currentstudent wrote:

DID SOMEONE JUST SAY WE SHOULD PLAY CASTRO MORE!?! I'm sure he is a nice guy and all but he is sooooo bad. You have to make the most out of the opportunity you are given. He's played 123 minutes this season and has shot 15 of 46. And most of that is against scrubs! 

As far as the whole height thing I think both sides of the argument are right. We should try to get players that have size but also make sure they aren't a Darius Lewis who is 6'11 but can't play basketball.

Our line up from the 1 to the 5 I feel does have the size. I think it is fair for Ferry to play his senior is D.C. and Micah because they deserve it, everything they have given to the program and all. Although I would like to see Josh Steel more, but maybe he just isn't ready yet.   

I have a different opinion here about Lewis. I am actually impressed by the improvement he has shown.  Keep in mind that 7' players with high skill levels are rare and go to likes of Duke not Duquesne.  The rest are at some level of "projects" and need to be developed.  The plan was to red shirt Lewis his freshman year.  That did not happen because Robinson did not qualify.  This should have been his soph season.  There is definitely still work to be done on his game, but has been effective in some areas.  I think he is starting because Ferry believes he is the best option.
 

The Dome wrote:

Very difficult to argue with the fact that teams do shoot over our guards. Dukes are 10th in the A-10 and 337 in the country in defending the 3. We also are a weak rebounding team. You can not continue to depend on a 6'5" guard being your number 1 rebounder. I agree Gill has step up a little but actual height has nothing to do with how that player plays. Gill is a great example how many times does he actually play at 6'8"?  I believe that's what Hooplife is getting at. Firing 3's one or two passes into a offensive set doesn't allow for positioning for rebounds. Everyone loves to point to the smaller NBA teams but watch the Warriors pass the ball. It is a miracle for the Dukes to get beyond 2-3 passes per possision.

Your numbers about three-point defense are not true. There are 4 categories about three-point defense and the lowest they are in any of them is about 300. If we were 337 in the country and 10th in the A-10, that means there would be 5 A-10 teams in the bottom 10 defensively in the country since there are 347 schools. I don't think that's possible

The Dome wrote:

Very difficult to argue with the fact that teams do shoot over our guards. Dukes are 10th in the A-10 and 337 in the country in defending the 3. We also are a weak rebounding team. You can not continue to depend on a 6'5" guard being your number 1 rebounder. I agree Gill has step up a little but actual height has nothing to do with how that player plays. Gill is a great example how many times does he actually play at 6'8"?  I believe that's what Hooplife is getting at. Firing 3's one or two passes into a offensive set doesn't allow for positioning for rebounds. Everyone loves to point to the smaller NBA teams but watch the Warriors pass the ball. It is a miracle for the Dukes to get beyond 2-3 passes per possision.

Weak rebounding team?  102nd in rebounding margin. Hardly suggests we are weak in that category.

The Dome wrote:

In league play we are a much more pedestrian 7th in rebounding margin.

7/14 isn't weak.

Duq_11 wrote:

Dukes2012 wrote:

The Dome wrote:

Very difficult to argue with the fact that teams do shoot over our guards. Dukes are 10th in the A-10 and 337 in the country in defending the 3. We also are a weak rebounding team. You can not continue to depend on a 6'5" guard being your number 1 rebounder. I agree Gill has step up a little but actual height has nothing to do with how that player plays. Gill is a great example how many times does he actually play at 6'8"? I believe that's what Hooplife is getting at. Firing 3's one or two passes into a offensive set doesn't allow for positioning for rebounds. Everyone loves to point to the smaller NBA teams but watch the Warriors pass the ball. It is a miracle for the Dukes to get beyond 2-3 passes per possision.

Your numbers about three-point defense are not true. There are 4 categories about three-point defense and the lowest they are in any of them is about 300. If we were 337 in the country and 10th in the A-10, that means there would be 5 A-10 teams in the bottom 10 defensively in the country since there are 347 schools. I don't think that's possible

337 on the NCAA website - http://www.ncaa.com/stats/basketball-men/d1/current/team/518/p7
 

You're right. I was looking at the other three-point categories. I wouldn't fret over that stat too much though. It's undeniable that we are much improved defensively this year, and our defense hasn't really cost us any games this year. The thing that's hurt us is untimely scoring droughts and the occasional rebounding lapse

Hilltopper wrote:

Dukes2012 wrote:

Duq_11 wrote:

337 on the NCAA website - http://www.ncaa.com/stats/basketball-men/d1/current/team/518/p7
 

You're right. I was looking at the other three-point categories. I wouldn't fret over that stat too much though. It's undeniable that we are much improved defensively this year, and our defense hasn't really cost us any games this year. The thing that's hurt us is untimely scoring droughts and the occasional rebounding lapse

Talk about rose-colored glasses - at 337 DU is right there with Alcorn and Sacred Heart, which ought to get the committees' attention come NCAA and NIT tourney selection time!

 
Dukes rank 1st in FG-% defense in the conference during conference play. 

Regardless - Duquesne has to get bigger.  It starts with bigger forwards not as sorry as Lewis. Then the "guards" like James, Jackson, and others can give the front of the zone length.  Castro - again for the non believer - he played well in the Pro Am summer league two summers ago.  If Butler recruited and signed him then he must have talent and skill.  I think his problem is he will never get minutes until Mason, Colter and Jones are gone.

Before Jones got hurt you have 5'9 Colter, 5'10 Mason and 6'3 Jones as a 3. LG Gill - at 6'7 should be a 3 - but he has to play a 4 or 5 because Lewis gets in early foul trouble against good teams.  Until Ferry gets legit size his system will not work unless he plays a soft schedule and A10 teams are down. 

duq81 wrote:

Boy, the haters are out in force. Since when did anyone think this team was NCAA material? Most of us were just looking to return to something like we had under Ron, which it appears we have. You need to at least be decent, before you can think about actually landing better players.

Good point. The fact is 6'10" skilled forwards and 6'4"-6'5" guards don't grow on trees and are usually reserved for a certain number of top schools. To start getting such players, or even just better players in general, you have to start winning consistently. We all want to get there, but we aren't there yet. Until then, we are going to have to do more with less and hope some project-type big men work out

Last edited by Dukes2012 (1/30/2016 12:29 pm)

duq81 wrote:

Boy, the haters are out in force. Since when did anyone think this team was NCAA material? Most of us were just looking to return to something like we had under Ron, which it appears we have. You need to at least be decent, before you can think about actually landing better players.

not only that, but a seemingly nice thread meant to point out the progress of a vital cog to next years machine has been hijacked by a discussion about size and stats.

the only stat that matters right now is 4-4, with a chance to pick up a big road win against a team who has at times looked like the 90s chicago bulls at home and has looked like the washington generals on the road.

if the dukes fall short of NIT glory, i would love it if the admin anted up for a home cbi or cit game to reward the seniors who have gutted out 4 years, not just in the game of basketball, but in the game of life. i think it would be very fitting if DC and micah got a home postseason game!

Last edited by heelsdukesfan (1/30/2016 1:27 pm)

heelsdukesfan wrote:

if the dukes fall short of NIT glory, i would love it if the admin anted up for a home cbi or cit game to reward the seniors who have gutted out 4 years, not just in the game of basketball, but in the game of life. i think it would be very fitting if DC and micah got a home postseason game!

 
Heels I agree with this and I hate to say I'm dubious of the NIT now that it has been taken over by the NCAA seems like a way to have even more major conference teams take spots that would have been small conference spots.

Ferry has had enough time.  Not seeing how his style will attract the type of size that will elevate the program.  The beat a bad St. Louis team.  LG - no points.  Powell - about 10 minutes a half.  It's all about the guards.  U can be an optimist - I prefer to be a realist.  Team was a disaster under the Everhart regime.  If he was such a great coach what is he doing now?  I know where he is but why not a head coach?  Everhart was a foul mouth bully.  I am not a hater - I call it as I see it.  Duquesne has no chance against a top 50 program.  Get some height - compete - toughen up the schedule.  Instead he keeps fooling clowns like u who thinks there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Dukes2012 wrote:

Hooplife7 wrote:

Ferry has had enough time.  Not seeing how his style will attract the type of size that will elevate the program.  The beat a bad St. Louis team.  LG - no points.  Powell - about 10 minutes a half.  It's all about the guards.  U can be an optimist - I prefer to be a realist.  Team was a disaster under the Everhart regime.  If he was such a great coach what is he doing now?  I know where he is but why not a head coach?  Everhart was a foul mouth bully.  I am not a hater - I call it as I see it.  Duquesne has no chance against a top 50 program.  Get some height - compete - toughen up the schedule.  Instead he keeps fooling clowns like u who thinks there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Okay now you're just trolling

He's outta here!!!!