Upcoming Event: Cross Country versus ACC Cross Country Championships on October 31, 2025 at All Day
/
All Day
Cross Country
vs ACC Cross Country Championships
Postgame Quotes: Duke 87, Temple 52
Duke Head Coach Joanne P. McCallie
On her overall impression of the game:
“I loved our intensity and our hustle. It was a very, very explosive game for us for 40 minutes. Our practices have been very strong, and I’m not surprised a bit (by tonight’s performance) because our best practices were this week. I thought everybody stepped up and did some really important things. Obviously Chante (Black) was steady and demanded the ball; she did what she does and played very hard. Jasmine (Thomas) commanded, rebounded and took care of the basketball. Shay (Selby) was completely live coming off the bench, which is exactly what we want in terms of getting a lift and getting energy. It was a great team victory and just really extraordinary in the effort we gave.”
On the state of Duke’s offense heading into the ACC season:
“It’s growing. We’re getting more weapons as we go. People are becoming more comfortable and understanding that we need to get the ball inside and establish a presence in the paint. That’s a focus, of course ? it breaks down defenses and opens up the outside. We’re taking care of the basketball a little bit better now. Not trying to force every play, but realizing that when we have the ball, it’s a good thing. Our younger players, especially like Shay (Selby) tonight are just getting a little bit more comfortable tonight on the floor. We’re kind of a work in progress, both offensively and defensively. Our defense has been ahead of our offense for most of 2008, and we’re looking forward to it catching up in 2009.”
On what concerned her about Temple coming into the game:
“They do so many nice things; I had tremendous concerns about their inside game with (Shanea) Cotton and (Shenita) Landry. I was very concerned about those two as seniors and players who are very comfortable. I was very concerned about (Lindsay Kimmel) as an outside and very pleased that she didn’t get open or get access to really be effective there. You treat every opponent exactly the same, and we were very prepared for Temple.”
On whether the press tonight worked the best it has all season:
“I think it was outstanding intensity for 40 minutes. There were no let-ups for 40 minutes, which is very different. We’ve been playing in halves, and there were just no let-ups today. So absolutely yes to your question, regarding intensity and just getting after it.”
Sophomore Jasmine Thomas
On Pressing:
“Pressing is just an opportunity to crank up the intensity and get some easy buckets. So you always want to throw it at the offense and make them make turnovers and then capitalize off them so it just gets us pumped to do that.”
On the behind the back pass from Abby Waner:
“Yes, I expected it. We actually talked about it in the locker room before because Abby is a great passer and we’ve missed that pass from her a few times so we talked about it before the game. It was good, perfect, great assist.”
Senior Chante Black
On starting ACC play, what to expect from the team
“Everyone is growing up. No one is a freshman anymore and we have a lot of leaders on this team and I feel like a lot of people contributed tonight and stepped up coming off the bench. We just had a lot of people showing leadership out there, not as many turnovers and just executing. So, I just believe in what is going on and it’s time for ACC and the experienced players play and the games are not won as easily.”
The potential of the offense as you go through ACC play
“It is known here at Duke the ball needs to go inside and outside. Everyone has to come ready to play and we are just going to keep working on getting better each day with that and knowing personnel within ourselves and others.”
Freshman Shay Selby
On what she has learned about the college game so far:
“I try to take what they give me and not try to do too much, I’ve learned that.”
Temple Head Coach Tonya Cardoza
On what went wrong in the first half:
“As soon as they were able to score they put on the press and that’s what happened. Early on they missed shots so they couldn’t press, but once they were able to put the ball in the hole they put on their pressure and we didn’t handle it. We just gave them easy buckets, basically handed it right to them and let them get easy opportunities.”
On why Duke’s press is so effective:
“They’re big, they’re athletic. Their guards are just as big as our post players and they’re long and they just have so many different bodies that they can throw at you. I think once we started turning the ball over, obviously it just got more aggressive and they just kept coming after us.”
On this Duke team compared to other Duke teams in the past:
“I definitely think they’re probably the most athletic. With Chante Black being as long and athletic as she is and then you have Abby Waner who is just as athletic and who is such a pest out there and then everything else in between. I think they’re probably one of the most athletic teams that I’ve seen on a Duke side in a long time.”
Whether having a few days off before their next game verus Saint Joseph’s:
“I’d rather play tomorrow. It’s a learning experience. I told my players that it’s been leading up to this because we haven’t been taking care of the ball against teams that aren’t even as good as Duke. If you can’t do it against those teams, obviously when Duke comes and they see that you’re a little timid or a little nervous about it they’re going to expose you and basically that’s what they did.”
