Last Season: 31–4, Final Four

	From the moment she arrived, Beard has been all business

As at most schools, Duke freshmen carry the water and the bags. But lately the rooks haven't been shy about carrying the Blue Devils. Two years ago, Alana Beard scored a team-high 15 points in her first game, a blowout of UCLA. In last year's opener, Monique Currie had 17 in a rout of Texas Tech. Beard's now a first-team All-America (19.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg), but Currie's out for the year with a torn left ACL, meaning it's time for the Fab Five frosh to carry their weight. The most ready and able are 6'3" posts Brooke Smith and Mistie Bass-- good news for a team whose tallest player, 6'4" junior Iciss Tillis (14.3 ppg, 8 rpg), plays wing. The Devils return four other regulars. Assuming the kids don't wait their turn, Duke shouldn't have to wait any longer for its first national title.

One Step Ahead: The Dukies obviously understand the value of versatility. Beard can beat you with her stroke, drive, dish and D at both backcourt positions. And Tillis -- whose dad, James, once went the distance with Mike Tyson -- could become the first female player to dunk (not yet, but soon) and hit a three in the same game.

One Step Behind: When their transition game was shut down last season, the Devils often jacked up quick jumpers rather than pound it inside (witness their 15-point Final Four loss to Oklahoma, in which they shot 38%). There's no excuse for that this season: Soph C Wynter Whitley is improved, and Bass and Smith are blue-chippers.

2002-2003 NCAA PREVIEW
WOMEN
1. Duke Blue Devils	5. LSU Tigers
2. Tennessee Volunteers	6. Texas Tech Red Raiders
3. Kansas State Wildcats	7. Texas Longhorns
4. UConn Huskies	8. Stanford Cardinal

This article will appear in the November 25 issue of ESPN The Magazine.