This weekend's excitement over Duke basketball was missing just one thing: The women's team.
The Blue Devils, often forgotten in the shadow of the men's team, began practice last week ranked as high as No. 7 in various preseason polls.
Last year marked a banner season for Duke, as the Blue Devils went 26-7 and 12-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Duke broke new ground, setting records for the most wins and the best ACC record in school history.
But the Blue Devils have had to make adjustments from last year, with unexpected injuries and six new faces.
To rebuild the team, head coach Gail Goestenkors has used a back-to-basics approach thus far in practices.
"We've been working on the little things that make a big difference," she said. "It's going to take some time to gel as a team."
The team has also concentrated on defense in its practices.
"The first week we spent ninety-five percent of our time on defense," sophomore guard Hilary Howard said.
With no set lineup, practice has also been more competitive this year than in past years. The Blue Devils are still reassessing their rotation after last year's graduation of starters Ali Day and Jennifer Scanlon.
"It's wide open this year," said Goestenkors, last year's ACC Coach of the Year. "Right now the practices are just very competitive, which is good."
The team has a distinctively new look this year, with the addition of four freshman and two transfer students. Goestenkors feels that each of the freshman can contribute to the team.
"All the freshmen are playing really well," she said. "I've been very happy with them."
Freshman Peppi Browne and Missy West are both expected to play guard for the team, while Jennifer Forte and Lauren Rice are the freshmen forwards.
Browne sees changes in Duke's program from high school.
"They train you harder overall and practice is more tense," she said.
The Blue Devils are setting their goals high this season, hoping to at least repeat last season's NCAA tournament appearance.
"Our goals are to improve every single game and every single practice," said Goestenkors. "We have the potential to have the best team we've ever had."
Leading the team through the season will be team captains Tyish Hall and Kira Orr. Hall, a forward, made the All-ACC second team last year, but will be missing the first few games of this season due to a stress fracture in her pelvic bone. Orr is a two-time member of the ACC All-Tournament Team.
The team is also looking towards senior Windsor Coggeshall, whose productivity was limited last year by injuries. The three seniors have already taken on leadership roles during practice.
"We all look up to them and respect them," said Howard.
A dull spot so far in the season has been Duke's injuries. Redshirt freshman Juanita Hepburn is out for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, and Howard, Rice and Hall are also injured.
The Blue Devils will show off their new image on Nov. 10, in a scrimmage against Champion AAU. They will also play the Chinese National Team before their first regular season contest in Cameron Indoor Stadium against UNC-Asheville on Nov. 23.
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