UConn Game Commentary

For the first time in program history, 9,314 fans packed into a sold-out Cameron Indoor Stadium Saturday night for a women's basketball game. And although the Blue Devils played poorly until a late second-half run lowered their deficit against Connecticut to single digits, the Crazies proved throughout the contest why they are considered the best fans in the country. "This was one of the best crowds at any game I've ever been to, men's or women's," senior Dorsey Rickard said. "Everyone was loud and crazy. It was just an incredible atmosphere." The line for ticketed fans started forming around 7 a.m., and the walk-up line grew to several hundred students before the 7 p.m. tip-off. "We had to turn away probably more than 100 people," line monitor Andrea Walczak said. "This was the first women's game where we've ever even needed line monitors." The fans who did make it into Cameron certainly made their presence felt. In addition to the usual cheers, the Crazies enjoyed taunting Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma. Auriemma--who drew the ire of Duke fans with his well-documented, brash comments before the game--dislikes his given first name, Luigi. The Crazies picked up on this tid-bit of information and chanted "Luigi" whenever the Huskies' coach made a scene on the sidelines. Auriemma was mocked in near unison when he received a technical foul for protesting a call with 13:29 left in the game. Despite the Blue Devils' 21-point halftime deficit, Cameron remained as loud and as full as it was at the opening tip. The fans were rewarded with a strong second half run by the home team, including 21 points from All-American Alana Beard. The decibel level easily matched that of men's games during Duke's 30-11 streak that brought it within nine points in the closing minutes. "At one point when we started to make our comeback, I couldn't hear myself think," Beard said. "It was awesome. I really appreciate the Cameron Crazies coming out. They did an awesome job." The Crazies may have been loud, but they were also generally well-behaved. The only security problem occurred at the start of the second half, when the game had to be delayed while several unruly Connecticut fans were removed from the student section. "We had three UConn fans acting, shall we say, inappropriately," said first sergeant Larry Michels, who led a full police presence. "When I took them outside, they couldn't produce tickets, so they were not allowed back in. We want people to come in and enjoy the game, but we just don't want them to act inappropriately." According to the other UConn fans--who were a small but loud group--the atmosphere in Cameron topped that of the Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Conn., which consistently sells out to a throng of 10,167 screaming Husky faithful. "I was very impressed with this crowd," said Connecticut fan Mary Hill, who travels to most of the team's games. "This is probably the loudest stadium that I've ever been to. Here you've got all the students right on the court and they really bring it. It's totally awesome. All the older people are close to the court in Connecticut and the students sit higher up." Duke students certainly packed the sidelines Saturday night, but opinions varied on whether or not this crowd was a one-and-done deal. "This game probably intrigued some students and will make them want to come back to see the women play," Rickard said. "But it'll take a while to get the crowds like they have at men's games." Other fans, though, were less optimistic. "With a loss a lot of fans won't want to come back," said freshman Joanna Hundley, who was one of the first in line at 7 a.m. "At guy's games, there's always nonstop cheering. It's just so unfair." Only time will tell just how faithful the Crazies really are, but, if Saturday night was any indication, attendance and enthusiasm should improve considerably for a program that has truly become one of the nation's elite. "I appreciate the packed house that we had," Duke head coach Gail Goestenkors said. "I'm sorry that we couldn't give them a better game."