On paper, it seems like preseason championship hype should be swirling around the upcoming Duke campaign. The Blue Devils return eight starters from a team that was regularly ranked among the top programs in the nation and reached the second round of the NCAA tournament. Head coach Beth Bozman and her team certainly believe this could be their year.
It appears, however, that no one outside of Durham gives the Blue Devils much credit. In a preseason poll, coaches around the league predicted that Duke will finish in sixth place in the ACC-dead last. Bozman has grown used to low outside expectations during her time as Duke's head coach.
"I think almost every year we'd probably be picked last. Have we ever finished last? Not since [my coaching staff and I] have been here," she sad. "The academic standards and responsibilities here are different than at some schools, and for some reason that goes with respect in their minds."
An ACC championship would go a long way toward earning that respect for the No. 10 Blue Devils. But standing in their way is the premier conference in the NCAA. Wake Forest, the defending national champion, didn't even crack the top three in preseason league rankings. Last season five of six ACC teams qualified for the 16-team NCAA tournament.
Another significant obstacle Duke faces is a lack of upperclassmen. The Blue Devils only have five juniors and seniors returning, and will look to work a number of freshmen into the rotation. Building team chemistry as quickly has possible has been of primary importance this offseason.
"From the very beginning, we've been talking about leadership throughout the team, that team strength comes from sharing leadership and sharing responsibility," Bozman said.
While leadership will be shared to some degree amongst everyone on the roster, senior Lauren Miller figures to be one of the team's more influential members. The lone Blue Devil selected to the preseason All-ACC team, Miller led the team in assists last year.
Duke's roster looks notably different than that from 2008. Seven players have left the team early, including former captain Brooke Patterson. Without Patterson, Miller and her two co-captains, Amie Survilla and Sarah Schoffstall figure to have an even more crucial role.
So far, Miller seems confident that the team is coming together despite the turnover.
"We've really bonded fairly quickly as a team," she said. "Even though there are only five upperclassmen, you look a lot to the sophomores and freshmen even to step up into their own roles."
Luckily for the Blue Devils, their sophomores are among the most talented in the nation. Following a successful freshman campaign, Midfielder Rhian Jones was the alternate for the U.S. U-21 World Cup team.
"It was a disappointing summer for [Jones] being the first alternate," Bozman said. "I think she came here and it gave her this newfound drive on the team."
Another sophomore, speedster Megan Deakins, will move from midfield to forward this year in an effort to boost Duke's attack.
"When you have someone with Megan's speed driving at you as a defender it can be a little nervewracking," Bozman said.
Thanks to Duke's wealth of talented underclassmen, budding team chemistry and senior leadership, the Blue Devils seem primed to surprise their ACC doubters and challenge for both a conference and national title.
"Everybody on this team came back in incredible shape," Bozman said. "There's a newfound commitment on this team that we don't want to finish eighth in the nation-we want to finish No. 1 in the nation."
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