Yes on 80-81 team, and don't forget Joey Myers also was a banger inside on that club.

After watching my Bonnies win tough games this week versus Mason and Fordham, my thoughts drifted to my alternate favorite team, the Dukes. First, I hope everyone here is still enjoying what has been the league's best OOC win, the Dukes win v. Pitt, which I know has an extra special meaning to all DU fans. 
     However, while I believe Ferry will eventually be the answer for DU, I just hope it comes before the few remaining rabid DU fans become completely disengaged from their Dukes-fandom. That is going to be a challenge because I fear the Dukes, in the next few years, may be the league's new doormat. Mason and Fordham, which were the co-doormats for the last several years, and which seem to have sharp young coaches dedicated to completing turn-arounds, are rising sharply and quickly to the middle of the pack at the least and may move past the Dukes and St. L, both of which are going to be playing on Wednesday games in the tourney for the foreseeable future, at least as I see the future (and while my predictions are far from perfect, I can brag on multiple-year office NCAA tourney bracket challenge wins and winning my fantasy football league this year, so I will brag on them.) 
     Of course, the Dukes' challenges can be met by a bunch more I. Mike-level recruits, but that's another challenge itself. Anyway, I'm glad to see there is still some passion here, which I hope translates to ticket sales at the Palumbo, which has got to become a tougher place too play for opponents (with the obvious exception of on February 1).  Not sure I understand letting a team like Dayton off the hook by moving the game to PPG arena, but Dayton does sell a bunch of tix I guess and the outcome probably wouldn't gave changed much, but you gotta start winning at Palumbo, even against the league's best. 
     See you guys 2/1 at 8 and until then, Go Dukes, but also GO BONNIES! - Then onto the tourney in March, where I am hoping for a third meeting in the quarters, semis or later. 

Hook they also lack a TRUE point guard. A dish first shot second guy. I hate to always point to TJ because IMHO he is a anomaly. He took the pass first to a different level. BTW, Ferry's post game press conference once again shows me A) his arrogance and B) his classlessness. He threw Sanders in particular and the entire team collectively under the bus. It's never I didn't prepare them or my staff and I, it's always we and we means the team and not him. His backhanded acknowledgement of JRob's effort shows me more of a embarrassment at his wasting this kid for 3 years rather than the effort JRob put forth.

Ceharv, hate to tell you but St.Louis's days as a doormat are almost over. Ford is showing what a good coach he is by winning with smoke and mirrors and he already has the #4 PG signed along with a top 20 power forward.

Last edited by The Dome (1/15/2017 12:57 pm)

Dome, I think your point is valid. I am willing to give Tarin a pass because of the redshirt and more importantly the knee injury. I watch a lot of basketball and I think that if Lewis II, Smith and Castro ran an offense like Dayton's, they would be so much better because the passing options are built in. Ferry's four around leaves the guards with no options. The fact that the posts are not used is appalling. Ferry's O is so predictable. Game tapes clearly show teams skeletons and what they run. Steal someone's offense and teach it. Kids will pick it up in three practices. I am tired of watching five years of nothing innovative.

Oh, by the way, I have been watching Duquesne basketball in person since Willie Somerset! Allows me to be opinionated.

Last edited by HookShot (1/15/2017 3:24 pm)

You guys keep banging on my Jersey kid but the statistics don't back you.
Smith leads the team in minutes played, but is fourth in total shots.
He leads the team in assists by a wide margin.
He is one of the few Dukes with a positive A/TO margin.
He's playing some defense if 22 steals and 7 blocks mean anything.

I'd like to see him shoot less from three and learn how to shoot FTs better.

Aside from that, what are you asking from him? To be a Walt Frazier-type PG in a system that calls for guys to cross midcourt and hoist?

​But Smith is not the problem with this team. The problem starts with the coach who acknowledged he didn't coach this team in the non-conference part of the schedule, it's compounded by the fact that the only other capable A-10 players on the roster right now are Mike, Lewis, Castro and Blackman - three guards and a wing player. D. Lewis, who had improved in each of his first three seasons, has regressed this year. Sanders isn't holding up his end. Abrahamson should have found a nice NEC team. Robinson looks like he could give us more, but Smalltime Jim tethers him to the bench. And Eric James is a big "What the Hell??"

By the way, do you realize Josh Steele is fifth on the team in scoring and he hasn't played since before Thanksgiving?

I'd love to see Tarin Smith be Tarin Smith too. What he needs is a coach.

I just hope the good young guys stay on campus.  If history repeats, at least one is leaving for greener grass.  DU needs an identity.  3 forwards, 2 guards, whatever.  Shoot less 3s, ok.  But become a team that X, Y or Z.  Recruit whatever philosophy that is, defense, up-tempo, zone, etc.  Its sad when I actually thought the other day, could the DU mens team beat the UConn ladies team.  I guess it depends on if they are hitting the 3s.

FAM wrote:

Coach Ferry

Are you posting in your sleep?

Seriously?  I believe we saw enough of Ty last year, to "imagine" what he would play like this year.  He was capable of some thunderous dunks and exciting plays, but I recall his last game in a Dukes uniform, when I commented to a friend that he looked like he was playing "high" as he wandered around the court aimlessly.  No I don't think that Ty was the missing ingredient in making this a winning team. 
As for Tarin, I think he would agree that he (and a few of his teammates) need to do a better job of taking care of the ball.  Every player will commit turnovers from time-to-time, but some of Tarin's have been hard to figure, just throwing the ball out of bounds a few times, with no apparent pressure on him to make a play.  I'm sure he can and will eliminate this issue.  
In general, I don't recall seeing a team at this level get stripped of the ball while dribbling or simply holding it, as often as this team got it taken on Saturday. It was shocking.  They must be stronger with the ball, not "show" it on the dribble, when closely guarded, and "rip" with the ball to avoid getting stripped.   








 

Last edited by levon1975 (1/17/2017 3:32 pm)

levon1975 wrote:

Seriously?  I believe we saw enough of Ty last year, to "imagine" what he would play like this year.  He was capable of some thunderous dunks and exciting plays, but I recall his last game in a Dukes uniform, when I commented to a friend that he looked like he was playing "high" as he wandered around the court aimlessly.  No I don't think that Ty was the missing ingredient in making this a winning team. 
As for Tarin, I think he would agree that he (and a few of his teammates) need to do a better job of taking care of the ball.  Every player will commit turnovers from time-to-time, but some of Tarin's have been hard to figure, just throwing the ball out of bounds a few times, with no apparent pressure on him to make a play.  I'm sure he can and will eliminate this issue.  
In general, I don't recall seeing a team at this level get stripped of the ball while dribbling or simply holding it, as often as this team got it taken on Saturday. It was shocking.  They must be stronger with the ball, not "show" it on the dribble, when closely guarded, and "rip" with the ball to avoid getting stripped.   


Great observation but coaching is an attitude in regard to playing D and sticking your nose in an opponent s chest. Unfortunately watching the Dukes is the equivalent to an AAU game. I really think you can get these kids to play hard nose basketball. Unfortunately, the season is over in six weeks.




 

Gill-Powell-Abrahamson. Actually the only one I would want would be Gill. Powell with talent but attitude made him expendable and Abrahamson just does not look like an A-10 caliber player to me.

It doesn't matter, Powell and Gill didn't want to be here; so it's a moot point!
Cale played pretty well against Dayton when the Dukes were making a comeback, unfortunately fouls forced him to the bench and the Dukes weren't the same without him.