Watching JRob gaining confidence last night coming in off the bench, it seems like he can't wait to get involved. Had some key points and rebounds when we needed them. Big Chas Brown didn't match up well, rushing shots and missing a dunk that went out of bounds for a turnover when we needed every point. Even the free throws were just hoisted up there, for misses.

He needs to gather himself and play like a grad student with expierence, we surely need him for the upcoming games and conference play.

grammudder wrote:

My observation(s):

Without Kellon Taylor's competitive spirit, ability and intensity, that game was lost.  He was put in to guard their best player (the Tattoo man), muscled him and kept him practically scoreless while in the game.  He muscled in two bunnies that helped at critical times.  And he was our co-leading rebounder.  Just a great gritty performance by the kid.

For the first time in five years or more, I saw a team that willed its way to a win.  They just would not give up.  So refreshing.

A coach called a time out at the most critical time near the end of the game that had a specific purpose.  Mike Lewis, according to KD,  was the THIRD option on the game winning shot. 

KD has a great sense of humor.  In his post game comments, he said in the words of the great Pirate announcer, the Gunner Bob Prince, that "We had 'em all the way", reminding the listeners of his knowledge of Pittsburgh sports history.

Jordan Robinson seems to be reaching a comfort level sharing time with Chas Brown at the 5.  He looks like he's having fun with the game again.

The team effort seems to be having an impact that each player is making the other players better--especially on defense.  Example, great bounce pass from JR to Ttydus underneath even thou Tydus didn't make the stuff because he got hammered.  It is this type of little thing than gives me solace in our teams's willingness to share the ball.  That is a product of coaching.

Enough for now!!!  I am one happy camper over this team's efforts.  

If Kellon can improve offensively around the basket it would be huge. It would be nice if he had the same moves as the tattoed guy from Lamar.

WashPaRick wrote:

KenOTR73 wrote:

VBC wrote:

Yes, how 3 refs could all miss that hack I can't understand, but I'm mighty glad they did.  Lamar should have been at the line with a chance to tie and win with no time on the clock.
 

I may be wrong, but I'm not sure that Williams moved into the shooter. I think the shooter's mo carried him into Williams. If that's the case, they shouldn't have called a foul. But again, 66 year old eyes with contacts.
 

We probably don't get that call any of the last 30 years. Times they are a changing.

That kid had been doing the fake "I've been fouled" head snap all night - I think the referee crew was annoyed at him for that. He did draw a bogus foul earlier in the game, but I think unless he got hit on the arm, the head, or was knocked down, he had exhausted the calls from the refs.

Speaking of - it was an interestingly called game, with a lot of touch fouls being called on players trying to defend, almost no traveling calls, and no charging fouls that I recall. I think a few calls went against the Dukes that shouldn't have, but overall, they benefited, as Lamar's primary scorers had to sit because of the foul trouble. Overall though, not necessarily the ideal crew for two teams that want to play gritty defense, but a valuable experience nonetheless.

I didn't see anything about Tarin yet, but in the first half, he was really abusing their guards once he turned the corner. I think he drew a foul 3 times in a row when the Dukes were really struggling for their shots to fall. When he is stroking the 3 he is really hard to handle coming off the bench.

2 other plays, both in the first half that I wanted to mention was JRob getting back to block/stop that fast break layup, and Renee streaking to steal a pass to an open corner 3. He was moving so fast I thought it was Tarin. Not used to seeing Rene turn on the jets like that.  He was really getting after it on the defensive end though.

KT brings an edgy level of violence to the game that we haven't seen at Duquesne since Bill Clark maybe. Though Bill was more about glares and KT is more about just taking the ball from folks. 

Lamar was a good team and a well coached team. It wouldn't shock me if they won their conference tourny and went dancing. I'm not sure how they compare to an A10 team, as they seemed a little short and shallow for that, but they were tough, and the Dukes didn't buckle when the pressure was on. I think, regardless of the ultimate result, Duquesne is going to be an annoying team to play against in conference. Whether they win or lose games, the opposing team will know that they had to fight for it, and not want to have to play the Dukes again soon. The most encouraging thing though, to me, is that the team has been able to make some adjustments when they weren't being successful initially, same with the NCAT game, and figure out a way to win. 

 

ditto to pretty much everything as it pertains to Coach D, the dukes, and Lamar(very disciplined, well coached, and intense D), plus the overall horrible officiating.

they play that sticks out to me and I think sums up Coach Ds philosophy, teaching, and competitiveness was Mike Lewis playing tough, scrappy defense, creating a loose ball, diving on the floor and getting the held ball possession. Even if the dukes would have gone on to lose that moment really sticks out to me and i think sums up the new era of duq bball...when we make the NCAAs, I will always look to that play as setting the tone for years to come..