Duke’s Chante Black is flourishing in the system new coach Joanne P. McCallie has installed.
After scoring in double figures in only 13 games as a sophomore and missing all of last season due to a knee injury, Black is averaging 12.9 points. She seems to touch the ball on almost every possession.
“Chante has been pretty amazing, considering she has been out a year,” McCallie said. “What I can’t get over as a coach is she always plays hard. A lot of kids when they come back are looking around a lot how do I do this, how do I do that. They almost talk themselves into a slower pace.”
The 6-foot-5 junior center had a career-high 21 points in a loss at Penn State, going 10-for-16 from the field for the 15th-ranked Blue Devils.
“I believe in her totally because she possesses intangibles. She is a great shooter, has great moves around the basket and is developing more moves with her back to the basket,” said McCallie, who came from Michigan State to replace Gail Goestenkors. “Chante has the work ethic, the willingness to compete and the willingness to prepare in practice.”
Black’s improved shooting makes her more of a threat on the offensive end. She’s hitting 48.6 percent from the field and 71.4 (25-for-35) from the free throw line.
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Parody: Wisconsin has always tried to come up with creative ways to promote its star players. Senior guard Jolene Anderson is the latest to receive the hype.
The preseason Big Ten women’s basketball player of the year is the subject of a parody song produced by a local Country radio station.
The song “Jolene,” first recorded by Dolly Parton in 1974, has some new words. It’s being used to promote the Badgers women’s basketball team in conjunction with a campaign for Anderson to become Wisconsin’s first All-American.
She is averaging 21 points this season. The Wisconsin native broke the state’s prep scoring record for boys and girls, collecting 2,881 points at South Shore High School.
“(The scoring) has never been about me. It’s about whatever I can do to help the team,” Anderson said. “I think our SID has had fun with it and my family thinks it’s kind of cool to have a song named for me. I’m OK with it as long as it promotes the Wisconsin team and not just me.”
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Release: Freshman Ashley Henderson was the first Western Pennsylvania girl to come to Pitt. Agnus Berenato granted her a release from the women’s basketball team this week.
“Ashley was our first commitment from Western Pennsylvania and for that we will be forever grateful,” Berenato said. “Ashley feels it is in her best interest to transfer so that she can be more of a contributor in another program.”