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Message: [QUOTE="CamrnCrz1974, post: 4543522, member: 1052"] Coming off the Gail Goestenkors era (7 Elite Eights, with 4 Final Fours, in her last ten years), Joanne P. McCallie's first season saw attendance at 6764 (out of 9413, the capacity of Cameron Indoor Stadium).In the next few years, attendance wavered, with ups and downs, but still generally very good. But [URL='https://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2023/01/duke-womens-basketball-virginia-tech-tenting']attendance at Duke women’s basketball games steadily declined during McCallie's last nine seasons[/URL], going from 5361 in 2011-12 to 3417 in 2019-20, her last year. Some of this had to do with McCallie's teams being blown out in high profile matchups at home; some of it had to do with the 2016 HR investigation into McCallie's conduct which found that while there was no mistreatment that was physical or criminal in nature, [URL='https://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2016/05/duke-womens-basketball-head-coach-joanne-mccallie-remains-following-program-investigation']the program's atmosphere with McCallie at the helm was negative[/URL]. And McCallie did no favors for herself, attacking Duke student Hank Tucker, then-sports editor of the Chronicle (Duke student paper) for claiming, in 2018, she was misquoted by Tucker, in 2016, regarding statements she made concerning transfers, UConn, etc. - [URL='https://www.wralsportsfan.com/fueling-uconn-duke-rivalry-a-star-who-s-played-for-both/17440520/']even though it came out the prior interview was recorded and McCallie did, in fact, make those statements[/URL]. Kara Lawson's first year was 2019-20 in which no fans were allowed to attend Duke sporting events -- and Duke shut down its season after four games. With the pandemic slowing, Duke had fans starting to come back in 2021-22, with 5451 fans attending Duke's 56-45loss to #1 South Carolina. But after starting 13-4, Duke went 4-9 the rest of the way, including getting blown out, 74-46, to UNC in the final home game of the year. Duke is much better this year, sitting at 23-4 overall and 13-3 in the ACC. But this year's squad is predicated on defense to maximize limitations of players on offense. And while Duke is winning, the team scores 65.11 ppg overall (60.38 ppg in ACC games) while allowing 50.70 ppg overall (52.19 in ACC games). It is not an exciting brand of basketball to watch. There is not the star power draw of an Alana Beard, Monique Currie, or Chelsea Gray in terms of wanting to see, "What will she do next?" For Duke to increase its attendance, there does need to be a grassroots effort to rebuild the program. But Lawson is very insular, keeping information about the program very tight within her inner circle and the team. The growth -- or rebirth/rebuild - of the program had to happen first -- which it appears to have happened this year. But it has to be sustained, coupled with a product that will draw students, alumni, Durham residents, etc. With students tenting for men's games (lots of Saturday-Monday combinations in ACC games), the other weeknights in tents are usually for studying or participating in other extracurricular activities. Students can earn more points in tenting by attending certain other athletic events -- and Duke needs to make WBB games more of a priority to earn points. [USER=378]@triaddukefan[/USER] [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach

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