With the women's basketball team on a two-game losing skid, it appears that coach Gail Goestenkors has decided to simply go back to the simple things.
"We've had a week [since our last game] and I told the players we were going back to boot camp," Goestenkors said. "We've had a long week of very intense practices where we got back to basics. I think it was a good week because we also hopefully were able to make the adjustment to working without Peppi [Browne]."
Duke will now have its third chance to win a game without the injured Browne, who tore her ACL in a victory over UNC. The Blue Devils (18-4, 7-3 ACC) will take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (12-9, 5-6) tonight in Cameron Indoor Stadium.
The Blue Devils are trying to start a new home winning streak after having their 20-game streak snapped by Maryland last Thursday. On the other hand, the Yellow Jackets will be hungry because they still believe they have a shot to make the NCAA tournament, and knocking off a ranked
Since Browne's injury, Duke has gone 0-2, losing to Virginia and Maryland, and while she may try to come back later on in the season, the Blue Devils have had to adapt to life without the star forward.
"We certainly want to go out and give a better performance," Goestenkors said. "We didn't play Duke basketball. Now, we're ready to redeem ourselves."
To Georgia Tech, however, this game is the first part of a 72-hour run down Tobacco Road. After playing Duke, the Yellow Jackets drive down 15-501 to take on UNC. Georgia Tech coach Agnus Berenato is placing a large emphasis on the two games.
"These games come at a tough time of the season for us, especially with both of them being on the road," Berenato said. "Duke is one of the best teams in the conference, and Carolina seems to be getting back on a roll. Our goal is to win both games, but we definitely need a split, and that would be a great feat."
The Blue Devils and the Yellow Jackets match up very similarly, with both teams playing a perimeter-oriented game. Georgia Tech is led by forward Jamie Kruppa-the ACC's leader in double-doubles-and guard Danielle Donehew, the ACC's most prolific three-point threat.
"We're very similar in that we are both small," Goestenkors said. "They don't have a big post player, but they're very scrappy and they work very hard."
Duke will be looking to see who else can pick up the slack left by Browne. Freshman Olga Gvozdenovic got her first start against Maryland, and with the bench a little thinner, those left on it will have to be ready to produce more often.
The Yellow Jackets will also have to contend with Georgia Schweitzer, who tore up Georgia Tech in the last contest with 16 points. For the Blue Devils however, it's time to snap the season-long two-game slide and it's time to do it at home.
"We want to get back on the winning track," Goestenkors said. "We want to defend our home."
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