Devils at least a share of the ACC regular season title. Cheek showed off her offensive tenacity, bucketing 13 points for Duke, while Mitchell and Jackson demonstrated their athleticism and versatility. Mitchell added eight points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals, and Jackson contributed four points, four rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal. “I’m very happy for the seniors,” head coach Joanne P. McCallie said after the Virginia game. “I thought all of them played pretty well and were very aggressive.” The feeling of being ACC regular season champions is nothing new for the Class of 2010. The trio garnered the same title in 2007 and has strived to repeat the feat ever since. With
michael naclerio/Chronicle file photo
Seniors Joy Cheek, Bridgette Mitchell and Keturah Jackson (left to right) have been asked to fill diverse roles by head coach Joanne P. McCallie. this season being their last at Duke, they have stepped up in a big way to improve the level of play for the entire team. They have also been consistent with their leadership style, which sometimes involved not being afraid to hurt the feelings of their teammates with constructive criticism. “I think I see more of our team demanding more from each other, not being ready to accept less,” McCallie said. “We’re not a sensitive team. There’s a lot said out there in terms of holding people accountable. Our team is not sensitive and they’re will-
“Find the highest quality brands at the area’s lowest prices”
Serving the Triangle for over 36 years.
Voted #1 Furniture Store 4 Years in a Row
5122 North Roxboro St., Durham • (919) 477-0481 www.furniturestorenc.com • Mon-Fri 10-7 • Sat 10-6
ing to pay the price of analysis, critical thought.” Each senior has her own leadership style and skill set on the court, which gives this team more depth and adaptability than the typical roster. Cheek brings an offensive energy, while Mitchell is a leader on the boards. Jackson often sparks the Blue Devils on defense. “We’ve really been striving to be great leaders for the See seniors on page 10
the chronicle
THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2010 | 5
postseason preview
allison vernerey, the import
Vernerey translates game, lifestyle to NCAA athletics by Tom Gieryn THE CHRONICLE
There are some who say that basketball is a universal language. And in a way, they’re right. You can put a center from Cameroon with a point guard from Paris and a small forward from Slovakia, and they might be able to put a ball through a hoop with ease. But at Duke, women’s basketball isn’t just about basketballs and backboards. The sport may not get lost in translation, but the players sure can. The closest Durham to Allison Vernerey’s home in Alsace, France is nearly 800 miles away—in Great Britain. The Durham where she goes to school—in North Carolina—is more than 3,000 miles from home. It’s taken all of her considerable talent to make the transition to basketball, and life, in the United States. Vernerey was born in Paris. Her father is a professional basketball coach, and her mother and sister also played at high levels in France. It was only natural that a six-yearold Allison got in on the action. By age 15, she was representing France in the U-16 European Championships. She would go on to be captain of her U-16 team, and eventually, of France’s U-18 team as well. In France, Vernerey said, there is little concept of a student-athlete. You either become a professional athlete, or
you become a student. “I didn’t want to have to choose one and let the other one go,” she said. “I want to keep my options open.” And as it turned out, Vernerey wasn’t the only one dreaming of her move to America. Scouts at the European Championships took notice too, and Vernerey’s name reached the ears of Duke head coach Joanne P. McCallie. Still, as a foreign player, it was up to her to make first contact, and Vernerey sent letters and video footage to all the major college programs: Duke, Connecticut and Maryland. But it wasn’t just basketball that attracted McCallie’s attention. Vernerey is the epitome of a worker: She understands her skills, but doesn’t play them up and is always eager to get better. McCallie had been impressed with the game tape she’d seen, but Vernerey the person blew her away on an even higher level than Vernerey the basketball player. “Her eyes are so bright, her excitement, her alertness, her confidence in pursuing her dream of coming to the States for an education,” McCallie said. “I thought she was courageous, brave.” Vernerey was especially interested in Duke from the start. Allison’s uncle Laurent Vernerey had received an MBA from Duke in 1998. Duke was bigger than any school Allison had ever attended, and a transition to a huge state school like Connecticut or Maryland would have proven even more difficult. Duke combined the quality basketball program she needed with the scholastic reputation she wanted. Duke was just a far-away thought in Vernerey’s head at that point, but McCallie’s visit sealed the deal. She came to Allison’s hometown, met the Vernerey family and Allison felt a connection immediately. A week after McCallie’s visit, Vernerey officially committed to the Blue Devils. But that was the easy part. The translation was just beginning.
melissa yeo/Chronicle file photo
Freshman Allison Vernerey’s versatility down low has allowed her to develop her post game, first in limited minutes and lately as a starter. Vernerey says her English was better than that of her peers in France, but that wasn’t enough to mean she could waltz right into American life. And then there was the food. She’s been to Vin Rouge but not Parizade. She spent most of her dinners eating Marketplace pizza. See vernerey on page 9
Yamazushi It’s amazing what you’ll find under one roof michael naclerio/Chronicle file photo
Allison Vernerey’s first career start came against North Carolina at Cameron Indoor Stadium, and Duke won her dream debut at home.
chill with your friends
Patterson Place 15-501 & Mt. Moriah
In Home Depot & Kohl’s Shopping Center
• Biodegradable Tableware • Packing Peanuts • Boxes • Bubble wrap • Tape • Food Service Platters • Cups • Napkins • Invitations • Cutlery • Table Covers • Arts & Crafts • Games • Office Furniture • Kids Furniture • Wrapping Paper
FEATURED ITEMS OF THE WEEK: Party Supplies: We’ve got what you need: from Solo cups to plates and food service. Don’t forget the decorations!
Show your DUKE ID for a discount (EXPIRES 3/31/10)
1010 West Main Street, Durham NC 919.688.6886
Freshly Tossed Salads!
The only local restaurant serving authentic African cuisine ~ Owned by a native Kenyan
Breakfast Sandwiches! Delicious Soups! Espresso Drinks! Hearty Sandwiches!
• Full Bar • Vegetarian Friendly
Come to our LUNCH BUFFET on SUNDAYS 11am-4pm Featuring LIVE JAZZ
Mon-Sat: 6:30am-9:00pm Sun: 7:30am-9:00pm Phone: 419-6300 | Fax: 419-6334
Learn more about us: www.thepalaceinternational.com
Owned & operated by a Japanese Chef
Now serving everything A la Carte, or “Ippin Ryori.” Choose between one plate or multiple plates to suit your appetite.
聞いて! Come and experience an authentic Japanese 8 course full dinner!
Premium Sake and a variety of high quality Japanese & Green Teas available. Woodcroft Shopping Center 4711 Hope Valley Rd., Durham 493-7748
www.yamazushirestaurant.com
Convenient off street parking, near Brightleaf Square
Bagels, Breads and Pastries!
Authentic Japanese Food
Let us CATER for you! Patio seating with Wi-Fi
1104-A Broad St., Durham • 416-4922
Tues-Sat 11am-2pm, 5pm-10pm Fri & Sat till 12mid
Serving authentic Japanese meals for over 25 years
6 | THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2010
A YEAR IN REVIEW DUKE 83 - OSU 67 December 3rd, 2009 A huge game from guard Jasmine Thomas—she scored 29 points and went 10-of-20 from the field— gave the Blue Devils an exciting win over then-No. 3 Ohio State at home. Buckeye forward Jantel Lavender put up a monster 20 points and 18 rebounds and played all 40 minutes in the losing effort.
by Sabreena Merchant THE CHRONICLE
As the season wears on, tired legs lead to missed jumpers and the game slows down, it’s useful to have a strong inside presence to turn to on offense. A year ago, the Blue Devils leaned on Chante Black as their back-to-the basket scorer. Black—the team’s leader in points—was usually able to overpower her defender given good position in the post. Unfortunately for Duke, this offensive set was highly predictable and easy to adjust to, causing the Blue Devils’ scoring to stagnate late in games. A quick look at Duke’s season-ending loss to Michigan State, in which the Blue Devils failed to score from the field in the final seven-and-ahalf-minutes, is proof enough. Nevertheless, the concept of an insideout offense wasn’t the problem. It was merely the execution that failed. Which is why a year later, Duke is still determined to work the ball inside, but with a different set of personnel, and, it hopes, better results. “We’re going to play the ball inside and out, and attack the paint and be aggressive, because we want to get to the paint and we want to get to the free-throw line, and we want that as a mainstay in things we do,” head coach Joanne P. McCallie said. The Blue Devils no longer have a power center capable of dominating the game on the offensive end. Instead, the team has a bevy of post players, each with a different skill set, lending diversity—and sometimes inconsistency—to the inside attack. Junior center Krystal Thomas has assumed Black’s position in the starting lineup, but has functioned mainly in a defensive capacity. At 6-foot-4, Thomas is a force on the boards and can alter shots, leading the team with 7.1 rebounds and nearly two blocks per game. Meanwhile, freshman Allison Vernerey has provided the perfect offensive complement to Thomas. Vernerey has a thinner frame, but her smooth stroke makes her a double-digit threat on any given night, and the freshman has hit that mark nine times this season. In the team’s Feb. 26 contest against then-No. 18 Virginia, Vernerey put up 17 points on 8-of-8 shooting while Thomas led Duke with nine rebounds and two blocks, demonstrating the Blue Devils’ options at center. “It’s worked in our offense as far as bringing different looks into the post,” ju-
UCONN 81 - DUKE 48 January 18, 2010 Five Huskies score in double figures in front of a sellout crowd at Cameron Indoor Stadium as No. 1 UConn steamrolls Duke on its way to an undefeated regular season. The Blue Devils trailed by 10 at halftime and cut that lead to eight early in the second period, but hot Huskie shooting widened the margin of victory to more than 30
DUKE 83 - UVA 65 February 26, 2010 The Blue Devils come out of the locker room at halftime fired up and turn a slim two-point lead at the break into an 18-point blowout against the Cavaliers to earn at least a share of the ACC title. This was a balanced offensive game for Duke, as six players scored at least eight points. But two days later, the Blue Devils get beat by a mediocre North Carolina squad in Chapel Hill, forcing Duke to share the top spot in the conference with Florida State
PLAZA
Offensive success rests with bigs
“Quality Is Our Specialty”
Dry Cleaners Inc.
FULL-SERVICE DRY CLEANING AND FINISHED LAUNDRY IMPROVE YOUR IMAGE, COME CLEAN WITH US!
-Environmentally friendly cleaning system -Hand-ironed linens and silks -Hand-finished men’s shirts
-The Oldest Cleaner in Town -Recipient of “Award of Excellence” Since 2005 -Family Owned & Operated: Brenda Dye & Dan Honeycutt
111 S. Elliott Road, Village Plaza
919-929-4281
HOURS: MON - FRI 7AM - 7PM, SAT 8AM - 2PM
This season has already included a series of joyous occasions for D
The Blue Devils no longer have a po capable of dominating the game. In team has a bevy of post players, ea different skill set, lending diversity— times inconsistency—to the insid nior guard Jasmine Thomas said. “Allison’s a finesse player [and] she finishes well at the basket. [Krystal Thomas] is a power down in the post.... It puts a lot of versatility down there in the post and it helps us because we can just rotate them in.” The most noteworthy aspect of Duke’s offense this year has been the frequency of post-ups from the forwards. Senior Joy Cheek worked with Black in the paint last year as a power forward, but has often played on the perimeter this season, utilizing her range and height to shoot over smaller defenders. That leaves room inside for the small forwards, namely Bridgette Mitchell and Karima Christmas, to operate. Christmas, in particular, has been a force at the three despite coming off the bench for the majority of the season. Her combination of size and athleticism is a nightmare for defenders down low, and the result has been a jump in the junior’s scoring average to 9.5 points per game. Like many of her teammates, Christmas is capable of exploding offensively, most recently against Maryland Feb. 21 when she put up 25 points on just 13 shots. “It’s just that [Bridgette and I]
are versatile play “We have heigh and quickness t Either way, we ca side. It’s helping The Blue De and nearly unp tack has posed sive challenge f Duke doesn’t down low to fo mas and Mitch for smaller win “It makes it defend] because players like Kari playing in the po larger and slowe go around them quickness is wha defense, too, be lows them to get No matter h contributing, th many Blue De ity to make a offensive end h squad more effe doesn’t play in Stadium anym players Duke do the team a figh coming weeks.
Welcome Duke Students and Employees � �
Daily Drink Specials Catering Available
Call us at 641-3872 to cater your next event.
25 disco% unt wit h Duke ID
*
The Dining Place for Students
Authentic Mexican Cuisine Voted “2008 Best of the Triangle”
~ The Independent 800 W. Main St. • 682-4197 4600 Durham Chapel Hill Blvd • 489-6468 (next to TJ Maxx)
*Discount for Main St. & Chapel Hill Blvd only. Excludes alcohol and Fiesta Platter. Dine in only.
the chronicle | 7
Against the best, Thomas’s performance key for Duke by Vignesh Nathan THE CHRONICLE
michael naclerio/Chronicle file photo
Duke, and the Blue Devils hope to celebrate an ACC Tournament title in Greensboro this weekend.
When it comes to who the best player on Duke’s squad is, there’s not a question about it—it’s Jasmine Thomas. Thomas leads the Blue Devils in points, assists and steals, and she became the 26th player in Duke history to score 1,000 points, as a junior, earlier this year. Last week, she was named as one of 30 candidates for the Naismith Player of the Year award. The list goes on and on, but there is one question that is much more pertinent to Blue Devil fans—can
ower center nstead, the ach with a —and somede attack.
yers,” Christmas said. ht to play in the post to play in the post. an play outside or ing the team out a lot.” evils’ multi-faceted, predictable, post ata significant defenfor opposing teams. have one player ocus on, and Christhell are mismatches ngs. extremely hard [to e when you have two ima and [Bridgette] ost, they can take the er posts outside and m,” Cheek said. “Their at helps. It helps our ecause their speed alt deflections.” how each player is he very fact that so evils have the abildifference on the has made this year’s ective. Chante Black n Cameron Indoor more, but the post oes have should give hting chance in the
christina pena/Chronicle file photo
The Blue Devils haven’t always shown that they can beat good teams when star Jasmine Thomas has an off night.
Good Luck, Blue Devils
Open Sundays ESPN Full Court
NHL Center Ice • NBA League Pass Brightleaf Square Main St. email: satisfaction@nc.rr.com
Durham 683-DUKE or 682-7397 www.zspotlight.com/satisfaction
Duke win without her? Although Thomas may be the most consistent offensive contributor on the team, she is by no means the only. Duke’s team consists of a plethora of experienced players who have the potential to dominate offensively. Seniors Joy Cheek and Bridgette Mitchell are both capable of having career games on any given night, while junior Karima Christmas and freshman Allison Vernerey are known to put up impressive figures. And given Thomas’s sometimes inconsistent shooting this season, these are the players that have contributed significantly to the continued success of this year’s team. For example, take the Feb. 8 game against rival North Carolina. Thomas could not generate any momentum on the court, shooting a measly 20 percent, and going 0-for-5 from 3-point range. Still, Duke pulled away for the victory and put up the most balanced scoresheet of its season, with six players scoring in double-digits, including sophomore Shay Selby, who is coming back into form after knee surgery last summer. “We have different people in different spots. You saw [Christmas] step up, you’ve seen [Cheek] step up as well,” head coach Joanne P. McCallie said. “[Jasmine Thomas] has been steady for us. Other people have stepped up for us as well. [Krystal Thomas] has had big games. [Vernerey] had big games. It’s just a matter of getting us all to fire off all cylinders at the same time.” But that’s precisely the problem. When these Blue Devils have faced off against the nation’s toughest talent, they haven’t been able to all step up at once. Rather, they seem to rely on their point guard’s assertiveness to either notch a win, or suffer a loss. A great example was Duke’s early victory against then-No. 3 Ohio State—the Blue Devils’ first quality win of the season. Thomas had a career night, scoring 29 points on a wonderful shooting performance. The rest of
the starters? They combined for fewer points than Duke’s lone star. When Duke traveled to California to take on No. 2 Stanford two weeks laer, the Blue Devils’ box score could not have been more lopsided. Thomas and Christmas combined for 30 points, more than the other eight members of Duke’s team combined. And Thomas scored her 14 points on 4-of-17 shooting, not good enough to beat a potential top seed like the Cardinal. Where were the rest of the Blue Devils? Mitchell, traditionally a reliable scorer, remained scoreless on an 0-for-4 performance from the field. Fellow seniors Jackson and Cheek were not much more impressive. The final test came against No. 1 Connecticut in January. And though Thomas scored 17 and looked impressive in doing so, none of her teammates scored in double digits, and her own scoring didn’t come close to closing the gap against the Huskies. The fact remains that many Blue Devils have not been consistent scoring threats. On the season, only two Blue Devils average double-digit points—barely (Joy Cheek is averaging 10.0 points per game). In contrast, seven of the other nine teams in the top 10 have at least three double-digit scorers, and a few even have four. For McCallie, the focus of the next few weeks will be on developing different scoring options so that the Blue Devils don’t rely so heavily on one player. “That’s the power of team. That’s the power of everyone,” McCallie said after the Blue Devils’ victory against North Carolina. “Everybody on this team can offer something.” These words may be true enough to send the Blue Devils to San Antonio. But based on the evidence, if the Blue Devils continue their sloppy play against other national title contenders, only Jasmine Thomas can determine whether Duke brings home a national championship. If she fails, so does Duke. Blue Devil fans can only hope she doesn’t.
8 | THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2010 the chronicle
The road to san antonio
Chris
Cusack
Chronicle columnists Chris Cusack and Nicholas Schwartz debate whether Duke, a potential No. 1 or No. 2 seed, is Final Four material
UConn aside, Blue Devils can match top teams Why not us? That’s the question that should be posted on every bulletin board and every wall of Duke’s locker room. It should be head coach Joanne P. McCallie’s mantra, permanently branded into the minds of her players. The Blue Devils should believe, and rightfully so, that they have what it takes to make the Final Four come April. Duke will likely be given a No. 2 seed when the tournament bracket is released in two weeks, setting up a potential Elite Eight matchup against one of the top four teams in the country: Connecticut, Stanford, Nebraska or Tennessee. True, Geno Auriemma coaches what is far and away the best team in women’s basketball (possibly in its history), winners of 69 straight games, including a dominating 33-point victory over the Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Huskies appear destined to come away with another NCAA title, their fifth in 10 years, leaving the rest of the nation clamoring for second place. If Duke gets stuck in Connecticut’s bracket come Selection Monday, it would be next to impossible to envision the Blue Devils sliding their way into San Antonio. Stanford is the obvious choice to face Connecticut in the championship game. Its only loss came at the hands of the Huskies before Christmas, 80-68, arguably Connecticut’s toughest game of the year. The Cardinal have also demolished the Pac-10 to the tune of an average margin of victory of over 24 points per game. Yet Stanford has not played a top-tier foe—conference or nonconference—on the road all season, not counting Connecticut. The Pac-10 has no teams currently ranked in the top 25, and the Cardinal’s last—and best—nonconference road win was against unranked Fresno State before New Year’s. True, the Cardinal used a big first-half
run to earn a 71-55 victory over the Blue Devils in Palo Alto, but the game came on the heels of a nine-day layoff for Duke’s exams. Stanford was able to ride the Blue Devils’ cold shooting after the layoff in the first half, but Duke matched the Cardinal in the second period. That loss can be explained in many different ways, but two stand out. First, the Blue Devils shot just 28 percent from the field, well below the team’s average of 42 percent. Second, on a day in Maples Pavilion that celebrated the Stanford football program, the home court advantage was enormous—an edge that cannot be ignored considering that the top four teams have yet to lose a game on their home floors. However, if all else stays even, the Cardinal will likely wind up in a different region than the Blue Devils; as a result, No. 3 Nebraska or No. 4 Tennessee look to be Duke’s largest obstacles on the road to the Final Four. On first glance, the Cornhuskers are the most intimidating of the two. Standing undefeated at 27-0, with wins over No. 11 Oklahoma, No. 15 Texas A&M (a team that pounded Duke Nov. 15, 95-77), No. 18 Texas and No. 20 Oklahoma State, Nebraska is led in scoring by two senior forwards: Kelsey Griffin and Cory Montgomery. However, the Blue Devils’ greatest strength this season has been rebounding and using size inside to own the paint. The team has a positive-9.7 rebounding margin, better than Nebraska or Tennessee. See cusack on page 10
Nicholas
Schwartz
Too much reliance on Thomas to perform I was there in Cameron Indoor Stadium as a determined and generally unguardable Jasmine Thomas torched then-No. 3 Ohio State for 24 second-half points en route to an impressive 83-67 upset. From my seat on press row, it looked like an experienced Blue Devil squad led by one of the top guards in the country could grow to be one of the postseason favorites in the coming months. That, however, was on Dec. 3 of last year, some 91 days ago, and while players such as Keturah Jackson and Allison Vernerey have since made sizable contributions and helped the Blue Devils to a 24-5 record and a regular season ACC title, Duke is suffering from one setback it never could have predicted. Jasmine Thomas has lost her mojo. The same junior point guard who scored 57 points over a twogame stretch against the Buckeyes and Southern California has since fallen a bit flat in ACC play. While Thomas can still break out offensively—she scored 22 and 20 points against Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech, respectively—it’s been her alarming drop-off in offensive efficiency that is cause for concern. Over Duke’s first 15 games in which the Blue Devils went 13-2, Thomas shot just over 40 percent from the field and averaged a team-high 15.8
points per game. Since a midseason clash with Wake Forest, however, it’s been all downhill for Duke’s star. In the last 14 contests, Thomas has averaged 5.78 made field goals per game— just 0.38 more than her average over the first 15 games—despite taking over two more shots per game (from 13.4 to 15.9). But it’s not just Thomas’s ability to score that has been compromised. Thomas began the first 15 games averaging 5.1 assists per game, but has averaged almost a full two assists fewer over the last 14 games. Overall, she drops just over four dimes per game this year, but that number drops to three when you only count games against ranked teams. In Duke’s losses this year, Thomas’s ineffectiveness has been showcased. The guard has fired just under 20 shots per game and has shot 31.9 percent on average in each of Duke’s losses and is dishing just 3.4 assists per game in those defeats. Thomas’s struggles may signal a confidence issue, or it could just be a function of wear and tear—she leads the Blue Devils in minutes per game with 32. Although Duke will have a bit of a break before the ACC Tournament, and another extended rest before the NCAA Tournament, there’s no rest for the weary once the big dance begins. If Duke’s best player is off, it’s anyone’s guess as to where the points are going to come from. Five players besides Thomas average between seven and 10 points per game, but of that bunch, only Karima Christmas can be expected to create on the perimeter. On a team where she is both the primary ballhandler and primary scorer, Thomas is going to need to play her best in order for Duke to see San Antonio.
Sushi Rolls
Buy One Get One Free* The Habitat for Humanity ReStore serving Durham and Orange counties is joining a nationwide Habitat effort to assist earthquake-ravaged Haiti. For the month of March, all proceeds from sales at our Habitat for Humanity ReStore will be donated to the Haiti response. Come see what the Habitat for Humanity ReStore has that will help you—and help families in Haiti in the process.
Serving Durham and Orange counties
Another way to help Please help make the sale a success with your continued donations of: Gently Used and Surplus • Furniture • Appliances • Construction Materials • Household Goods Call 403-8668 for pickup of large items.
Shop our Habitat for Humanity ReStore. You’ll find some great bargains for your home, help fund Habitat’s work in the community –and keep a lot of useful materials out of the landfill. Check us out any time, but remember our special March sale to benefit Haiti.
Tuesday - Friday 10:00am – 6:00pm and Saturday 10:00am – 5:00pm 5501 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd. (at I-40) Durham.
Now Open For Lunch
Wednesday, Thursday & Friday from 11:30am – 2:00pm Sunday from Noon – 3:00pm 3504 Mt Moriah Road • Durham • 401.6908
Kanki.com
*OFFER NOT VALID IN COMBINATION WITH OTHER SPECIAL OFFERS, DISCOUNTS OR COUPONS. SOME LIMITATIONS APPLY . DINE IN ONLY . OFFER APPLIES TO FULL-SIZE SUSHI ROLLS.
the chronicle
vernerey from page 5 “I guess when I arrived I was really excited because, you know, America is like, you eat pizza,” Vernerey said, laughing. “You eat burgers. You go to the Marketplace, you have pizza every day. And that’s finally what I end up taking every day. And finally I’m like, well, it has been two months now. Maybe I should try something else.” Basketball proved to be something of a new language as well. Like all freshmen, she was well behind in the weight room. Some of her teammates weren’t sure how well an international player would integrate into their system. The rules changed: narrower paint, longer shot clock. And doesn’t every basketball player have to take issue with the officiating? With an innocent tone that belies her vocal aggressiveness on the court, she tells the story of her first game: “My first game here I fouled out, and I was like, ‘What’s going on? I promise I didn’t do anything wrong.’” But things got easier by the day. Vernerey’s teammates pointed her in the right direction any time she needed help, and she wasted no time shaking the stereotype of a timid outsider struggling to adjust. “She’s not sensitive. She’s very mature,” McCallie said. “Allison can handle being yelled at, she can handle being challenged. She’s vocal, she’s aggressive, she’s tough, she’s hard-nosed.” Vernerey began the season showing flashes of potential. She has excellent agility for a post player. She runs the floor very well and can score with either hand around the basket. She also brings a high basketball IQ. “There’s no part of that game that you don’t want. She can do it all for us,” Thomas said. “With me being a point guard, and a guard that likes to play fast, it’s going to be good to have someone that can run the floor.” And in recent weeks, she has indeed been doing it all. She got her first career start in a huge rivalry game against North Carolina at Cameron Indoor Stadium and showed off her all-around skill set with 10 points, six rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals in a season-high 28 minutes of action. Vernerey followed that with a 20-point, 10-rebound performance against N.C. State. The freshman is averaging a solid 7.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Not surprisingly, she downplays her increased role on the team. Duke Mens BasketballINdianpoli:Layout 1 2/4/10
THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2010 | 9
“As far as just being here, the life I get here, the balance with basketball and my studies, the new people I meet, is already extraordinary,” Vernerey said. “But then Coach P giving me the chance to start is a great thing.” The translation process is nearing its completion—only her accent and the occasional misplaced preposition give away that she’s not a native English speaker. She’s branched out to meals other than pizza. She’s only fouled out twice since that first game. But there’s one thing she hasn’t gotten used to, and maybe never will. “I guess it’s just so much excitement,” she said. “I’ve never had that many people in a gym for a basketball game.” Allison Vernerey might need to get used to that, though: If she keeps getting better, she and her Duke teammates will play in plenty of packed houses.
xavier watson/Chronicle file photo
Allison Vernerey’s teammates and coaches praised her for her ambition in moving the United 7:39 PM toPage 1 States and her willingness to listen on the court.
We’re following you all the way to San Antonio
Thomas, Cheek enter Blue Devil record books by Danny Vinik THE CHRONICLE
Just over a month apart, senior Joy Cheek and junior Jasmine Thomas joined an elite cadre of Duke players to score 1,000 points over the course of their careers in Durham. On Jan. 29, Cheek scored her 1,000th career point to become the 25th woman in Duke history to reach that milestone. Six games later against Maryland, Thomas— a year earlier than her teammate—joined her as the 26th member of the exclusive group. “It means a lot to be amongst that group of women,” Cheek said after reaching the mark. “It’s an honor. It credits your hard work and how much you put forth. I know we’ll have some more ladies on that team that will be right behind me.” Although a year younger, Thomas followed Cheek less than a month after. “It was never really anything I thought about,” Thomas said. “Scoring is just something I can do and I guess over time, [points] add up. It’s cool to get there and be part of history, but [now it’s time to] move on.” Entering Friday’s ACC tournament quarterfinal, Cheek has scored 1,081 points as a Blue Devil, while Thomas has amassed 1,039 points. Head coach Joanne P. McCallie praised the pair’s achievements. “I just think it’s great for them,” McCallie said. “It’s an individual accomplishment, but a well-deserved individual accomplishment. Joy’s been a mainstay, a terrific person for us as a senior leader. Jas is incredibly talented as a junior. I’m very proud of both of them.” McCallie is also using Cheek and Thomas’s accomplishment as an example for the younger players to follow. “It sends a message that if you work hard and you really commit yourself, good things happen and fun things happen,” McCallie said.
experience
beauty for less.
25% off a service for new guests* pricing starts at:
haircut $19 highlights $25 facials $35 waxing $13 Outstanding Retirement Living Since 1992
2701 Pickett Road, Durham, NC 27705 919.490.8000 • 800.474.0258 www.forestduke.org
919.960.4769 *bring in ad for discount *not valid with other offers. expires 4/30/10. DK.ACCW.10
avedachapelhill.com | 200 w franklin st.
Cosmetic Art School Work done exclusively by supervised students
10 | THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2010 the chronicle
cusack from page 8
seniors from page 4
Six-foot-four Krystal Thomas and 6-foot-5 Allison Vernerey have several inches on the Cornhusker stars and are a force to be reckoned with in the lane. No team has been able to successfully force Nebraska to live or die by the three yet this season, but if anyone is built to do just that, it’s Duke. Pat Summitt and the Volunteers, on the other hand, would present a defensive test for the Blue Devils. Allowing its opponents just 57 points per game on 34.6 percent shooting and used to playing in front of big, boisterous crowds, Tennessee will be a tough out. However, McCallie’s squad has recorded even gaudier defensive numbers in a tougher conference, and is one of the only teams that can match up with the Volunteers’ massive frontcourt, the biggest reason Tennessee is in position to earn a No. 1 seed. Now, Duke has issues of its own, highlighted by its overreliance on Jasmine Thomas to create offense, but to suggest that the Blue Devils won’t be in the April mix is ridiculous. As long as they stay far, far away from Connecticut.
team, both in practice and in games, showing the right demeanor, right attitude, positive energy,” Mitchell said. “That’s what we’ve been focusing on as seniors.” In game situations, the seniors’ experience enables them to be leaders on the court. They were role models for younger players during high-pressure situations, maintaining their composure and executing when the team needed it most. “I think the seniors have definitely been big with emotion and they’re definitely playing like this is their last year and they have nothing else but to give it all,” junior guard Jasmine Thomas said. “Their leadership on the floor, always being able to turn to them, when we need something big done in the game, whether it’s a rebound or a steal or a bucket, we can get it from any of them. They’ve been big for us.” Although their final regular season as Blue Devils is complete, Cheek, Mitchell and Jackson are not ready to hang up their jerseys just yet. The trio should get to play two more games in Cameron Indoor Stadium—the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament will be held there—but this group of seniors has its sights set long past those early stages. “I still don’t think of this as the last game,” Cheek said after Duke’s Senior Night. “I think the last NCAA game that we have will resonant a little more. I felt like I was coming back after [Friday]. That was the mindset that I had. I guess I’ll have another Senior Night.”
michael naclerio/Chronicle file photo
Duke’s Krystal Thomas will be asked to guard and rebound against some of the best post players in the country in the coming weeks.
christina pena/Chronicle file photo
Senior guard Keturah Jackson was rewarded for an excellent season on defense by being named to the All-ACC Defensive Team.
the chronicle
THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2010 | 11
Thursday
Friday No. 4 Georgia Tech
No. 5 Wake Forest
Saturday
Sunday
11 a.m.
11 a.m.
2010 ACC Tournament Bracket
1 p.m.
No. 12 Miami No. 1 Duke No. 8 North Carolina
3 p.m.
3 p.m. No. 9 Maryland
1 p.m. No. 2 Florida State
No. 7 Boston College
6 p.m.
6 p.m. 3:30 p.m.
No. 10 Virginia Tech No. 3 Virginia No. 6 N.C. State 8 p.m. No. 11 Clemson
8 p.m.
2010 ACC Tournament Champion