It has been a place that I have held very near and dear to my heart over the years. But life never gets easier. The bells rang out across Duke's campus at 5 p.m., chiming as if in celebration of Blue Devil senior Celeste Taylor. The Blue Devils are lightyears ahead of original projections Duke was picked seventh in the league in the preseason media poll. Full access to Maria's collection of inspiring weekly essays. Heide, Emma 4:21. facebook Richardson had 10. We're asking them to do things that they haven't done before, she says. Jai Lucas. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. It's official, Duke's coaching staff has a new member. Oliver, Emma Slipped is relative. We publish premium content that makes you feel Informed, Inspired, Hopeful, "We have concluded through our investigation that it was a men's ball," Lawson later added." With the three-headed monster of Taylor, Brown and Balogun leading the charge, the Blue Devils have given opposing offenses fits all season and its never in the same way. She spent the last eight years as an assistant at Notre Dame. Because when you have those two things defensively, whatever theyre being taught, whatever were playing, whatever were doing it, only works from a defensive Xs and Os standpoint if were connected and were trusting each other.. More:Status remains uncertain for Notre Dame's Olivia Miles heading into ACC Tournament ND went 10 . I will get in these modes where Im like, I just need to get through this, and then everything will be good. So that concept applies to everything., Lawson says that she and her coaching staff challenge their players. Koabel, Kennedy Duke's Lawson adds Cunningham among 3 hires. Drink water. Jonathan Levitan is a Trinity junior and sports editor of The Chronicle's 118th volume. Volleyball Wrestling Duke University Athletics Department Mailing Address:PO Box 90555, Durham, NC 27708 Department Shipping Address:Scott Family Athletics Performance Center, Room 364, 110. 15 in the AP Poll before a sharp decline that caused them to miss the NCAA tournament. @Scalabrine explains why he thinks Kara Lawson is the best candidate for the Celtics' new head coach: On the court leaders stepped up in a way they didnt last year, bringing the rest of the team along. The conference office considers this matter to be closed and will have no further comment.". No matter if the Blue Devils are up or down in the game, it is evident that they play hard and play together. The 16th-ranked Blue Devils lost to the Seminoles . A coach is someone that inspires, that encourages, that motivates [] and that challenges you. Man, can [the staff] coach defense; they could play it as players and they can really coach it, said Lawson in a Jan. 17 availability. In short, the game had steep implications for both the conference and NCAA tournament seedings, which Lawson mentioned. In addition, assistant head coach Beth Cunningham moved on to a head coaching position, and Lawson filled her spot with a well-respected and experienced coach: Karen Lange. Head Coach. I think the challenge is our kids understanding what their coverages are in their particular areas and then being able to move on the fly should someone throw something random at us, Jackson explained. She aims to do this for the brilliant young minds she coaches at Duke. Lawson specified that she was not a part of that talk as she is not usually in the locker room at halftime. Duke won its last two games by double digits, cruising to a 79-62 . That is one stat that has progressed in a large way. Now in the ACC its really hard and weve got to find a way to get our defensive numbers to hold steady versus great competition. It may only be July, but the early portion of Duke and head coach Kara Lawson's upcoming schedule is now clear. But unless you continue to play, we lose that unique mentorship. . Meet the Duke coach who reportedly is 'prime candidate' for Celtics job | Sporting News SAN NOP 5:00p -7.5 pts WAS UTA 6:00p -6.5 pts PHI NYK 9:00a -4 pts LAL DAL 11:30a -4.5 pts MIL BOS 2:00p. Thats our next challenge because they have slipped a little bit in league play.. Jackson has 24 years of coaching experience, including four as coach of Washington. We didnt practice it well and it didnt translate well, so that was a big point of emphasis for our entire staff in the offseason.. Duke's Tyrese Proctor (5) and Notre Dame's Cormac Ryan (5) go after the ball during the second half of Duke's 68-64 victory over Notre Dame at Cameron Indoor Stadium in . The official Facebook page of Duke University Women's Basketball. Share and discuss Duke women's basketball assistant coach Beth Cunningham hired as Missouri State head coach on social media. Gandy arrives from the Rice coaching staff, where he spent the last three seasons. ACC women's basketball coaches Niele Ivey, Katie Meier, Felisha Legette-Jack and Kara Lawson talk about the upcoming season at media day. Latson owns an ACC-leading 18 20-point games as well as seven 30-point games this year. He's still a great mentor for meI talk to him weekly, Lawson said in a press conference last summer, per the Duke Chronicle. Duke, finishing its nonconference slate at 10-1, held teams to 48.5 points per game, 31.9 percent shooting from the floor and just 25.9 percent from long range. 2023 Duke Athletics. Then, at halftime, players voiced their concerns to the assistant coaches in the locker room. Cunningham departs Dukes program on the heels of a once-promising season that saw the Blue Devils ranked as high as No. The numbers were not favorable to finding wins, especially in the highly competitive ACC. That run included a four-point play by Kelly, who led all scorers with nine points in the first half. Season Statistics; Season Statistics (PDF) Big Ten Statistics (PDF . Jackson, Winston They each bring their own elite skills to the table, both basketball and non-basketball. And thats what we have at Duke; we have kids who want to be great students and we have kids who want to be great basketball players. This Expert Has the Secret to Easing Your Mind, Still in the Game: New Campaign Starring Veteran Storytellers Challenges Hollywood to #RethinkAging. Duke's vaunted defense held UNC to just 24% shooting and kept the Tar Heels scoreless over the game's last four minutes, allowing only four points in the fourth quarter. In 2021, the severe lack of equipment afforded to women in their NCAA tournament bubble was exposed, ultimately leading to positive change, including extending March Madness branding to the women's tournament. Brown, Shay I think we achieved that. Lawson says this means making sure you have the energy to tackle what you need to do. Sleep well. Lawson, a former Tennessee player who spent the past year as an assistant with the NBA's Boston Celtics, was hired by Duke on July 11. MORE: Stephen A. Smith rips Celtics' promotion of Brad Stevens. And the student-athletes must have the confidence that their teammates will always have their backs, because defense is a total team effort. They're willing to do whatever it is that needs to be done in order for us to win.. Cunningham, who also spent the eight years directly preceding her Duke tenure as an associate head coach at Notre Dame, fills the vacancy left by previous head coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton, who led the Bears to NCAA tournament appearances in two of her three years with the program, with the lone exclusion a result of the events COVID-19 cancelation. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. The star for this team has unquestionably been Taylor, who leads the team in scoring but provides so much value outside of shooting that helps Duke win. When you make a mistake, you own it, and you own it right away. Hopefully, you had a coach who motivated you along the way, says Lawson. I think they're representing this school and Duke basketball in an incredible way right now.. I'm really looking for improving defensive points per possession.. She was a Duke assistant from 2005 to 2007 and most recently spent five seasons as an assistant at Miami. The North Carolina game Feb. 4 was no exception to that by a six-point margin . She can drop down low and guard a big or pop out to defend a guard or an athletic four. This doesnt change the mile. Scheyer bleeds Duke blue through and through, playing four years from 2006-2010, then joining the coaching staff as a special assistant in April 2013, ultimately being promoted to assistant. Duke women's basketball fell in its regular-season finale to rival North Carolina, breaking its season-long home win streak. All five on the court at the same time. We all need that. Long-time GM Danny Ainge retired and coach Brad Stevens is replacinghim in the front office. Lawson announced her assistants on Friday, and the three coaches have combined for 46 years of collegiate coaching experience including one NCAA Championship, 17 NCAA Tournament selections and six NCAA Final Four appearances. Finding the one that suited us best was a fun project in the preseason. Cunningham and Jackson both are coming to Duke from other ACC schools and have been coaching for the past two decades. Exclusive access to LIVE, virtual interviews with Maria and friendsevery month! Duke has forced 536 opposing turnovers in 29 games this season, 101 more than last season's 30-game total. Its about teaching them to understand that they can and encouraging them to do that. Duke basketball coaching staff could undergo more changes Amid the Nate James news, fellow associate head coach Jon Scheyer is still in the mix for the head coaching vacancy at DePaul, located approximately 30 minutes outside of his hometown of Northbrook, Illinois. Photo courtesy of Duke Athletics. She's really excited to get going. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. They beat us playing with a men's ball in the first half and a women's ball in the second half. Lawson, Tia 2022-23 All-ACC Women's Basketball Team. "She's elite at what she doesI thought she was head coaching material after just five minutes talking with her." Now with the Blue Devils in the thick of conference action the numbers have understandably dropped a touch, but Lawson and the Blue Devils are excited to meet the challenge of ACC play night in and night out. 8 Maryland. Beths experience having been a head coach for many years, having been at a top program at Notre Dame, having learned and coached with Muffet McGraw, a Hall of Fame coach, having been at Final Fours, having won a national championship; there is so much she brings to the table for Duke. Aside from her numbers, it is the little things that make Taylor invaluable to this group. The senior leads the squad with nearly six rebounds per game and picks up one steal per game to go along with a 10.9 points per game average. The ACC Defensive Player of the Year has more than double the amount of steals of any other player on her team, and her sheer commitment to defense is what has impressed Lawson from the start. Duke Women's Basketball Coach Kara Lawson. Ratcheting up a rivalry that had lost some luster as Notre Dame overtook the ACC with Louisville not far behind, followed by NC State's three-year ACC Tournament title-winning run, the Tar Heels and Blue Devils brought the battle back to the blues with a postseason slugfest. A noticeable pickup in good chatter during practice followed by consistent play during the games this season has the Blue Devils sporting a 17-2 record (through Jan. 25) and holding opponents to just 50.9 points per game and 34.7 percent shooting both marks atop the league charts and in the top 10 nationally. There's something different about a coach from a great boss or even a teacher, she says. A school teammate texted me about one of her friends who is going through grad school. Cancel at any time. One year after the COVID-19 pandemic cut head coach Kara Lawsons first season short, a new era of Duke womens basketball looked to be on the horizon. Initially, women's basketball was played as a club sport. "This included discussion with all parties involved, including game officials, game administrators, table crew and both schools. Full Schedule wbball Sat, Jan 28 Final James Madison 64 at Georgia State 72 wbball Thu, Feb 2 Final James Madison 72 at South Alabama 54 wbball Sat, Feb 4 Final James Madison 61 at Georgia Southern 72 wbball Thu, Feb 9 Final James Madison 65 vs Louisiana 59 wbball Sat, Feb 11 Final James Madison 70 vs Arkansas State 57 wbball Thu, Feb 16 Final This is her first college coaching job, and she had previously said experience would be one of the biggest things she would look for in assistants. 2 seed. Duke came in and held FGCU to five threes on 20 attempts, and 25 percent shooting from behind the arc. Duke moves on to Saturday's semifinals where it will face the winner of Friday's late Miami-Virginia Tech game. No, she walked into practice and she commanded practice right from the jump. A key member of the Blue Devils' coaching staff is headed elsewhere. That mental shift for me was super helpful., #4: Strength Fuels Your Ability to Handle Hard, Most of what Lawson talks to her team about is analogous to sports and what a team or individual athlete is facing. OTL: Investigation underway at Duke (6:00) Outside the Lines discusses the investigation into Duke women's basketball head coach Joanne McCallie and her program for alleged mistreatment of players . "I am extremely excited to bring these three talented, skilled and . Despite her desire for an appeal, Lawson acknowledged and respected the outcome of the game as played. THIRD TIME'S A CHARM: Duke women's basketball downs North Carolina to reach ACC tournament semifinals, Brinker's top-10 finish not enough as Duke women's golf underwhelms at Darius Rucker Intercollegiate, Isaiah Hamilton elected DSG president, Ashley Bae to be EVP, Chagall at the Chapel: Beautiful and powerful, 'We can get there': Inside Duke womens basketballs swift rise to ACC contention, Column: Powered by the Roach-Proctor backcourt, Duke men's basketball is growing offensively, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to deliver Class of 2023 commencement address, DukeAfrica endorses Isaiah Hamilton for DSG president, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers endorses Isaiah Hamilton for DSG president, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. This is where the non-basketball skill of trust comes in. Once you figure that out, then everything becomes attainable., #6: No Matter Our Age or Gender, We All Must Support the Future Female Leaders, One of the most important things we can do is believe in others, says Lawson. She returned to her alma mater in 2012 as an assistant to Muffet McGraw and was a part of the 2018 national championship team among her five Final Four appearances with the Irish. I thought she was head coaching material withinfive minutes talking with her. The job should be an attractive one considering that the team has high-end youngtalents including All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. A men's ball is 29.5 inches in circumference and approximately 22 ounces, while a women's ball is 28.5 inches in diameter and approximately 20 ounces. In November 2022, all eyes turned to women's college basketball once again when nine Division I teams arrived at the high-profile Las Vegas Invitational to find they were set to play on a court haphazardly added to a hotel ballroom. A huge piece (to a good defense) is to have the necessary bodies to do so, said Jackson. In Dukes recent 77-62 victory over N.C. State, Taylor made numerous defensive plays, including a chase-down block on Wolfpack forward Mimi Collins and multiple deflections in the final two minutes of the first half, to swing the momentum onto the Blue Devils side. Last season, Duke finished the year with a 17-13 overall record and 7-11 mark in conference play. You can have individually-talented people, but you must have a group that fits together. Its not always exactly right, but they give us tremendous effort, so I think the credit really goes to them for doing that and being willing to do that because its very hard.. 0:00. I think we talk to them a lot about being connected, Lange said. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Gandy helped the Owls to a 72-22 overall record and a 42-8 mark in Conference USA the past three seasons. By In the first season, 1974-75, the team played locally, finishing second in the state with a 6-7 record. I wasnt sure about the pressing yet because it wasnt clear what our depth was going to be at that point. (Associate head coach) Winston (Gandy) referred to her several times this summer as the ambulance because last year she was going all over the place saving everybody. We don't want her to go, but it's on to bigger and better opportunities.". Irish move past Wolfpack as Miles still sidelined, Minnesota coach Whalen resigns at alma mater, White out as Pitt hoops coach after 42-99 mark, Sheldon gives Buckeyes lift vs. Michigan in return, LSU-Georgia game delayed by weather, leaky roof, NC State star Johnson to miss ACC tournament, 8 ejected after UK-Florida scuffle at SEC tourney, All in the family: how three generations of Jaquezes have ruled West Coast basketball. The conference continues to prioritize and support our nearly 10,000 student-athletes in a world-class manner and conduct its 27 sponsored sports with the utmost integrity. Carver-Hawkeye Arena; Welcome to Campus; The University of Iowa; Iowa City; Contact. 1:51. When the Blue Devils traveled to Florida Gulf Coast earlier this season the Eagles led the nation in 3-pointers made per game (11.7) and attempts per game (35.3). 18 UNC in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals at Greensboro Coliseum on Friday. Sasha Richie is a Trinity senior and a sports managing editor of The Chronicle's 118th volume. She didn't coach in The Bubble, as she had already left for Duke, but her footprint was clearly on that squad. Dedicated to sharing the stories of Duke student-athletes, present and past, GoDuke The Magazine is published for Duke Athletics by LEARFIELD with editorial offices at 3100 Tower Blvd., Suite 404, Durham, NC 27707. Slow offense has cost the team in multiple games, including its most recent loss to North Carolina. Duke's staff looks a lot different than it did just a month ago, when the Blue Devils bowed out of the Final Four and Hall of Fame head coach Mike Krzyzewski's career came to an end. Fast forward one year, and Duke is the No. All of these characteristics that you would want in a coach, you want your staff to possess as many of those as possible and be experts in a number of them. According to Her Hoop Stats, Taylor records a defensive win share of 3.7, meaning that Taylor has produced roughly that many wins for the Blue Devils solely based on her defensive performances. I struggle with this too, admits Lawson about facing lifes tough sides. Duke has hired former Tennessee and WNBA guard Kara Lawson as its women's basketball coach, the school announced Saturday.