Wake Forest - Sunday 1/10 @ 1 PM - Cameron Indoor Stadium

Who's Coming Back: Senior guard Courtney Morris (5.5 ppg, 2 apg) is a solid but unspectacular combo player who will likely play more on the wing this year. Junior F Brittany Waters (10 ppg, 5 rpg, 36% 3FG) is the team's potential breakout star, a leaper deluxe with growing skills. G Secily Ray (8 ppg, 6 rpg) was the team's breakout frosh, another aggressive run/jump athlete who displayed a variety of skills. Junior G Camille Collier (7 ppg, 2 rpg) is a combo guard who was moved mostly over to the two last year. G Brooke Thomas (6 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 5 apg, 2 spg) emerged as the team's other frosh star; Petersen noted that by the end of the year, she was playing as well as any point guard in the league. Tiffany Roulhac (2 ppg) is a senior combo guard whose career has been beset by injuries.

Wake Forest Head Coach Mike Peterson

The Skinny: Wake is an interesting team that has struggled quite a bit so far to integrate their new talent and get consistent performances out of their veterans. Mike Petersen noted that while Groves & Tchangoue always gave him 14 & 8, every single night, they weren't capable of much more. Players like Waters, Ray,, Collier and Thomas had already had big scoring nights early in their career, and his hope was that his team's ceiling was higher as a result of featuring them. Of course, the ceiling being higher also meant that the basement was lower, and the Deacs have found it hard to score in some games this year without having dependable players. Wake has suffered double-digit losses to Georgetown, Illinois, Richmond and South Carolina, along with a one-point loss to San Diego State.

Waters is the team's only double-digit scorer at 16 ppg, but she's shooting just 38% from the field. She is averaging an impressive 6 rpg and gets to the line five times a game. Ray is chugging along at 9 ppg and 7 rpg, but hasn't made the leap to big-time scorer just yet. As far as the other veterans go, Collier's holding steady at 6 ppg, Thomas & Morris at ppg, and Roulhac is mostly there as a backup point guard.

What's been interesting about the team is seeing the way the freshmen have managed to contribute. They are led by 6-3 post Sandra Garcia, who's putting up 9.7 ppg and 8 rpg. Garcia was essential in Wake's comeback victory over Virginia Tech, She scored 22 points, including the go-ahead three late in the last minute of the game. Garcia is a tough, smart & athletic post who will be a challenge for Duke. Also coming on is guard Lakevia Boykin, averaging 6 ppg and shooting 41% from three. Former Durham Hillside player Asia Williams is also having an impact with 4 ppg.

Duke has three things to think about. First, ballhandling will be crucial. The Deacs force 22 turnovers a game (but commit 19). The Deacs love to press and Duke must be ready to handle it. Second, they can't let Waters hurt them off the dribble. Let her take contested jumpers instead, especially if she can't find a gap in Duke's defense near the basket. Third, the Devils have to contain Garcia. Post her up early (perhaps even starting Krystal Thomas again) in an effort to get her out of the game. Let her take jump shots, but don't put her on the line (71%).

The Devils will try to force some turnovers of their own to generate easy offense. Wake frequently has trouble getting its offense going (especially with so many new players), and Duke must exploit this by being physical without fouling. Rebounding will be a key; the Deacs are normally +6 in rebounding, but they may not have the size or depth to keep up with Duke's relentles rebounding corps. Wake is feeling confident after being Virginia Tech, but Duke hopes to subdue them pretty quickly. The Devils will press and then go after Garcia, perhaps even double-teaming her at times.

Garcia Stickbacks