https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1635371774765330456?t=GyNAreVCx1D_d5ncxCTDNw&s=19

https://pittsburghsportsnow.com/2022/05/02/duquesne-basketball-hires-dru-joyce-iii-as-associate-head-coach/

Rayrich wrote:

The coaching at this point is beyond disgraceful. Dambrot is definitely on the hot seat. Get a young progressive assistant coach from a top level program who knows "today's players", the ebb and flow of a game, and the X's and O's of "today's game". Plenty of coaching talent out there. Stop wasting time on this guy. He's taking the Dukes NOWHERE.

Sadly I do think this is a possibility. I never in my wildest dreams could have imagined this given Dambrots trajectory here. But, here we are. What's puzzling is his comments about how this is the most talented team he has had. Is it really?  That's either coach speak or a really poor evaluation of talent.

Ironduke81 wrote:

A83 wrote:

Ironduke81 wrote:

 
Hey CLK I opened a betting account on Fan Duel I'm down 1win 2 loses. Why because every game you predict a 20 point win😂👍 I do agree with your A83 comment. Very disturbing if indeed you are a Duquesne fan.

Yep I’m the problem. I do the coaching and recruiting. I run the camera that people complain about. I’m the color announcer that people don’t like. I ordered the mini basketballs that didn’t show up for the season opener. It’s me.

My sincere apologies again.

 
A83 if they can't whip up on North Eastern I would agree "Houston We have Problem". Until then keep moving forward& look for the bright spots. After all we have been watching this disaster for 40 years. I am at this stage numb to the failures at the bluff. I do like this team. Last years team was an embarrassment to the University with all the technicals, whining & Complaining.

I am not sure why everyone thinks Northeastern is some type of push-over.  They were picked 2nd in the same league which has Hofstra at 5th.  They have had a rough start but played 2 teams expected to be competing for first place in their respective leagues.  Sadly, I don't think Vegas will even have us favored. 

Duques102 wrote:

phil95 wrote:

He seems to be yet another strong prospect at the position of most need.

The multiple years of eligibility is a great hedge against freshmen that transfer after a first year that doesn't meet their playing time expectations. Most players will still draw the line at 1 transfer in during their collegiate careers.

I wonder why he didn't get more minutes this year. 24 is a solid amount for a sophomore but I would expect more given his great shooting numbers.

I really hope that the eventual signing of a transfer PG doesn't lead immediately to Acuff entering the portal. I believe him to have a great, long-term role for this program.

These are all good points but the scary thing to me is what really is our “position of most need”? Hughes is gone, Weathers is almost certainly gone, and we have replaced them with the D2 kid and the Indiana state kid. Either of these guys look like a 1 to 1 replacement for either on paper? Not for me, but doesn’t mean they won’t be as good/better right away, but I doubt it.

Post depth now looks like Harris, Gunn, Williams, Kelly, Hima, and Rotroff. How many of these guys will be back? Wouldn’t be surprised to see 2-3 gone by next year. Hughes and Weathers were all A10 defensive level players and fringe All conference players, who is taking the torch from those 2 from that group??

To me we still have a big hole at the PG spot, but the post talent also still sits at a downgrade currently for me.

Neither Mike nor Marcus made the A10 defensive team this year. Tre Williams made the MVC defensive team.

Confirmed now:

Louisville
Duquesne
UNC Greensboro
Winthrop

Dunno what this means for the rest of our schedule but this is a good set of teams. 

duq81 wrote:

BluffHunter wrote:

WOW! Extremely impressed to be able to play them. This is a great sign that we are gaining lots of respect across the mid-major community

Depends on whether we have to return the game. I looked at their schedules going back 6 years. With the exception of a home game against city rival Vandy, there is nothing on their home schedule approaching a good A10 team. If this is an home and home, it's much more of a get for Belmont than it is for us. They should be dancing in the streets at the thought of getting an A10 team to come in. Now, if we don't have to return the game, then I'll be impressed. Duquesne should easily be able to land a home and home with pretty much any school out of a one bid league. The issue is, as it always is, the higher level school doesn't want to play dangerous road games against teams from lower level conferences. High risk, low reward. If it is a home and home, it may just be a case of Dambrot saying that we need this to boost our home schedule in a year we hope to make the tourney. Next year might be a reload, so we'll risk a road loss next year.
 

I kind of disagree here.  First of all, if Belmont is top 75 and we play them on the road then that is a Q1 Game.  If we cannot return games against top 75 teams then I'm not sure what to say.  It's just absurd to think a top 75 or even top 50 team(they were 2 years ago) is beneath us and playing a H/H is to be frowned upon. 

Just this past year for some of the top teams in the league:

Richmond @ Hampton
Richmond @ ODU
URI @ Middle Tennessee State
URI @ Brown
Bonnies @ Siena
Bonnies @ Canisius
Bonnies @ FAU
Bonnies @ Middle Tennessee State
Bonnies @ Buffalo
Davidson @ Charlotte
Davidson @ Northeastern
VCU @ Charleston

All of those A10 teams have had more success than us and all of those opponents are worse than Belmont or level footing at worst.  

If this is a H/H I applaud it.   




 

Rhode Island and Seton Hall agree to a home/home.

Nothing funny either about this. It's at the Ryan center.

Your turn Harper. Tired of excuses.  It can be done.

duq81 wrote:

DennisC91 wrote:

Also a possible road tilt against Marshall in the works, see fifth graph from the bottom:

https://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/herd-mens-basketball-schedule-taking-shape-for-2020-21/article_a0f352a7-e67f-5d79-b86d-3b2817ff4054.html

They owe them that game. Better win these games. While wins won't count for a whole lot, losses will kill us.
 

ETSU was NET 36. While unlikely to repeat, a loss does not kill us. Furman was NET 74. Both of those wins would mean alot and losses wouldn't hurt much, if at all. If we cant afford a loss to a NET 36 team then we should just mail it in now.

Marshall is a must win.

duq81 wrote:

WEB wrote:

duq81 wrote:

The Dukes will be an upperclassmen dominated team next year, but didn't have enough good players in the pipeline to replace these guys over the next two years. That is no longer the case. These guys will get their feet wet next year, and then be ready to assume major roles over the following two years. This prevents the team from dropping like a rock after the upperclassmen graduate. Good job Keith!!

I dont necessarily agree with this. There are some great players in this. I see 2 with high ceilings. The rest are wild cards. I believe the class to replace Hughes, weathers and tdm is far more important. You can offer guys immediate playing time whereas you cant do that with this class. We should be shooting for the moon for the next wave of recruits and not the wild card type guys.

Dont forget also that we are 2 over the limit and will be losing likely at least one guy who we were planning on playing more than token minutes this year. We obviously wont have that guy next year either.

Next year is a bigger deal.

I don't agree with this. Two starters will be graduating next year. Most likely Harris will take over for Mike. Harris is a 3 star who had offers from two Big East schools, and he'll have a year under his belt. Who, that we could get, is likely to walk in and send him to the bench? A 4 or 5 star guy could do it, and those are not coming to Duquesne, at least not yet. As for Marcus' spot, yeah, it could be more likely, but still they'll have 2 guys with a year under their belt to compete with, and possibly Kelly as well. We're past the point where KD is going to offer recruits playing time. They'll have to earn it, and the competition will be stiff.

Again I disagree.  I'm not sure anyone believes Harris is taking over for Mike Hughes.  Harris is going to take over for Marcus.  Kelly and Rotroff, assuming they stay, will be taking over for Mike Hughes.  Harris, at 6-7, is a 4-man.  

The point

duq81 wrote:

WEB wrote:

duq81 wrote:

There's only one spot available right now. We had 3 leave, plus Baylee. We have 3 coming in. One spot left as of now. We really don't have a good backup point guard.
 

Is Tyson Acuff the heir apparent at the PG?  You may not think he is PG material but I am curious as to what KD has to say about him. 

"Tyson fits the mold of an athletic Atlantic 10-caliber guard," said Dambrot. "He's strong and physical and is also is a very good ballhandler. He has a pass-first mentality along with the ability to score when needed. He's been well-coached and it shows in the way he shares the basketball. He's one of those guys you like to play with because he understands the game."

Not sure that is PG but who knows.  I would guess a PG is one of the guys coming at the beginning of the 2021-22 when Sincere is a Senior. 

I'm worried about having a backup right now.

How do we get a good backup PG now?  No transfer will come here as we have a PG.  You can recruit one but its doubtful you find anyone as good as Acuff sitting around right now. 

Wildwood13 wrote:

It would not be fair to the kids as that would be disrespecting the school that gave them scholarships. I can tell you that there is five of them that I know and talked to them about Duquesne. All being guards or swing forwards. And Yes seems the same as RE, but RE had a large turnover in his staff as well as his team. At least Dambrot's staff has some continuity. I am hoping that he can get LeBrons kid and the Laurel Highlands freshman as they are good friends.

Ok well can you post the Fab 5  PG teams from 2018 and 2019?  I cannot access the article as I don't have the PG subscription.