I'm tired. Having watched the Duquesne Men's Basketball Team teeter between mediocrity and just plain awful for decades - yes I said decades - I don't know what to say or do. The last time the Dukes made the NCAA Tournament was my freshman year and I'm tired of seeing other schools, some smaller than Duquesne, have successful programs and get invitations to the big dance. Every few years we get a new coach, another guy who is going to lead us to the promised land, only to set the stage for more disappointment. Why is it that so many other schools can accomplish what Duquesne can't? I realize I'm asking questions that have been asked so many times. But unless we get an administration that commits 100% to rebuilding the program properly it's going to be more of the same.
Years ago, Wisconsin's football team was the laughing stock of the Big Ten. Then Donna Shalala was named school president. One of the first things she did was hire Pat Richter as the AD, who in turn hired Barry Alvarez as the new football coach. In less than five years, the Badgers were conference champs and a national title contender. And have been ever since. That's the kind of commitment basketball at Duquesne needs. Let's see if we get it.

I sent a rather scathing letter to Mr. Harper about a year ago, detailing my frustration wit the state of the basketball program.  After seeing the progress the team has made, I thought I'd send him another letter, and this is what I said: 

Mr. Harper:
About a year ago I sent you a letter detailing my frustrations with the state of the Duquesne men’s basketball program.   At that time I had just watched the Dukes lose by 21 points to Rhode Island.  I was embarrassed for the team and for the school.  I was glad (and a bit surprised) when you responded to me, and that gave me a little hope that the Dukes might be due for a much needed shake-up. 
Fast forward to this year.  I have watched the Dukes a couple of times now on TV, including last Saturday’s triple-overtime game against LaSalle, and it’s been fun to see the progress of this year’s team.  It looks like you have made an outstanding hire in Keith Dambrot.  He has the team really playing sound, solid, fundamental basketball.  They hustle, they rebound, they play defense.  They do almost everything they didn’t or couldn’t manage to do last season or recent seasons.  If someone would have told me that they would have a 13-5 record at this point in the season… well, it would have been difficult to believe.  I might have been happy with 13 to 15 wins for the year.  Seriously, this team is a joy to watch and there is no way I would have said that a year ago. 
Mr. Harper, I don’t know if Duquesne is a threat to make a trip to the “Big Dance” this season, but who knows?  Come NCAA tournament time the Dukes might be one of those teams that could make a little noise.  If nothing else the team looks like they are on the road to respectability.  And it’s about damn time.  My hat is off to you and Coach Dambrot.  Thank you for taking men’s basketball at Duquesne seriously again.  
 

What did the "leaked memo" about RE say?  I'm curious...

As was suggested by a few people, I sent my "open letter"  that I posted on this board last week to David Harper.  He responded within an hour or two, which really surprised me.  He tanked me for the e-mail and for my "passion for Duquesne basketball."  He added that he will make note of my thoughts "accordingly."  

Hey, it's better than just getting blown off.  

The Duquesne Dukes men’s basketball team has not been to the NCAA tournament in 40 years. Not since Jimmy Carter was president, “Lavernne & Shirley” was the number one show on TV, and gas was 65 cents a gallon. Not since I was a freshman at Duquesne. And from what I’ve seen It might be another 40 years.I live in Milwaukee so I don't get a chance to see the Dukes play very often.  I watched the game last Saturday (1/21) between Duquesne and Rhode Island. I was excited to be able to see my old school on TV. The game started out competitive, but then URI started to pull away and led by 10 at the half. OK, I thought, 10 points isn’t too bad. Hit some shots and we can maybe get back into the game again. The second half began and it became evident that this game was a joke. URI pulled further and further ahead, and next thing I knew, Duquesne loses by 21. It was embarrassing. And all through the game I’m listening to the announcers calling the game telling me what a hard working coach Jim Ferry is, how the Dukes are a rebuilding team, blah blah blah… Ferry is in his fourth season as coach; it’s time to stop “rebuilding” and time to start winning. His team looked like a Division 3 team out there. Actually I think there are a few D-3 teams that could give the Dukes a run for their money.I’m also still waiting for somebody to explain to me why Ron Everhart, the only coach Duquesne has had since Mike Rice who had a winning record, got fired. In six years he only had one losing season and got his team into post-season tournaments 3 times. I read where he was canned because of “lack of success in the post season.” Well from where I sit you got to GET to the post season to have a chance at success in the post season. And from where I sit, it sure doesn’t look like Coach Ferry is gonna get the boys to the promised land any time soon.Tuesday night I watched the game between Marquette and Villanova. Villanova was ranked number one in the country and at