Sports fans dream of weekends like this one.
The men's soccer team, football team and both basketball teams all have important games that can prolong the season, end the season with a clang or start the season with gusto.
Tonight at 6 p.m., a Duke fan can walk to Koskinen Stadium and watch the men's soccer team (11-7-1) host No. 25 William & Mary (13-7-1) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. On the way back from the game, the Duke enthusiast can stop at Cameron Indoor Stadium and catch the second half of the top-ranked women's basketball team's opener against East Carolina, which tips off at 7 p.m.
After a few precious hours' sleep, a true Blue Devil can tailgate outside Wallace Wade Stadium. The fan should, however, make it inside the stadium by the noon kickoff between Duke (2-9, 0-7 in the ACC) and UNC (2-9, 0-7). After the battle for the Victory Bell concludes, a return trip to Cameron lets the ticket-holder or student watch the No. 6 men's basketball team open its season against Army at 7 p.m.
But that's not the end of the Blue Devils' weekend. The women's basketball team travels to Raleigh for the Jimmy V Classic Sunday to play No. 2 Tennessee (1-0) at 2 p.m. Tickets for the game will be available at the RBC Center box office for as little as $12.
Despite the loss of sophomore Monique Currie, the women's basketball team will have a good chance to improve on last year's Final Four campaign this year. The drive to a title begins Sunday with what might well be a preview of the April 8 national championship game in Atlanta.
Led by All-American Alana Beard, the Blue Devils will be tested by the Volunteers, who return four-of-five startes, including All-American Kara Lawson, from last year's team--which, like Duke, lost in the national semifinals (see preview, page 15).
The men's basketball team, which lost three starters to the NBA since last year, has more questions to answer as it looks to rebuild with the 'super six' class of freshmen. The questions will probably not be answered Saturday as head coach Mike Krzyzewski faces his alma mater (see preview, page 15).
In football, Duke will try to win back the Victory Bell for the first time since the 1980s, win an ACC game for the first time in three years and avoid last place in the ACC. The game could determine beleaguered head coach Carl Franks' future at Duke (see preview, page 15).
In its 16th NCAA Tournament appearance in the last 26 years, the men's soccer team faces a tall challenge in the Tribe. Led by Jordan Cila and Owoicho Adogwa, Duke would advance to face Virginia in Charlottesville the day before Thanksgiving if it defeats William & Mary (see preview, page 16).
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