Even without Chelsea Gray, the second-seeded Blue Devils have what it takes to make it to the ever-elusive Final Four thanks to dominant post play and the rise of freshman Alexis Jones, who may turn out to be the next Gray sooner than most thought.
The rookie’s play in Gray’s absence has been nothing short of spectacular. The freshman closed out the season with an impressive four-game stretch in which she averaged 14.0 points, 5.8 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals per contest. Her success did not go unnoticed, as she ended the season by garnering ACC Rookie of the Week honors two weeks in a row, as well as being named to the All-ACC Freshman Team.
Although some doubt Duke’s chances of making the Final Four, let alone winning the NCAA Championship, without Gray on the floor, the team’s recent track record indicates otherwise. The Blue Devils have been on fire lately, aside from an off-game against Miami, defeating three top-20 teams in their final four matchups—including two by double digits. Plus, Duke has proven itself able to perform in the spotlight against top-caliber teams all season long, winning six of seven meetings, losing only to then-No. 3 Connecticut.
Read more about Duke women's basketball in the 2013 NCAA tournament
And, Jones is just one of a number of mismatches the Blue Devils’ create when they take the floor. Throughout the season, sophomore Elizabeth Williams and junior Haley Peters have been one of the scariest duos to face in basketball.
Peters is the team’s scrappiest and most aggressive rebounder, which when combined with a consistent spot-up 3-pointer and solid mid-range jumper, makes her a nightmare for opposing coaches. She has the talent and size to play either forward position, with the skills to exploit any defender from either spot.
Although Peters is the more aggressive player, Williams poses an even larger threat as a silent killer down on the block. Were it not for Brittney Griner’s dominance at Baylor, Williams would likely be considered the best center in the country thanks to her skill set and athleticism. She has been a candidate for ACC Player of the Year ever since she recovered from a stress fracture in her right leg suffered in last year’s NCAA tournament.
With quick feet and a soft touch, the 6-foot-4 center uses a plethora of post moves to frustrate opponents, allowing her to average 15.4 points per game. She is the only underclassman in the top-15 scorers in the ACC.
Led by Williams’ 2.9 blocked shots per game—which garnered her ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors—Duke’s defense as a whole has been among the best in the nation, ranking fourth in scoring margin and ninth in field-goal percentage defense.
Gray or no Gray, Williams and Peters are strong enough to at least carry the team to the Elite Eight. Luckily for the Blue Devils and their championship hopes, they have Jones to take them the rest of the way.
Still, Jones isn’t the only player to have stepped up to fill the void in Gray’s absence. Duke boasts the two leaders in 3-point shooting percentage in the ACC, juniors Chloe Wells and Tricia Liston.
The Blue Devils also have coaching pedigree on their side. Duke is led by head coach Joanne P. McCallie, who was named the 2012-13 ACC Coach of the Year after leading Duke to a 17-1 record in conference play. The 2005 National Coach of the Year will look to guide the Blue Devils to the national semifinals for the first time after making consecutive trips to the regional semifinals the past few seasons.
With such a talented and deep roster, and a top coach, Duke has all the pieces to knock off a top-seeded team like Connecticut, Notre Dame and Baylor—even with Gray sidelined.
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