A tweet from former Duke Jim Balog suggesting (based on a hunch) that a big signing is coming:

 Jim Balog‏@TheLog40·14 hrs
I feel a big signing coming to Duquesne this week. Call it a BBAlum hunch. @duq_thecrew @DuqUnivAlumni @DukesPepBand @DUQCheer

The Log is one of the most positive and optimistic persons that I've ever met regarding Duquesne basketball.  I hope he's right with his hunch.

rittersdiner wrote:

levon1975 wrote:

rittersdiner wrote:

So this is the type of top-notch recruiting we get from Ferry? Castro gets tossed out of Butler for disciplinary reasons and Ferry, probably feeling the heaqt after last season, makes a desperation move that he can't even use until two years from now. Nice.

 That's not an accurate statement.  Castro didn't get "tossed out of Butler", he left on his own accord; to find a better opportunity.  If you read the article from the Butler source, Castro's teammates had nothing negative to say about him.  Certainly losing the connection with the two coaches that recruited him, made Butler a shaky situation for him from the beginning.  When coaches recruit players and leave it is most common for those players to ask for a release before even attending that school.  To his credit, he tried to stick it out and it just wasn't working with the new coach.  Duquesne fans should behappy to get a player with Castro's ability, albeit with the caveat that he must sit out a year.

From Nesbitt's story:
"He was dismissed from a team shootaround Feb. 11, according to the Indianapolis Star, and Butler coach Brandon Miller announced two days later that Castro had been suspended for "a disciplinary issue," his second suspension of the season. "

Ritter, you are entitled to post whatever you want, and to take such a high moral ground if you wish. I can't dispute you, and I can't take the same high ground because frankly, my freshman year at DU went a lot worse than Rene Castro's did at Butler.

I was brought before the Residence Council the first time for throwing someone fully clothed into the showers. The guy never bathed and I plain and simple got tired of the stench and did something about it. The RC gave me a stern warning. A couple weeks later, I started a street hockey game in the halls of 5 St. Martin's, and threw some vicious checks that left body-sized holes in the walls. Couple hundred dollars worth of damage. At that point, RC told me one more incident and I would get kicked out of the dorms.

Later on, I beat up a guy at a party and took his girlfriend away from him. This didn't get to the RC because the girl threatened to kick his butt if I got in trouble.

I have since matured, learned some life lessons, and now behave much better. But I'm still a sinner and therefore cannot join you in casting stones at Castro.

Besides, I was hoping we'd land him last year, and I'm glad we have him now.

Peace.

ElDuque wrote:

rittersdiner wrote:

levon1975 wrote:

 That's not an accurate statement.  Castro didn't get "tossed out of Butler", he left on his own accord; to find a better opportunity.  If you read the article from the Butler source, Castro's teammates had nothing negative to say about him.  Certainly losing the connection with the two coaches that recruited him, made Butler a shaky situation for him from the beginning.  When coaches recruit players and leave it is most common for those players to ask for a release before even attending that school.  To his credit, he tried to stick it out and it just wasn't working with the new coach.  Duquesne fans should behappy to get a player with Castro's ability, albeit with the caveat that he must sit out a year.

From Nesbitt's story:
"He was dismissed from a team shootaround Feb. 11, according to the Indianapolis Star, and Butler coach Brandon Miller announced two days later that Castro had been suspended for "a disciplinary issue," his second suspension of the season. "

Ritter, you are entitled to post whatever you want, and to take such a high moral ground if you wish. I can't dispute you, and I can't take the same high ground because frankly, my freshman year at DU went a lot worse than Rene Castro's did at Butler.

I was brought before the Residence Council the first time for throwing someone fully clothed into the showers. The guy never bathed and I plain and simple got tired of the stench and did something about it. The RC gave me a stern warning. A couple weeks later, I started a street hockey game in the halls of 5 St. Martin's, and threw some vicious checks that left body-sized holes in the walls. Couple hundred dollars worth of damage. At that point, RC told me one more incident and I would get kicked out of the dorms.

Later on, I beat up a guy at a party and took his girlfriend away from him. This didn't get to the RC because the girl threatened to kick his butt if I got in trouble.

I have since matured, learned some life lessons, and now behave much better. But I'm still a sinner and therefore cannot join you in casting stones at Castro.

Besides, I was hoping we'd land him last year, and I'm glad we have him now.

Peace.

 Duque,
This is some of your best work, totally enjoyable and gets to the point!  Nice work!

levon1975 wrote:

ElDuque wrote:

rittersdiner wrote:

From Nesbitt's story:
"He was dismissed from a team shootaround Feb. 11, according to the Indianapolis Star, and Butler coach Brandon Miller announced two days later that Castro had been suspended for "a disciplinary issue," his second suspension of the season. "

Ritter, you are entitled to post whatever you want, and to take such a high moral ground if you wish. I can't dispute you, and I can't take the same high ground because frankly, my freshman year at DU went a lot worse than Rene Castro's did at Butler.

I was brought before the Residence Council the first time for throwing someone fully clothed into the showers. The guy never bathed and I plain and simple got tired of the stench and did something about it. The RC gave me a stern warning. A couple weeks later, I started a street hockey game in the halls of 5 St. Martin's, and threw some vicious checks that left body-sized holes in the walls. Couple hundred dollars worth of damage. At that point, RC told me one more incident and I would get kicked out of the dorms.

Later on, I beat up a guy at a party and took his girlfriend away from him. This didn't get to the RC because the girl threatened to kick his butt if I got in trouble.

I have since matured, learned some life lessons, and now behave much better. But I'm still a sinner and therefore cannot join you in casting stones at Castro.

Besides, I was hoping we'd land him last year, and I'm glad we have him now.

Peace.

 Duque,
This is some of your best work, totally enjoyable and gets to the point!  Nice work!

First, I'm not taking a high moral ground, just pointing out the desperation of a coach knowing the program is failing. Your example is a good one about maturity. But I am wondering if this is what the administration had in mind about recruiting when hiring Ferry. Castro has to sit a year and, for the record, he was thrown out of practice and suspended twice. Maybe he works out, or gets thrown out. Either way it's an act of desperation.

I also wonder about the fact Castro has to sit for a year. When you get a couple of people in who have to sit, then you tend to have fans looking down the road a little and giving a little more leeway if the team is not that good next season. And that at least gives the coach a little more security because people are thinking "Well, when so-and-so gets here next season, look out." Just a thought.

"An act of desperation"...on Ferry's part?  Are you kidding?  80% of the Div. I BB coaches are in the same situation.  Nearly every coach that takes over a program (struggling or otherwise) is in exactly the same position as JF.  Unless your Duke, Kansas, or Kentucky, and 4 Star recruits are lined up at your door every year, most others are in basically the same boat.  How'd Butler do once Brad Stevens left?  You think their coach wouldn't gladly accept a talented kid transferring from another "national" program...How 'bout Tom Crean?  You think he wouldn't?  You really let your disdain for GA, JF, and perhaps the whole program cloud your perception of reality.  They're not desperate...it's 100% the nature of the job.

duqkurt wrote:

Did Eric James sign? I thought this was supposed to happen yesterday? I can't find any announcement.

He just did.  Here's the announcement.
http://www.goduquesne.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/042514aaa.html
 

Let's not forget that 6'8" Jordan Robinson adds to the mix.  Every one of these recruits-current and Robinson- are consensus 3-star or higher rated players.  The Dukes got a lot better this week.  Don't be surprised if a Dominique McKoy type 6'7" or 6'8" PF JUCO is added as the final recruit.

Last edited by grammudder (4/25/2014 2:03 pm)

I'll go one up on you levon. I'd like to see a PG who can come in and take everyone's lunch. To win in the A-10, we need a stud at the position, not an average player or someone tryong to learn the position.

Thanks for posting the annoucement link.

FAM wrote:

We need a point guard..........................

I think one was visiting this weekend.

For what it's worth Stevens was a 1st team NJCAA All=American and Trey Dickerson who we were after coming out of high school was on the 3rd team.