CAMERON INDOOR STADIUM/DURHAM Duke and N.C. State both got off to very solid starts in ACC conference play on Thursday night.
While the Blue Devils got a very unsurprising, convincing victory over Clemson on the road, the Wolfpack sent some shock waves across the conference with a 28-point win over rebuilding defending champion Maryland.
Duke is going to be a heavy favorite today when the No. 9 Blue Devils (13-2) host Wake Forest (10-5) at Cameron Indoor Stadium, while the Wolfpack (11-5) should get a good challenge from Boston College (9-6) in the Eagles’ ACC opener.
The Blue Devils, who beat Clemson 67-41, have won 22 straight games at Cameron.
“We played OK against Clemson,” Duke coach Joanne P. McCallie said at a press luncheon on Friday. “We were dominant at times. It wasn’t a full 40 minutes, because the last five minutes were so weak with the second five in there, but it was a good effort. It wasn’t fancy. I did like Joy (Cheek)’s leadership. Everybody did some good things, but we should have had a lot more points on the board.”
Duke has won 32 straight meetings with Wake Forest, including 83-50 last season.
Wake has a local player making a homecoming in Asia Williams, who graduated from Hillside High in the spring.
“They’re interesting,” McCallie said of the Deacons. “Wake is much more athletic to me this year. I think they’re a better team than last year. They’re guard-oriented along the perimeter. They rely heavily on (Brittany Waters and Secily Ray). Everything’s coming from the perimeter. They’re very much like Clemson. They’re very athletic.
“And everybody shoots the ‘3,’ even (6-3 center Sandra Garcia). It’s one of those teams where they all throw it up and chuck it. There’s a great opportunity to run if you get a long rebound. Hopefully we can disrupt what they do on the floor.”
The Wolfpack is on a four-game winning streak, but lost both meetings with the Eagles last season.
Boston College is coached by Sylvia Crawley, a former UNC All-American who played on the 1994 NCAA Championship team.
One of BC’s starting guards is Ayla Brown, a former American Idol contestant whose father Scott is the Republican candidate in the upcoming U.S. Senate special election in Massachusetts.
Sunday’s games
No. 9 Duke vs. Wake Forest
[Sunday, 1 p.m., Cameron Indoor Stadium]
Duke leads series 50-18.
Records: Wake 10-5, 1-0 ACC; Duke 13-2, 1-0.
Audio: WDNC-AM 620, GoDuke.com, WakeForestSports.cstv.com.
Video: GoDuke.com.
Coaches’ records – Wake: Mike Petersen 270-208, 82-82 at WFU; Duke: Joanne P. McCallie 381-166, 65-18 at Duke.
Leading scorers – Wake: Brittany Waters 16.0; Duke: Jasmine Thomas 15.7.
Leading rebounders – Wake: Sandra Garcia 7.2; Duke: Krystal Thomas 7.4.
Assist leaders – Wake: Brooke Thomas 4.0; Duke: Jasmine Thomas 5.1.
N.C. State at Boston College
[Sunday, 2 p.m., Conte Forum, Boston]
Series tied 4-4.
Records: NCSU 11-5, 1-0 ACC; BC 9-6, 0-0.
Audio: WKNC-FM 88.1, GoPack.com, BCEagles.com.
Video: BCEagles.com.
Coaches’ records – NCSU: Kellie Harper 108-70, 11-5 at NCSU; BC: Sylvia Crawley 70-43, 32-18 at BC.
Leading scorers – NCSU: Bonae Holston 11.4; BC: Carolyn Swords 15.4.
Leading rebounders – NCSU: Bonae Holston 6.8; BC: Carolyn Swords 10.5.
Assist leaders – NCSU: Amber White 2.9; BC: Jaclyn Thoman 3.8.
You must be logged in to post a comment.