Virginia head coach Debbie Ryan is not used to losing.
In her 25-year career directing the Cavaliers, Ryan has averaged 22.4 wins per year.
But this year, her team, despite possessing talent that is the envy of all but a few ACC squads, is struggling with a 5-7 record and two losses to no victories in conference. After falling to Wake Forest, Clemson and Florida, Virginia is in its first three-game losing streak in 20 years.
"[Losing has] killed our confidence," Ryan said. "After playing in so many close games, it's hard to keep coming in after losing and to build that confidence back. This is about as low as it gets."
Virginia clearly has the talent to be much better than 5-7. Picked for third in the preseason ACC poll, the Cavaliers boast last year's Rookie of the Year and plenty of young talent.
"Virginia is an excellent team," Duke head coach Gail Goestenkors said. "They have unbelievable talent. Brandi Teamer, who is preseason first team All-ACC, was ACC Rookie of the Year last year. They have a transfer at the point position Cherisse Graham. She transferred from Purdue and is their leading scorer.
"They've got so many great players who are capable of big numbers; up to this point, they haven't put it all together yet, so they are a very dangerous team."
The Blue Devils (13-0, 1-0 in the ACC) are the nation's No. 1 and a challenge for any group, let alone one that is struggling with its identity.
Duke is off to its best start ever behind the leadership of junior Alana Beard and her 23.7 points per game. The Blue Devil juggernaut has beaten its opponents by 38.3 points per game this season. Only Arkansas was able to stay close to Duke from the opening tip to the final buzzer, though the Razorbacks ultimately fell in overtime. None of Duke's other opponents have kept the game's final margin within 10.
Ryan is acutely aware of the improbability of victory for her team.
"[To win] you have to play an extremely good game, and they have to be off a little bit," she said.
Teamer will likely face off with Duke freshman Mistie Bass, who has been starting for the Blue Devils and averaging 10.6 points per game. Joining Bass in the paint is junior Iciss Tillis, second on the team with her 14.7 points per game average. Tillis, who saw lots of Teamer last year, has plenty of respect from the Cavalier's second-leading scorer.
"She's a great player and we're going to have to come out ready to play her," Tillis said.
Virginia features other talented ballers such as LaTonya Blue and Anna Prillaman, who bring notable athleticism and accurate three-point shooting to the floor. Nevertheless, the Cavaliers will be hard pressed to prevent Duke from winning its 26th straight ACC contest.
Last season, Duke traveled to UVa in December shortly after Crystal White and Rometra Craig transferred, with doubts swirling around the Blue Devils about the future of the season. In that game, Duke responded with a 107-58 demolition of Virginia that sparked a run that lasted until the Final Four.
This year, no such questions surround the Blue Devils, who are considered favorites to find their way back to the Final Four. To get there, Duke will have to win games such as this one-where underperforming teams lie in wait for an upset.
"Virginia's a great team with a lot of talent, but they've been losing a lot of games that they should have won," Beard said. "This is going to be a game where they're really in need of a win, so we're expecting them to come out and be fired up and ready to go."
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