Lander -- Sunday, November 6th, 2:00 PM, Cameron Indoor Stadium (Exhibition, Free Admission)

Last Meeting: Exhibition game in November 2005, Duke 116, Lander 29.

2011 Snapshot: 29-4, 16-2 Peach Belt, NCAA Division II Tournament Sweet Sixteen

Monique Currie and Duke dominated Lander in their 2005 visit to Cameron. Since then Lander has developed into a Division II powerhouse.

Significant Losses: The biggest loss is Div II national player of the year Shannon McKever, a post who averaged 17 ppg, 10 rpg, 3 bpg and 62% from the floor. McKever wound up as the program's all-time leading scorer, leading Lander to success unparalleled in its history. Also gone is fellow starter Tasheba Butler, a forward who averaged 9 ppg, 8 rpg and 2 apg. Guards Briana Webb (5 ppg, 2 rpg) and Nardia Robbins (6 ppg, 3 rpg, 4 apg) are also leaving after providing key minutes.

Returning Players: Most of Lander's returning strength is in its backcourt. Jasmine Judge is the team's mad bomber, as 286 of her 294 field goal attempts last year were from three. She nailed 40% of them, good for 12 ppg, 3 rpg and 2 spg as well. I'm guessing Clara Lyons will start next to her after she put up 11 ppg, 3 rpg, 4 apg and got to the foul line 4 times a game. She's the team's best returning playmaker and her penetrating style is a nice counterbalance to Judge's strictly perimeter game. Coming off the bench will be Brittni Johnson (9 ppg, 3 apg, 37% from three) and Mukia Myrick (9 ppg, 3 rpg, 3 apg). At center will be 5-10 Kaylyn Small, who last year averaged 4 ppg and 4 rpg).

The Skinny: : The last time coach Kevin Pederson brought his team in Cameron, it was November of 2005. It was his first game with his team and it ended in a 116-29 massacre that was not even that close. At one point in the first half, Duke went on a 50-0 run. That team finished 5-22 in Division II. Things have certainly changed for the former men's basketball trainer from Clemson and his program, as the Lady Bearcats from Greenwood, SC have run off four straight 20+ win seasons and two straight Sweet Sixteens. Lander started last year with a 23-0 record before stumbling in the Peach Belt conference tournament and then the NCAA tournament. McKever had a truly special season, though everyone was a little disappointed with how the season ended.

This year's team will do a bit of rebuilding and reloading. The focus of the team will shift to perimeter play. Lander's guards can shoot, but Judge & Myrick are 5-5 and Johnson is 5-4. Duke has to be careful to get a hand in their face, but Lander will have trouble with Duke's perimeter size. JuCo Janyce Ealey and Precious Elkins will likely start at forward, bolstered by 6-1 frosh Bria Lonon. There's no question that Lander will be outmatched by Duke's size and depth in the frontcourt. What they will undoubtedly try to do is zone Duke as much as possible and encourage them to jack up threes. That will create long rebounds that could help them neutralize Duke's size advantage. They may also try to pressure the ball, as their run-and-gun style generated 23 turnovers a game last year (including 13 steals). Their tiny guards will mix up that zone with some matchup principles, as they challenge Duke's ballhandlers and try to force mistakes. Ultimately, their lack of size will be their undoing, as Duke's offensive rebounding will take its toll. Still, Lander should be a much tougher Div II opponent than Pfeiffer.

Lander running and gunning.

DWHoops will provide our usual full coverage for this game.