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Chat Reel: Gail Goestenkors

"This year's team is very young and incredibly athletic."

Gail Goestenkors thinks the competition in the ACC will be tougher this season. AP

CNNSI Host: Welcome to today's chat with Duke women's basketball coach Gail Goestenkors. Thanks for joining us today coach!
Gail Goestenkors: Thank you glad to be here.

From Barry in Phoenix: Coach G, congratulations on building a national powerhouse! Could you compare this year's team with Alana Beard, Monique Currie, Sheana Mosch, and all, with your 1998-1999 team with Michelle Van Gorp, Nicole Erickson, and Hillary Howard, that went to the national championship game?
Gail Goestenkors: There are two completely different teams. The'99 team was very experienced, with six seniors and a very strong dominant post player along with two points guards who were tremendous shooters. This year's team is very young and incredibly athletic. We have no true center or point guard but perhaps the best wings in the country.

From Rob Clough in Durham, N.C.: Hi Coach, excellent win on Sunday. It seems like Duke's post game is coming along quicker than anticipated, but are you concerned with the team's three-point shooting at this point? Also, how surprised were you at the poise that Monique Currie showed on offense and Wynter Whitley showed on defense?
Gail Goestenkors: Thanks so much, it was huge win for us against a very good Texas Tech team. Our post game has improved a great deal from last year, and our three-point shooting will continue to improve but we need to adjust to life without Georgia Schweitzer. Monique is very a confident and secure freshman. Having played with Wynter in Atlanta on the USA Junior National team this summer has given them both a lot of confidence.

From Mark in Atlanta: Who do you think will be the teams to beat in the ACC this season? Is the conference stronger this year than it was last year?
Gail Goestenkors: The conference is definitely stronger this year from top to bottom. I truly believe almost any team can win the ACC championship. Teams that look strong early on are N.C. State, although they lost their point guar Terah James to an ACL injury, and Carolina looks better than ever. Maryland returns all its starters and Clemson is always a tough team to beat.

From Cameron Crazy in Durham, N.C.: While Alana Beard can play any position on the floor, she is not a true or natural point guard. Will you experiment with putting Krista Gingrich into the starting lineup and moving Beard to the shooting guard position?
Gail Goestenkors: We will do a great deal of experimenting this season. Alana can play any position on the floor and will probably play all of them at one point or another. Krista and Vicki Krapotohl will play point guard, which will allow Alana to play her more natural position at the wing.

From Michael White in Richmond, Va.: I am a Duke grad (1988-92). While I was at Duke, the women's team was respectable, but consistently mediocre. What was the key to overcoming that legacy and building a national power? How did you do it?
Gail Goestenkors: First and foremost the administration made a commitment to create a first-class program. And then the ability to bring in quality people and players followed. Once we had a few good people in place they attracted other great players and it kind of snowballed.

From LukeG35-is: Do you have any freshmen this year that should hop right in and make a name for themselves?
Gail Goestenkors: We only have two freshman on the roster, and they are both excellent players and people. Wynter Whitley started in her first game against Texas Tech and Monique is currently pushing for a starting spot as well, and led our team with 17 points and 10 rebounds in her debut.

From Veronica in Dallas: Duke has had a lot of success in the past five years. Have you seen the interest in women's basketball increase because of that?
Gail Goestenkors: Definitely. Last season, for the first time, we led the ACC in attendance with over 4,500 fans per game, compared to about 200 fans a game when I first got here. We've come a long way but still have a long way to go.

From Mindy in Wilmington, N.C.: With the season just underway, how do you keep your team focused on the daily things while still aiming for the national title?
Gail Goestenkors: This year we have chosen not to discuss at any great lengths the postseason. We are focused on getting better with each and every game. We feel if we continue to improve the future will take care of itself.

From Harvey Bissette in Clayton, N.C.: Can we expect to see Georgia's number retired?
Gail Goestenkors: We're still working on getting her jersey retired. It's not going to happen anytime soon but hopefully some day we will see her jersey raised to the rafters.

CNNSI Host: That's all the time we have today with Coach Goestenkors. Thanks for and good luck this season.
Gail Goestenkors: Thank you so much.

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