Sept. 9, 2005
While Notre Dame head coach Muffet McGraw might not have a degree in science, or even a white lab coat hanging behind her office door, it’s a good bet chemistry will come into play when McGraw and the Irish tip off the 2005-06 season.
Notre Dame has three starters and eight monogram winners returning from last year’s squad that posted a 27-6 record and made the program’s 10th consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. However, the Irish, who were ranked among the top 10 teams in the nation for much of the season and knocked off seven top-25 opponents along the way, saw their season come to an abrupt end with a 70-61 loss to Arizona State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The shock of that setback might have dissipated somewhat, but the pain and the scars remain fresh in the minds of Notre Dame’s players and coaches. It’s been the common thread that has linked all of them together during the off-season, forming an even stronger internal bond that has McGraw excited about the potential for her club this season.
“Right now, I’m very comfortable with this team and where they’re at,” the veteran Irish mentor says. “This is a team that has great chemistry and I really enjoy being around them every day. Already, I think this is one of my favorite teams. These past two years, we have been very fortunate to recruit some great players who are also great people, hard workers and just fun to be around. That’s something that makes coaching them even more enjoyable.”
One of the primary lessons that McGraw and her charges learned from last year’s disappointment was the importance of balance. Although Notre Dame reaped tremendous rewards from having a two-time All-American and future WNBA Draft pick in the fold like recently-departed Jacqueline Batteast, opposing teams sometimes were able to structure their defenses in such a way as to neutralize the multi-dimensional forward. When that occurred, the Irish had to look for scoring and rebounding support from other sources, something that didn’t always take place.
Now, with the graduation of Batteast and center Teresa Borton (the team’s second-leading rebounder and a steady force in the post for four years), Notre Dame does not have a single marquee presence on the floor, someone whom other teams can key on each night. With the impressive array of talent on the Irish roster in 2005-06, McGraw sees greater opportunities for balance and success this season.
“Last year, we relied on Jackie so much, that a lot of other players didn’t really have a chance to show what they can do,” McGraw notes. “They let their talent take a backseat to hers. This year, I don’t think we are going to have anybody who will absolutely be the one every game. Instead, we will have an array of choices every game and different people are going to step up. But in the end, it’s critical that everybody contributes in some way and that they do it consistently, because that’s what our biggest challenge will be.”
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When it comes to choices, McGraw has a veritable cornucopia of options in the backcourt this season. The Irish have five veterans returning, including both starters, and four of those players appeared in at least 29 of Notre Dame’s 33 games last year, averaging at least 13 minutes per night. In addition, of the Irish guards coming back in 2005-06, only one is a senior, meaning there will be a great deal of consistency at the key leadership positions for years to come.
One of the cornerstones of any championship-caliber basketball team is its point guard, and Notre Dame has one of the nation’s best in senior Megan Duffy. The 5-foot-7 native of Dayton, Ohio, was an Associated Press and Kodak/WBCA honorable mention All-America selection, as well as a first-team all-BIG EAST Conference pick last season after averaging a career-best 12.3 points and 5.4 assists per game, ranking second in the BIG EAST and 28th nationally in the latter category. She also led the league in steals (2.7 spg.; 44th in NCAA) and free throw percentage (school-record .895; fourth in NCAA) and was seventh with a 1.73 assist/turnover ratio.
Senior Megan Duffy will serve as the team captain in 2005-06 after earning first-team all-BIG EAST honors last season.
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Starting her second year as team captain in 2005-06, Duffy has been at her best when the pressure is greatest, registering 19.5 ppg. with a superb .579 field goal percentage and .611 three-point ratio during the 2005 postseason. She also averaged 14.6 points and 4.9 assists per game with a .506 field goal percentage and .512 three-point mark in a dozen games against ranked opponents last year.
As if all that weren’t enough, Duffy spent this summer as a member of the USA World University Games Team that went 7-0 and won the gold medal in Izmir, Turkey. Voted a co-captain by her teammates prior to the competition, Duffy started all seven games for the United States, averaging 6.1 points and 2.1 assists per game with a team-best .400 three-point percentage (tied for eighth among all players in the 20-team field). She also helped direct the high-powered American offense that averaged 97.4 ppg., recorded four 50-point wins and set a USA World University Games record with a 43.1 ppg. victory margin.
Duffy already has been tapped as a preseason candidate for two major national player-of-the-year awards — the State Farm Wade Trophy and the John R. Wooden Women’s Award. She also is a prime contender for the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award that goes annually to the country’s top senior player standing 5-foot-8 or under. Former Irish point guard (and current WNBA veteran) Niele Ivey took home that honor in 2001 after helping guide Notre Dame to its first national championship.
However, for all the statistics and awards Duffy has been accorded throughout her career, it’s the intangible qualities she brings to the team — leadership, confidence and a phenomenal work ethic — that set her apart from the rest of the pack and have earned her the respect and admiration of coaches and players alike.
“All the coaches that talk to me about our team talk about Megan Duffy first because they would love to coach her,” McGraw says. “She’s the kind of player every coach dreams of having because she simply refuses to lose. She’ll do anything she possibly can to help the team be successful. That’s the key — when you’re coaching against a player like Megan, you know that they’re never going to quit, never going to back down and will always make it difficult for you.”
While Duffy may receive a great deal of attention, one of the most improved players on the Notre Dame roster during the past year has been junior guard Breona Gray. Coming into last season, Gray had never started a game at the college level and was averaging less than 12 minutes per game. However, she made tremendous strides prior to her sophomore campaign, impressing the Irish coaching staff with her determination and tenacious attitude on the court and earning a spot in the starting lineup. Once there, Gray refused to give up her starting role, debuting for all 33 games last season, and doubling her scoring and rebounding averages along the way (5.5 ppg., 3.3 rpg.).
Not content with being an everyday starter, Gray feverishly worked on her game again during this summer, adding a potent perimeter jumper to her expanding offensive arsenal. Already one of the team’s top defenders, the Las Vegas product has shown a non-stop intensity and has kept opposing guards on the heels for the better part of her two years at Notre Dame.
“I see the improvement Breona has made from the moment she got on campus until now, and I believe she’s going to make her mark in a lot of games for us this season,” McGraw comments. “We’re also expecting her to take an added leadership role for us and help bring our underclassmen along in the system.”
Beyond the starting duo of Duffy and Gray, Notre Dame has a strong trio of sophomores, led by Charel Allen. The Monessen, Pa., resident burst on the scene in a big way as a rookie, coming off the bench to average 7.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per game on the way to a berth on the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team. She also was not fazed by the added pressures of the college game, ringing up 16 points in a Preseason WNIT semifinal win over No. 6 Duke and adding 11 points in a victory at No. 9/10 Connecticut.
However, much like her team, Allen saw her freshman season come to an untimely end when she suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee during the second half of Notre Dame’s loss to Arizona State in the NCAA Tournament. Allen has spent the majority of the summer rehabilitating from that injury and the subsequent surgery, although she is expected to be cleared by team medical personnel in time for the start of fall practice in October.
“Charel probably won’t be 100 percent until March, but by the time the BIG EAST Tournament rolls around, she should be playing her best basketball,” McGraw observes. “In January, you’ll begin to see an improvement in her game from where she started. Overall, this is going to be a difficult year for her to bounce back from that kind of injury, which is something she hasn’t had to experience before. It will test her both mentally and physically, and how she responds to that challenge will dictate what her role will be for us this season.”
While Allen was an impact player for Notre Dame last season, Tulyah Gaines may be poised for a breakout year for the Irish as a sophomore. The speedy point guard got a late start to her college career, missing much of the preseason while recovering from knee surgery. Then, five minutes into her first game against Illinois State, she went down with a neck injury that caused her to miss the next four contests.
Once she was completely healthy, Gaines saw her confidence steadily improve throughout the season, as she appeared in 29 games and averaged 2.4 points and 2.0 rebounds in 13.7 minutes per game. A fiery competitor with a motor that never seems to stop, Gaines has worked hard this off-season, putting in long hours in both the gym and weight room to regain the form that made her the Gatorade High School Player of the Year in the state of Nevada during her senior year at Cheyenne High School in Las Vegas. It’s this kind of intensity and discipline that have convinced McGraw that big things are in store for Gaines in 2005-06.
“Coming off the summer, I’d say Tulyah is our most improved player,” the Irish head coach says. “She has made great strides in her game and is someone who could be pushing for a starting job this season. She gives us an added dimension on the floor with her speed and attacking style, which allows us to pick up the tempo at both ends. When she’s in the game, she can also give us a chance to slide Megan over to the “2” spot and open up some more perimeter scoring opportunities.”
The other returning sophomore is walk-on Amanda Tsipis. The Perry, Ohio, native saw action in 12 games for the Irish in her initial campaign, averaging 0.5 points and 0.1 rebounds per contest. A solid scoring threat from the outside, Tsipis gives Notre Dame additional depth, with her biggest contributions coming during practice sessions.
“Not a lot of people may see what Amanda brings to our team, but she has become such a vital presence because of her unselfish nature and desire to do everything possible to make this team better,” McGraw notes. “She is always positive and upbeat, two things that everyone really responds to on a daily basis.”
Notre Dame’s depth at the guard position will be strengthened even more this season with the addition of talented freshman Lindsay Schrader. The 2005 Illinois Miss Basketball and Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year, Schrader is one of the most decorated players to come from the Land of Lincoln in recent years. A resident of Bartlett, Ill., she averaged 20.7 points and 10.0 rebounds per game with a .490 field goal percentage during a stellar prep career that saw her wind up ranked among the top 10 in Illinois high school history in four different categories. The four-time all-state pick also was tapped as a consensus All-America selection during her senior season by McDonald’s, the WBCA and Parade Magazine when she logged 22.1 points and 10.6 rebounds per game while guiding Bartlett High School to a 30-5 record and its first-ever trip to the Illinois Class AA title game.
“This is the first year in a while that we are asking our freshman to step up and contribute significantly, and I believe Lindsay is ready for that opportunity,” McGraw says. “She brings the ability to score in a lot of different ways and that’s going to make her a unique weapon for us, because she’s so unlike anyone else on our team. She also has great hands and is a very good rebounder. Once she gets into the flow of things at this level, we’re going to rely on her more and more and see how things develop.”
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If the guard position is one of consistency and stability for Notre Dame, then the front line might be where many changes will occur for the Irish this season. In addition to the departure of Batteast and Borton — who combined for 25.1 points and 12.4 rebounds per game — Notre Dame also saw its renowned post coach, Carol Owens, step down from the program after a decade of service in order to take over as the head coach at her alma mater, Northern Illinois. In her place, the Irish welcome Angie Potthoff, a three-time All-American at Penn State who helped the Lady Lions win a pair of Big Ten Conference Tournament titles in the mid-1990s before embarking on a pro career in both the American Basketball League (ABL) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).
Still, McGraw disagrees with many observers who might point to the changes in the Notre Dame post game as being a question mark for 2005-06.
“Actually, I see it as a positive,” she states. “I firmly believe Angie is going to be a great coach. She has played at a high level, understands the game, and knows how each player can do things a little differently, but still get the job done. Angie also has a ton of passion for what she’s doing and our players will respond to that. The fact remains that we have only three true post players and they all have to understand the importance of staying in the game and remaining out of foul trouble. That will be one of our biggest challenges this season.”
Senior forward Courtney LaVere takes on the mantle of veteran leadership in the post for Notre Dame this season. The 6-foot-3 Ventura, Calif., product has started off and on throughout her college career, which also has been shortened at times due to injury. Last season, she started off well, logging three consecutive double-digit scoring games, including an 18-point outing in the season opener against Illinois State. She also carded a double-double in the Preseason WNIT semifinal win over Duke, collecting 13 points and a season-high 11 rebounds, despite suffering a torn meniscus in her left knee during the contest.
Courtney LaVere will be the veteran of the front court lineup for the Irish in 2005-06.
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That injury would eventually require arthroscopic knee surgery that kept LaVere on the sidelines for a month. She played well at times after her return to action, chalking up a team-high 14 points in the win at Connecticut, logging a double-double (13 points, 10 rebounds at Syracuse) and adding 17 points in a victory at Pittsburgh. She ended the season averaging 7.5 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.
As she begins her final season at Notre Dame, LaVere is working her way back to the form she flashed as a freshman, when she averaged 12.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game with five double-doubles and earned BIG EAST All-Rookie Team honors. If she can remain healthy for the entire season, both LaVere and her coach know that the potential exists for a superb senior year.
“I see Courtney as having a shot at All-America honors this season as long as she can stay on the floor,” McGraw says. “She has so much talent and in some ways, a lot of our success will be based on the kind of year she has. We’ve seen that she is capable of great things and we really need her to be a solid, constant presence on the block.”
While LaVere battled through her injuries last season, junior forward Crystal Erwin saw a chance to prove herself and took full advantage. After a rookie season where she steadily progressed in a controlled environment, Erwin made tremendous strides as a sophomore, starting 17 games and doubling her scoring and rebounding totals (5.3 ppg., 3.8 rpg.). In addition, she brought a physical, unyielding force to the low post, while she developed a smooth offensive game. Her best outing came against Washington, when she tied a Joyce Center record by going 9-for-9 from the field and scoring a career-high 24 points.
This season, Erwin will be called upon for greater things on a regular basis, as she moves from a reserve role into contention for a starting position. She also shares the burden of leadership in the post with LaVere as the two grizzled veterans in the paint aim to continue Notre Dame’s tradition of rock-solid post defense.
“I love Crystal’s game and her attitude on the floor,” McGraw comments. “She sets the tone for this team every night and gives off that intensity that says this is a team that isn’t going to back down from anyone. We’re going to fight and scrap and claw for everything, and that’s going to have a lot to do with Crystal. She’s going to set the emotional standard for what we will accept down low.”
The only other returning monogram winner on the front line for Notre Dame is sophomore center Melissa D’Amico. The 6-foot-5 Long Islander was brought along slowly last season, learning much from the time she spent as Borton’s understudy. Although she played in 26 games last season, D’Amico’s minutes were limited (6.1 per game) and she logged 1.9 points and 1.4 rebounds per contest. Confidence and a hunger to prove herself were perhaps the biggest keys to unlocking D’Amico’s potential and that attitude developed during this summer, when she spent countless hours working to polish her skills at both ends of the court.
“Melissa didn’t get many opportunities last season, which I’m sure was a bit frustrating for her,” McGraw says. “Yet, she’s turned that into a positive by the way she’s handled things this summer. She’s putting in extra hours in the gym and with the weights, and that’s going to pay off for her down the line. We’re expecting big things from Melissa this season and when you combine her with Courtney and Crystal, you have the makings of a really strong post presence.”
The Irish also will get an infusion of youth on the front line in 2005-06, as freshman Chandrica Smith joins the fold. A 6-foot-1 forward, Smith spent last season at renowned Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., where she averaged 17.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game while leading her team to a third-place finish at the prestigious National Association of Christian Athletes (NACA) Tournament. Prior to her stint at Oak Hill, Smith played two years at Stephenson High School and one year at Wesleyan High School, both near her Stone Mountain, Ga., home. In total, Smith averaged 11.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game during her high school career, while her teams posted a combined 117-13 (.900) record, won two Georgia state titles and finished as the state runner-up once.
A two-time Street & Smith’s All-America choice and three-time adidas Top Ten Camp All-Star pick, Smith offers a blend of versatility and athleticism that will allow her to quickly make an impact at the college level. She has the ability to slash to the basket, but also drop back and stretch defenses with a smooth perimeter game.
“Like Lindsay (Schrader), Chandrica is going to be called upon to step into the mix from day one,” McGraw notes. “She’s such a good defender and rebounder and we think those are the areas that she can help us the most. She also runs the floor very well which can only boost our transition game even more. On top of that, she knows how to score and she will be able to help us in that area, too.”
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Notre Dame has never backed down from a challenge when it comes to scheduling and the 2005-06 docket is no exception. Although the non-conference schedule has yet to be approved, the Irish do know they will lining up in arguably the nation’s toughest league this season as the BIG EAST expands to 16 teams. Joining the fray will be Cincinnati, DePaul, Louisville, Marquette and South Florida, all former members of Conference USA. Conversely, Boston College has left the BIG EAST to become part of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
With the new conference lineup now in place, the BIG EAST already has announced its women’s basketball scheduling format beginning this season. Teams will play seven home games and seven road games, while also taking a “repeat” opponent whom they will face both at home and on the road. The conference has designated DePaul as Notre Dame’s “repeat” opponent this season, meaning the Irish and Blue Demons will rekindle a rivalry that began more than two decades ago in the now-defunct North Star Conference. DePaul is coming off a 26-5 season in 2004-05, having advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Besides DePaul, Notre Dame is scheduled to play host to Connecticut, Marquette, Pittsburgh, Providence, Seton Hall, South Florida and Villanova this season. Four of those schools qualified for postseason play, led by UConn’s NCAA Sweet Sixteen berth and WNIT appearances for Marquette, USF and Villanova.
Meanwhile, the Irish plan to hit the road for games at Cincinnati, Georgetown, Louisville, Rutgers, St. John’s, Syracuse and West Virginia. Highlighting that list is Rutgers, which advanced to the regional finals of the NCAA Tournament and was ranked among the top 10 in both national polls at season’s end. Louisville also qualified for the NCAA Tournament, while St. John’s and West Virginia garnered WNIT bids (WVU fell at Southwest Missouri State in the title game).
The conference will remain aligned in one division, with the top 12 teams qualifying for the BIG EAST Championship March 4-7, 2006, at the Hartford (Conn.) Civic Center.
“There have never been any off-nights in the BIG EAST and with the addition of these new teams, the challenge is going to even greater. All of these players and coaches know what it takes to compete nationally and those teams will easily replace what we’ve lost during the past couple of years in terms of caliber of play. That’s why our conference has been so successful in the postseason over the years and why it will continue to be that way — we are all well-prepared from going though the nightly battles in one of the toughest conferences in the country.”
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This year offers an intriguing mix of choices for Notre Dame, between experience returnees and blossoming young talent. The Irish will be able to take advantage of numerous options in both the backcourt and the post, rolling out combinations that will keep opponents off-balance. However, the one intangible that will determine just how far Notre Dame goes this season will be its leadership –on the court and on the sidelines. In both areas, the Irish have an established veteran, someone who has been through the rigors of high-level college basketball and understands exactly what is expected of her in order to be successful.
“When you have a captain like Megan Duffy, you’re going to be prepared for everything,” McGraw says. “She and the entire coaching staff will make sure that this team is prepared, night in and night out. That’s one quality that we know we will be able to count on this season. If we can build up some other qualities on a consistent basis — scoring, rebounding, defense — and everyone plays at their peak potential and knows how their role fits into the bigger picture, this season will be a very special one for us.”