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This constant talk of rebuilding after Duquesne had had its best winning record since the 1970's sounds old and tired. Because in 1990 you had alumni in their 30s and 40s who remembered the good years, Nixon and even the Nelson twin years, who were at the height of their earning and giving years, and sending their kids to the school, And the older alumni, who actually rememebered the real glory years. As the team continued to spin its wheels, those groups gradually dropped off (in the case of the latter they literally began to "die off"), and there was no reason for the student population to care. Tejas your thoughts are really thought provoking. With the few of us who go, and that is waning, it was because when we were there they were competitive and many still live in the past. Those in the Porter, Nee, etc. years who were students never went, so as adults, they are NOT going to buy tickets as we do. The attendance is going to get even worse!!!!!!!!!!! The students don't go...the adults won't in the future unless a winning coach is brought in, and I am not giving more money until they get to a tournament. I actually feel bad for the new AD. He is a super guy. He has NO IDEA what he has gotten himself into, though he thinks he does....this is a typical case of he doesn't know what he doesn't know. On a related depressing note, did anyone, and I mean anyone sign up for the GW before game beer bash that they had to cancel?? That is a microcosim of the entire program. They have to cancel because they probably couldn't get anyone to go...if they can't get folks to even go to the games, who would go to that. God Bless the new AD...this WILL be his biggest challenge. Last edited by FAM (2/18/2016 11:31 am) God bless Dave Harper In the past few games it seems the opposing team substitutes liberally while we keep our starting guards in almost the entire time. Then, near the end, as we wear down and the score gets close, they raise the level of their defensive intensity and double Micah. Someone should be open for an easy shot. But, we can't seem to figure a way around this. If we can't game plan for that, we are going to see it for the rest of the way. One of Ferry's post game comments dealt with the "junk defense" and how they shredded it in the past. When quantifying that comment the team that did it was George Mason. I'm sorry but they are not GW and don't have the same caliber of player. Last edited by The Dome (2/18/2016 12:48 pm) CLK, IF Ferry gets the Dukes to a winning record, that will be a huge deception. It will only because of the weak cupcakes he played in OOC. gotta love this quote from ferry: “It’s a program that hasn’t won in years. We’re trying to build it to win…" Heels here comes the excuses. I have provided the link to your quote below. Some of Ferry's comments makes me shake my head like he can't help them figure things out because the play is "being away from our bench, where we can be aggressive with our voices ." GW started their junk defense early in the second half. The reality is that Jim Ferry is an awful game day coach. I know some folks don't like hearing that but it is the truth. Moreover, how in his 4th year is his bench so weak that he has to play his guards 40 minutes. totally agree, and to take it one step further. I think ferry needs to replace one of his assistants. whoever is responsible for working with the guards, breaking down film, scouting reports, etc, needs to be let go and he needs to bring in someone,preferably young, who played the position at a high level and is looking to get into coaching. someone who can relate to the kids and share experiences.. CLK, IF Ferry gets the Dukes to a winning record, that will be a huge deception. It will only because of the weak cupcakes he played in OOC. The Dukes have proven that they can play with any team in the League, just not for 40 minutes. We have read the Post Gazette analysis of the numbers. We have all shared our views as to the problems of this team, however, it is important to note that there are still 5 regular season games left. Win all 5 we have a 20 win season...we will all be over joyed. Win 3 and most expectations will be exceeded at 18 wins. Lose all 5 and Ferry will have another losing season to add to his coaching record. To be honest these last 4 games have not only left me disappointed, but also feeling less hopeful about this team and the coach. But the season is not over, and the future is what the coaches and team are determined to make it. I am tired of losing. I want this team to be winners. I want Ferry to prove he can coach here and be successful. Mostly I am tired of excuses. CLK thanks for the perspective, Duq81 where are you, I totally agree. I said I believed the last 8/10 games were 50/50 games. Nothing that has happen has dispelled that for me. The bigger depressant for me is I know we can win in the A-10 tourney but I don't believe you can go very far as we are currently structured from the standpoint of playing time. Here's how KenPom is viewing the Dukes' last 5 games (these will be pretty close to the betting lines): CLK, I understand what you mean when you say they can "Play" with anyone in the league but I Really don't know what that means anymore. I know you don't mean this, as we both have similar views, but being able to play with anyone is sort of a "moral" victory and to me doesn't mean much. I am going to go way out on a limb here and say everyone starts out zero - zero. I want to know what it is at the end. So the idea that they can play with folks is something Ferry would say. Again, I understand your point but I am not satisfied with saying they can play with folks...it is just another false sense of hope. You either win or you lose at the end! Last edited by FAM (2/18/2016 6:42 pm) FAM, I have one thing to say in response to your post.................AMEN. The players are working very hard each game. The fact that the team keeps blowing leads in the second half would lead me to believe that they are tired. When you are tired you make mental mistakesl. As much as I admire Colter and Mason for their efforts, they are not machines. You cannot keep pushing these guys 40+ minutes each game and be shocked when they come up short. I do not understand how Jim Ferry cannot recognize this and use more of his bench. They are healthy and eager to contribute. Nobody has been able to explain why J Rob has not played the last 4 games. You break down his numbers by the minutes played and he ranks right up there with the starters. But he is sitting on the bench. Even when the starters are in foul trouble and foul out they seem reluctant to play him. I know there are teams who can win with the same 7 players but the Dukes are not one of those teams. Last edited by insideout (2/18/2016 10:12 pm) CLK, I understand what you mean when you say they can "Play" with anyone in the league but I Really don't know what that means anymore. I know you don't mean this, as we both have similar views, but being able to play with anyone is sort of a "moral" victory and to me doesn't mean much. I am going to go way out on a limb here and say everyone starts out zero - zero. I want to know what it is at the end. So the idea that they can play with folks is something Ferry would say. Again, I understand your point but I am not satisfied with saying they can play with folks...it is just another false sense of hope. You either win or you lose at the end! FAM, I am not one for moral victories or hearing excuses about what could have been. As you know going into the season I said that this was the year for the Dukes to win and move up in the League, No more excuses! Last edited by CLK (2/19/2016 9:24 am)
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Re: GW - Gameday
Phildog wrote:
I can remember the Carroll years, we were just average but Palumbp usually got 2800 to 4400 plus crowds depending who we played, at Palumbo , last night it reminded me of TV games I pick up from Southern networks with small D-1 programs, they also draw under a thousand.
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In short there is a giant demographic hole in DU fandom. the kids who were on campus for the Porter-Dap-Nee years had no reason to care, and now in their late 20s and 30s have even less reason to care.
Vicimus Atlanticum decem
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Re: GW - Gameday
Next year is year 5...how many years is "rebuilding" to get to a tournament!!
I think the Cleveland Browns are in a rebuilding cycle to get to the Super Bowl.
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Re: GW - Gameday
BE OUR SAVIOR 
Roll Dukes Roll
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Re: GW - Gameday
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Re: GW - Gameday
I also don't understand how you watch 2 of your starters go 1/11 from 3 and then sub with Jackson who goes 0/3 and then think of Steel who had a decent outing against UMass. What does it take to get time on the bench and how do guys get off of it. I hate to beat a dead horse but how do you evaluate your players between games.
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Re: GW - Gameday
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Re: GW - Gameday
CLK wrote:heelsdukesfan wrote:
he is right, we havent had a winning season in 3 years, and if not careful, might be 4 in a row. all under his watch.
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Re: GW - Gameday
FAM wrote:
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Re: GW - Gameday
Dukes are currently #154 in the ratings:
• Rhode Island (#86) - L 78-69 - 19% chance of a Dukes win
• St. Bonaventure (#82) - L 85-74 - 18% chance
• Richmond (#98) - L 83-82 - 50% chance
• Fordham (#170) - W 77-71 - 69% chance
• St. Joseph's (#33) - L 87-72 - 11% chance
•
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Re: GW - Gameday
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Re: GW - Gameday
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Re: GW - Gameday
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Re: GW - Gameday
FAM wrote:
In my post I was just pointing out that the Dukes have played well enough to win, could have won, should have won, but did not win because they could not sustain the level of play down the stretch. I think "insideout" in the post above nailed it, as many others have, this team runs out of gas because of excessive minutes played. You can't continue to do the same thing and expect different results. This is absolutely on the coach. But I also wanted to point out the obvious that the season is not over. I guess it was meant as a challenge of sort to Ferry. As I stated, the final outcome of this season is yet to be determined, and it will be what the coaches and this team are determined to make it.
