Blue Devils coach Gail Goestenkors has put up her "Dukes" since taking over in Durham in 1992.

"I think the team that can handle the pressure and the physical play will be successful," Goestenkors said. "I anticipate a game of runs by both teams because they can both score points very, very quickly, and they feed off of their defensive pressure."

Goestenkors, a three-time ACC Coach of the Year, also talked about her high-quality recruiting class, Georgia Schweitzer's on- and off-court excellence and let us in on her game-day ritual. Goestenkors also got a visit from former Blue Devil Hilary Howard, who got Goestenkors to share her fondest memory and greatest accomplishment at Duke.

If you missed Goestenkors' chat, check out the edited transcript below. And be sure to check back for next week Women's Hoops Spotlight chat with Old Dominion coach Wendy Larry. North Carolina's Nikki Teasley and LaQuanda Barksdale are our guests on Jan 18.

Gail Goestenkors: Hello everyone. I'm excited to be online, and I welcome all of the questions you might have. I'll try to answer as many as possible. Let's get started.

Dan-NH: I'm glad to see Georgia Schweitzer getting the publicity she deserves. She's an up-and-coming talent who doesn't get a lot of national attention. What has been the reason behind her blossoming season?

Gail Goestenkors: Georgia is perhaps the most dedicated student-athlete I've ever coached, and has been waiting for her opportunity to lead this team. It was difficult last year with six seniors, and at times, I think she deferred to those seniors. She is a person who enjoys challenges, and has accepted the challenge of being a leader and a go-to player, and has really blossomed. She is also a pre-med student, and obviously is taking the most challenging courses academically at Duke, and is excelling in the classroom as well.

Mark: Hi, coach G. First, having moved to the triangle last year from Connecticut, and in being in search of a local women's bball program to follow after nine years of following the UConn program, my wife and I have enjoyed the opportunity to watch your team. It is obviously a quality program you have built and I think you are a classy coach. We are changing from CT Blue and White to Blue Devil Blue. My question: 1) You have signed one of the top recruiting classes with Alana Beard, Iciss Tillis, Crystal White, Rometra Craig and Vicki Kaapohl. I guess it never hurts recruiting to go the final four! How do you envision the roles for these kids and what needs will they fulfill? (Also, we attended the UT game last year in Greensboro -- it was the greatest game I have ever been to.)

Gail Goestenkors: We're ecstatic with the five players we're bringing in, not just because they're exceptional players, but because they're tremendous students and wonderful people. They will fit in very well with our new system, which is a five-out motion offense, and pressing, trapping defense. This is by far the most athletic class we've ever signed. Yet all of the players are very humble and possess a great deal of class. I think they will continue the tradition that is being built here at Duke. Thanks so much for coming to the games and for your kind words, Mark.

Put up your Dukes

Duke coach Gail Goestenkors, who took over the Blue Devils in 1992, entered this season as the winningest coach in Duke women's basketball history with a 148-68 career coaching record and .685 winning percentage. In addition to leading the Blue Devils to their first Final Four appearance last season, Goestenkors' 1998-99 efforts also produced a school-record 29 wins, a best-ever 16-game winning streak and Duke's best ACC season in history as the Blue Devils went 15-1 in conference play. Duke ended the season with a loss in the NCAA tile game, falling 62-45 to Purdue last March. In seven seasons, Goestenkors has led Duke to five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. Goestenkors, who also seved as an assistant coach at Purdue (1986-1992) after graduating from Saginaw Valley State in 1985, has posted four straight 20-win seasons over the past five years. She also was the 1996, '98 and '99 ACC Coach of the Year, and won the 1999 Victor Award as the National Coach of the Year. In 1997, she coached the U.S. Jones Cup Team to the silver medal.

DCDevil: Hi Coach G: Congrats on a great start to the season! I have a question about something I noticed during last night's win over Maryland: During most of the timeouts, you and the assistant coaches seemed to huddle on the court while the players gathered separately on the bench. What's the reason?

Gail Goestenkors: First, we're trying to figure out where we're going to go to dinner after the game ... ha ha. But seriously, I ask my assistants for any input they might have in regards to our offense or defense, or any substitutions they feel we may need to make before I decide what I want to discuss with my team.

T-Bone: Coach, a couple questions. You had a great year by getting to the championship in 1999, and despite losing some very key players you are slowly climbing up to the top this year. What has been the keys to this teams success? Also, when you face NC State, how will you defend against Summer Erb. Does she have some weaknesses that you could exploit? Also, when you play teams like La. Tech, Tennessee or even UConn, do you prepare for them any differently? Lastly, who do you think is the best team this year with regards to consistency?

Gail Goestenkors: After losing six seniors, it's the heart and determination of the returning players. They were all role players last year, but have accepted the challenge to expand their roles this season. We also have great leadership, and feel that we weren't given much credit early on and we're out to prove people wrong.

As for playing NC State, the great thing about NC State is, it's not just about Summer Erb this year. Kaayla Jones, a 6-foot-3 freshman, is leading the team in rebounding, and they're getting scoring from several players. I don't know that you can stop Summer Erb, and if you do, I don't know that that's the answer because they have so many other players who can step up. We'll have to have by far our best defensive effort of the season to be successful against the Wolfpack.

As for preparing for the UConns, Tenneessees ... I don't think we do anything different than what has been done in the past. We've already played a box-and-one, a triangle-and-two, a 3-2 matchup, a 1-3-1 zone and numerous fullcourt presses, along with our basic man-to-man defense. If one of those things can't work, we're out of luck.

In regards to the most consistent team in the country, it's got to be Connecticut.

Rowan: Coach G: I know you've got your own schedule to worry about, and that when the time comes, you'll be focusing on UConn and Tennessee. But can you offer your opinion on what will happen when the Huskies and Lady Vols meet Saturday? What are the keys for both teams?

Gail Goestenkors: I think it's going to be a great matchup. Both teams are very physical. I think the team that can handle the pressure and the physical play will be successful. I anticipate a game of runs by both teams because they can both score points very, very quickly, and they feed off of their defensive pressure.

Both teams are comfortable playing in front of large crowds, because they always do, so I don't think the homecourt will play as much of an advantage as it would against any other opponent.

Tony: Congrats on your coaching. You do a great job. Will you ever be a WNBA coach? If so, who would you want to coach?

Gail Goestenkors: I don't think I will be coaching in the WNBA. I would never say never, however, I enjoy the college experience. I enjoy helping players to learn and grow and I don't think you see that as much in the WNBA. I don't think you can have as great an impact on their lives at the pro level. I think, if I was to coach in the WNBA, I would prefer to have players that weren't necessarily the stars because I think sometimes you tend to get a lot of ego, along with stardom, and I guess I would just prefer to coach people who prefer to work really hard and do what's necessary for the team to win.

Lump-Philly: Hi, coach G: I was wondering what do you think of the St. Joseph's women's basketball team, since you played them last year in the NCAA's and had them back down to Duke this year to be part of your Thanksgiving Tournament?

Gail Goestenkors: I think St. Joe's is an exceptional basketball team, with a tremendous coach in Stephanie Gaitley. They're one of the most physically and mentally tough teams we played all season, and I was happy that we didn't have to play them in our tournament this season.

hojo: How do you get along with Coach K?

Gail Goestenkors: Mike and I get along great. He is a huge supporter for our program. His guys come to our games, and our players go to the men's games as well. We're both very committed to helping Duke have the best basketball (both men's and women's) in the country.

MaloneNewYorker: Coach G, I hail from the same hometown in northern New York as one of your players, Missy West. I'm just curious to hear what you feel she has meant to your team through her career at Duke.

Gail Goestenkors: Missy has played a vital role in our success over the past several seasons. She's had three knee surgeries and hasn't been able to contribute on the court as much as she has off the court, but her leadership from the sidelines has been invaluable, and this season, she's able to help us on the court as well, and actually played a key role in our win last night at Maryland.

Jen: Being from Illinois, I was just curious about the play of freshman forward Olga Gvozdenovic? How is she adjusting to the college game?

Gail Goestenkors: Olga is going to be a great player for us. She tore her ACL last spring, and is still recovering. She's at about 80 percent physically, and needs to wear a knee brace for the remainder of the season. However, we're hoping she will be able to contribute down the stretch. She's making the adjustment to college very well, and right now, we're trying to help her mentally deal with the devastating injury, and believe that she can become the player we all know she is.

Milton Kent: Hey coach! I'm a big fan of yours. I was just wondering what was the biggest factor in your win over Maryland last night, and if you believe in superstitions.

Gail Goestenkors: Against Maryland last night, the leadership of Georgia Schweitzer down the stretch, and Peppi Browne took over in the second half, driving to the basket against their taller post players, which caused Maryland to go to a four-guard lineup. That allowed Peppi to post up down on the block.

Also, we got every rebound in the second half. We did a great job on the boards. I got upset with Georgia at halftime, who had only one rebound at the time. But she came out and got eight rebounds in the second half.

I'm not as superstitious as (Maryland coach) Chris Weller, however, I do feel the need to workout every day before the game ... running and lifting. And I have a secret handshake with our promotions director. And the only time he forgot to do the handshake, we lost, which I have never forgiven him for.

Lump-Philly: Coach G: I have ties to the jersey area and was wondering how Matyasovsky has helped your team out this year?

Gail Goestenkors: Michele is doing a great job for us. She has started off and on throughout the season. I trust her in big games and in pressure situations, which says a lot for a freshman. She's learning that the college game is much more physical than high school, and that has probably been her toughest adjustment. We're expecting great things from Michele.

Hilary Howard: Hi, this is Hibby (former Duke guard who started for the Blue Devils last season). What is your fondest memory, and greatest accomplishment at Duke?

Gail Goestenkors: Hi, Hibb. Of course my fondest memory is of you. My greatest accomplishment would be going to the championship game last year, although I don't feel that it was my accomplishment -- but more of the team's. But being a part of that journey will remain with me always. And Hibb -- are you coming to our next game?

Mike Putney: Coach, do you require your team to weightlift throughout the year?

Gail Goestenkors: Yes. We weight train and condition year-round. We have several different programs depending on the season. The summer is the time when we gain most of our strength. When we're in season, we are on more of a maintenance program, and lift only twice a week. However, we feel that strength is a key for staying healthy, and to increase stamina because the game has become so physical at this level.

That's all the time we have for now. Thanks for your questions and your interest. I think it's going to be a very exciting season for all of women's basketball, and we're anxious to see what the future holds. We appreciate your support.