Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus Baylor on November 3, 2025 at 12 p.m.
Women's Basketball
vs Baylor
Coach P's Notebook: August 20, 2007
8/20/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Hello all!
This is such an amazing time of year for all of us. With the first-year students making their way to East Campus and parents are excited about the thought of freedom, while the students have their thoughts of campus life.
The energy and excitement is in the air for everyone. I am looking forward to greeting the first year students tomorrow throughout the day, saying hello, welcoming them to Duke, sharing the feeling of the first year anticipations, meeting their parents, and, of course, letting them know that women's basketball is something special here at Duke and their active participation is welcomed and expected!
We have to educate, motivate, and operate early with this group because our staff most definitely has a special connection to this class. This is our collective FIRST year at Duke and we want it to be most memorable.
A lot of sweat and smiles, not to mention having time with Karima, Jasmine, Krystal and their folks. I even met a dad and a mom, Ken and Debbie, at our sons new parent day today at school and learned that their son will be in the new crowd as well as his first year at Duke! I love the connections around here and the pride will be soaring this time tomorrow on East Campus! Kind of like Christmas in a way?I love the seasons of a university along with the hope and energy that comes with renewal for all each fall.
Of course, for us the preseason is just about to kick off with some serious training on and off the court. This is the time to challenge ourselves in every way possible-- physical and mental. I am very eager to see who is ready to perform and fight through tough stuff.
Great players perform anytime, anyplace, anywhere, under any conditions without ever looking like it is a big deal, no drama and just results. That is why there are not more great players around, because it is very hard to separate yourself and then be very consistent every night.
Most players can fill it up one night or two, but the very best find a way to get numbers regardless of the night or opponent of the defense they face. The best rise!
My mom always told me, in her best British accent, “My dear, the cream always rises to the top,” and she is right. We are planning on rising, getting better, faster, stronger, tougher and more focused everyday.
Our schedule is terrific -- playing the best to become the best -- in March. I hope you enjoy the release of the schedule which is occurring this week and that you can make plans to attend every game. Every bit of the schedule will prepare us to be our very best and come together at the right time. It is amazing and exciting to think about the work ahead.
I hope you all have enjoyed the features and the work that Lindy does covering the program. Lindy is the very best is his field. Our staff has many talents and I hope you have enjoyed getting to know Al, Shannon and Sam. We have a great group and our administrative team of Bobby, Kate and Missy are exceptional with Lauren doing a great job with video and stepping in to run camp for the first time. Summer is an excellent trainer who is so committed to providing great care and has been too busy for my tastes with various off season surgeries. Coach Will has truly been the head coach in the off season as he has challenged the team to get stronger and faster. So many people make a difference. Everyone has a role to play and that role must be played to its fullest. We are ready to move forward at a much quicker pace now. After this summer, it is hard to imagine a quicker pace with ALL that has taken place.
Quick shout out to the great state of Maine! We just returned from a fabulous time in a very amazing place. My sis and her husband have a cottage RIGHT on the ocean, where the water laps up under the cottage and puts you to sleep anytime of the day! No phone, no tv, no computers-- just ocean and the sounds of the tidal sea! We played some mean badminton games, had bonfires, ate a lot of fresh lobster, played crib and gin continuously, and I even had to drive into town to make recruiting calls to some very special people!
Just letting you all know that Maine truly is the way life should be and a visit would do you some good! We had a fun stop at L.L. Bean to grab a few staff gifts. They had a real trout pond in the store and the place is open 24 hours 365 days a year, which is very unique. I do have some state pride I suppose. Growing up in Brunswick was very special.
We are all on the fast track now as the year and the season is here. We welcome the first years, greet the team and challenge them to take charge, challenge the staff to get better and even more efficient and recruiting some very special and talented student-athletes. We need celebrating excellence as Duke is again a top 10 and amazing school nationally and worldwide, and we will go after those sellouts while bringing our attendance to the highest point ever, in pursuit of each and every championship, and just getting better daily.
Being a “new parent” at our kids' schools today was so uplifting. To see how time can strengthen and heal and build something even more unique and special was an amazing experience today. Listening to the other parents and learning about the care our kids will have in their own challenge to fit in and find connection made for a few moments of relaxed and welcome peace with transition and change.
It makes you feel like we are all ready to take off, to get better and demand more and go after excellence together. We are on our way. As always, it is about us and our pride in Duke.
More later from Coach P.
Women's Basketball Season Ticket Holder Tailgate
Sunday, September 07
Duke WBB: Kara Lawson - 13 Gold Medals. One Standard
Thursday, August 14
Duke WBB Postgame: NCAA Tournament Elite Eight
Sunday, March 30
Duke WBB Postgame: NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen
Friday, March 28
