I'm hoping this year's team can avoid the inevitable February free fall that has plagued this program for what seems like an eternity now, but the fact of the matter is that we're now a dismal 1-3 this month when, realistically, we could have won all four games thus far.

While Duquesne's ability to rally from double-digit deficits late in the game, including last night when we rallied to take the lead against LaSalle in the waning minutes after trailing 61-51, is really exciting to watch — it's also a mark of a championship team as Porter Moser's Loyola of Chicago Ramblers proved numerous times last season — I'm beginning to seriously wonder why Keith Dambrot's players increasingly find themselves in that dire predicament, almost game after game in the past several  weeks, most recently in the URI and Fordham games when the Dukes staged unbelievable come-from-behind victories after trailing by 18 points.  

A team can only do that so often. 

Those are some huge deficits to overcome.

Sadly, the old adage that, "In February there is everything to hope for and nothing to regret," doesn't seem to apply to Duquesne basketball.  In fact, quite the opposite is true; there's nothing to hope for and everything to regret.  It's a month of disappointment, year after year — regardless of who happens to be coaching this once-proud program.

Here's hoping March will be better...

Let's Go Duquesne!

 

Last edited by IronDukes12 (2/14/2019 6:45 am)

townsonkid wrote:

Play Lamar Norman more.  If FHughes is denting rims with his shot, put in Norman, I mean WTF is there to lose, other than a talented player for next year?
Last nights shooting was brutal.  
Wade had more air balls than shots hit the rim I think.
Play norman and bizeau, if they get hot, problem solved.  If the whole team is cold, then its a loss.

I agree. I don't know why Norman gets no run.

I agree with the sentiment expressed in this thread started by Pistol Pete (although I am concerned about Pistol's inability to sleep after a Duke's loss--perhaps a hiatus from watching the Dukes for a week or two, meditation and a glass of warm milk and cookies before bed might be in order!)

  It is no doubt frustrating to witness losses that could be wins.  It is difficult to beat any team on the road no matter what the record.  I think that the modicum of success achieved by KD in only his second year has raised expectations.  I am trying to keep this season in perspective since Duquesne isn't playing anyone beyond his sophomore year--not an excuse but a fact nonetheless.  Let's hang in there...better times are coming.  We've waited this long!!

townsonkid wrote:

I think if Norman hit a shot early, he can drop 20.  He just needs to see the ball go in the hoop.  He's ultra athletic, can play defense, and has to have fresh legs.
I'd consider starting him vs GW over Frankie, try it out one game, see what happens.
 

Norman's shooting percentage isn't bad at 39.5%. His lack of playing time must be related to his defense. He's on the bench, while KD is giving time to a player shooting 19% from the field. I didn't major in math, but 39.5% is more than double 19.4%. Maybe Wade is great in practice, while Norman isn't, but at some point, don't you have to base it on play in real games?
 

townsonkid wrote:

Play Lamar Norman more.  If FHughes is denting rims with his shot, put in Norman, I mean WTF is there to lose, other than a talented player for next year?
Last nights shooting was brutal.  
Wade had more air balls than shots hit the rim I think.
Play norman and bizeau, if they get hot, problem solved.  If the whole team is cold, then its a loss.

Wade was 1 for 4. Two of the misses were in-and-out. It was the most confident I've seen him shoot the ball all season. He needs to play and improve on the fly if we're going to win games down the stretch. He plays more than Norman because KD trusts him more on the ball (which I agree, is shaky) and defensively. Norman plays off ball, so he needs to play with either Sin or TDM. I'd have given him some more minutes for Frank last night, though.

In earlier games, I thought Norman looked good in a pressing defense. We seem to play better when we press. So maybe there's more of a role there. But if our press gets broken, it's super easy layups. We don't recover well. So, double-edged sword. We use it to make these comebacks, though, so I'd try to use it a little more early in games.

For what it is worth:

Last three home games-GW, Mass and Day-combined record of 32-41
Last three road games-GM, Stl, and SBU-combined record of 41-33
I see a 3-3 finish or a regular season record of 19-12,  10-8.
 

TDM is their best shooter. Maybe this ankle injury is affecting him but he makes things happen

No. He played against LAS.