This week, Duke continues its run in the women’s NCAA Tournament, where it will make its Sweet 16 debut for the first time since 2018. In the Portland 3 regional on Saturday night, the No. 7-seeded Blue Devils (22-11) take on the No. 3-seeded UConn (31-5) in an attempt to advance to the Elite Eight. Head coach Kara Lawson has made a lot of remarks regarding the youthfulness of her team, which is primarily made up of freshmen. On the other hand, the Huskies usually start three players who have three or more years of experience.
Paige Bueckers is the star player for UConn. She leads the Huskies in several statistical categories, including points per game (21.8), blocks per game (1.36), and 3-point shooting (41.8%). She is a finalist for the 2024 Naismith Women’s Player of the Year award. Since February 11th, she has scored at least 20 points in every game but one. According to South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley, “Paige is probably the elitist basketball player to ever grace our game,” during a March Madness interview. “You see how efficient she is—she doesn’t miss many shots.”
Aaliyah Edwards and Nika Muhl, two players who are formidable on both ends of the court, are also starting for UConn. Edwards leads the squad in scoring (17.6 points per game), rebounding average (9.4), and field goal percentage (59.3%). Muhl is a two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year award winner and can dish out the assists.
UConn’s history is on their side. The Huskies are in their thirty-ninth consecutive Sweet 16 trip and have a 13-3 series record against Duke, which includes a 10-game winning run. But the Blue Devils possess something the Huskies do not: a lack of expectations. It was not intended for Duke to be in the Sweet 16. It was not anticipated to upset Ohio State, ranked second, on its home court.
See Virginia Tech, N.C. State, and the Buckeyes as examples of how Lawson and her staff have developed this young squad into a contender that can defeat elite teams. And who knows? Maybe they still have a few more upset specials left in them. The program is not subject to the same expectations or pressures as UConn. In addition, the Blue Devils are a gifted team.
The only other player averaging double figures (12.4) is Reigan Richardson, but she has four other players in her supporting group who score 8–9 points a night on average. Duke can score points with players other than just one or two. Duke’s size and length also enable it to force mistakes, dominate the rebounding game, and create offensive discomfort for opponents.