Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
PETE YOUNGDuke's Alana Beard excels in whatever situation she is in.
ATLANTA - For three seasons, Duke's Alana Beard has embodied of the coaching axiom about the value of your best players being your hardest workers.
Beard, a junior, two-time first-team All-American, became a star almost immediately upon arrival in Durham, N.C. Ever since, she has exhibited a voracious desire to improve.
"We knew she was a hard worker, but she's just off the chart for work ethic and her focus," Duke coach Gail Goestenkors said. "We knew she would be a great player; I don't think we knew she'd be as great as she is."
Beard leads Duke (35-1), ranked No. 2 by the AP and No. 1 in the ESPN/USA Today poll, against Tennessee (32-4) at 7:07 p.m. Sunday in a national semifinal. The 5-foot-11, left-handed guard-forward has nearly a flawless all-around game, reminiscent of another Blue Devil legend, Grant Hill, and she is aiming to repeat her performance earlier this season against the Volunteers.
Duke routed UT 76-55 on Nov.24 in Raleigh. Beard's stat line: 22 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, five steals.
"She has so many dimensions to her game," Tennessee coach Pat Summitt said. "Alana can beat you off the dribble and break down the defense. She can shoot the 3 and they post her a lot.
"She's a defensive monster. She will pick your pocket, she will give the best help, she's a hustle player."
Beard has been drawing rave reviews for a while. A native of Shreveport, La., she led her high school team to 53 straight wins to finish her career. As a freshman, she earned first-team All-ACC honors and was recognized by most media outlets as the national freshman of the year.
Beard averaged 17.0 points, 3.5 steals and shot 51.2 percent as a freshman, and as a sophomore she averaged 19.8 points, 3.3 steals and shot 57.2 percent.
"I think she is the best player in America. I know others disagree," said Goestenkors, though the only player generally considered in Beard's class is Connecticut's Diana Taurasi. "I think she's the most complete player. Her defense changes games as much as her offense. Not just her on-ball defense, but her help defense."
Beard's game is so balanced and impressive, observers don't know whether to first praise her offense or defense.
"Anybody who watches our games, who saw how she played against Texas Tech (in the region final) can see (her defensive prowess)," Goestenkors said. "She also blocks shots and takes charges. Then look at the offensive end and the stats that she has. She's just as good on offense as defense. She really is a complete player."
This season Beard established a school record for single-season scoring average (21.8), plus 7.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.9 steals in earning unanimous All-America honors along with Taurasi.
"It shows that all of the hard work I've put in has paid off," Beard said. "But I truly believe I wouldn't be at the level I am if I didn't have my coaches and teammates around me. My teammates have never taken it easy on me and I haven't taken it easy on them."
Duke was rolling through an unbeaten season ranked No. 1 when then-No. 2 UConn, carrying a record win streak, came to Durham. The Huskies administered a surprising jolt of reality, building a big lead and winning 77-65.
Led by Beard, Duke quickly embarked on another win streak. However, the offense has bogged down during the NCAA Tournament. The Blue Devils average 80 points, but their high point total in the tournament is 66, which they reached in an 18-point opening-round win over Georgia State and a three-point nailbiter over Georgia in the Sweet 16.
In the region final against Texas Tech, Beard's late heroics spurred a 57-51 win.
"She's vital (to getting the offense back on track)," Goestenkors said. "I think she understands now more than ever that she needs to get going for us to get going. That's a lot of pressure, but she's handled it very well."
Summitt said multiple players will be used to guard Beard as UT tries to limit her ability to single-handedly take over a game.
"She brings an incredible confidence to the court," Summitt said. "When they need her to take over, she has come through in so many situations."