Thoughts on the AP Poll: Week 17
Last week's top-10 teams lost 10 times in one of the wildest weeks of an already crazy season to bring about what is becoming a weekly reshuffling at the top of the AP poll.
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Last week's top-10 teams lost 10 times in one of the wildest weeks of an already crazy season to bring about what is becoming a weekly reshuffling at the top of the AP poll.
CHAPEL HILL—Turnovers and miscommunications have plagued an inexperienced Duke team for much of the year, but the Blue Devils finally got on the same page in the last game of the regular season.
Duke threatened to score inning after inning Saturday afternoon, but never came up with a big hit to push a run across.
The Blue Devils played two road games against ranked ACC opponents this week and came out 1-1, including a thrilling 74-73 win against No. 5 North Carolina Wednesday. With its toughest stretch behind them, Duke sits fifth in the conference standings.
Duke opened its season with a big series win against No. 10 California, but the Blue Devils have no time to rest on their laurels.
With two outs and the bases empty in the bottom of the 10th inning, No. 10 California was close to extending the game for another frame.
Most years, when Duke’s last regular-season home game rolls around, the Blue Devils can still expect to play in Cameron Indoor Stadium again in postseason competition.
No. 20 Duke rallied from an eight-point deficit in the final seven minutes to upset No. 5 North Carolina 74-73 in Chapel Hill Wednesday night, giving the Blue Devils their third straight win against a ranked opponent. Duke trailed for the vast majority of the game and lost Matt Jones to an ankle injury in the first half, but the trio of Brandon Ingram, Grayson Allen and Luke Kennard played a major part in a comeback that left the crowd at the Dean E. Smith Center in stunned silence when the final buzzer sounded.
Anita Riggs struggled with debilitating symptoms stemming from a concussion for five years, but it only took one week of treatment to dramatically improve her life.
Duke had an abysmal week, losing to No. 10 Florida State 69-53 and to Wake Forest 64-58 on the road. The Blue Devils’ offense has not found a rhythm while leading scorer Azurá Stevens has been sidelined for the last four games with a torn plantar fascia, and Duke is now below .500 in the ACC at 6-7. It is far more likely that the Blue Devils will be hosting a postseason championship in Durham in the Women’s NIT than playing for the title in Indianapolis come April.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.—Duke will finish its regular season without beating a ranked team, but until Sunday afternoon, the Blue Devils had not lost to a team below them in the ACC standings.
Duke’s offense has gone silent with Azurà Stevens sidelined, but its most experienced leader is helping the Blue Devils compete on the defensive end.
With nearly half of conference play behind them, the Blue Devils sit at 17-8 and 6-5 in the ACC. Duke has worked its way through injuries and early struggles to play better basketball in recent weeks. The Chronicle's women's basketball beat writers take a look at some of the storylines facing the team the rest of the way.
Myles Jones, Deemer Class and Case Matheis will all wrap up illustrious college careers this spring, but the end of their senior years will not mark the end of their time on the field together.
It was a tumultuous week for Duke, which held a five-point fourth quarter lead Monday night against No. 3 Notre Dame before going scoreless for a span of 6:29 and giving up 13 straight points in the 68-61 loss. To make matters worse, star forward Azurá Stevens tore her plantar fascia early in the contest and had to miss Thursday night’s game against Virginia, but Rebecca Greenwell and Angela Salvadores stepped up to lead the Blue Devils to a 67-52 win. But the duo could not help Duke on the road against No. 16 Miami and the Blue Devils fell 61-53.
Rebecca Greenwell
Although Duke dropped a close game Monday night against No. 3 Notre Dame, the versatility the Blue Devils showed as a team will help them navigate the rest of a grueling ACC schedule.
A year later than expected, Trent Swart is ready to be the ace of Duke’s pitching staff in his final season.
Duke proved it can compete with the best in the country Monday night, but will have to settle for another close loss after fading down the stretch.
Azurá Stevens