The Dukes haven't been to the CAA tournament since 2007 and it will need to do its job first in winning both games and then get some help for others to get back there again.
Four teams are tied at 8-4, George Mason, Georgia State, and Northeastern, and VCU has a half game lead on all them at 9-4. Delaware has already clinched the top spot at 11-0 in in conference Each team, except VCU, plays two conference games this weekend starting tomorrow night.
The easiest scenario for the Dukes to make the playoffs is to win both games, against Northeastern and Hofstra, and have a loss from George Mason, Georgia State, or VCU to advance. Georgia State plays top seed Delaware on the road Saturday night in what could determine JMU’s fate.
I went to practice on Monday and it seemed as if the team was real calm and was focused about this weekends play. First-year coach Laura Steinbrecher seemed to think so as well.
“They’re extremely focused,” said Steinbrecher. “They key is not to get them too tight. They want it so bad.”
The Dukes could be going into their biggest weekend of the season without their biggest star. Senior Lindsay Callahan hurt her pinky Saturday in practice and has missed practice this week.
“She hurt her pinky Saturday during practice and is leaning towards not playing this weekend," said Steinbrecher.This could be a huge blow to the Dukes. Callahan is their senior leader and someone will have big shoes to fill this weekend. When I spoke with Steinbrecher, I wasn’t convinced that Callahan would miss this game. She’s a senior and she will be honored this weekend at senior night. I just can’t see her missing her last two games as a Duke.
Maybe they are trying to get her healed in case they make the tournament, but in order to get there, you must win these two games, and they need Callahan for that.
The Dukes play Northeastern Friday night and Hofstra Saturday night. I'm predicting the Dukes to win both games this weekend and get into the CAA Tournament as the 3rd seed.
-MO
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