In case anyone didn't see it, Dukes back up to #100 in Ken Pom.

Dukes played well first half and lacked focus second half.Too much talking and immaturity especially Baker.
Dukes can beat Dayton but wont get it done with all this chirping.Focus on the moment and respect the game
and respect yourselves.

stew wrote:

Dukes played well first half and lacked focus second half.Too much talking and immaturity especially Baker.
Dukes can beat Dayton but wont get it done with all this chirping.Focus on the moment and respect the game
and respect yourselves.

Obviously what Dambrot thinks is a million times more important than what I think, but I actually don't mind the talk for the most part. For some players, that's just how they play with an edge. Take the talking away and they don't play as good. Plus you aren't going to talk smack to a team or player you don't think you can beat. So I like the confidence. Now if you're playing Jordan's Bulls and talking smack that's a problem. The talk the last two games has been against teams we were clearly better than. Obviously it has to be reined in a little because we can't be getting technicals. I don't have any problem with smack talk in general though. 

coffee wrote:

I can’t help but wonder if all the St. Joe’s fans that wanted Martelli fired are satisfied now? 🤔

Was just saying that to a friend the other day! Martelli wasn't a favorite of mine but always respected him as a coach. Had some outstanding teams there over the years. Not enough of them to satisfy the powers that be I guess. The program seems a complete shambles now.

It’s good to see the Dukes get back on track with some strong performances. Good to see the defense ratchet up while 3s and free throws no longer look impossible for us either.

All that being said, we beat 2 teams with a combined record of 2-22, and one which fired their coach within a day of our matchup. The other team was missing their leading scorer and best player. This was encouraging, but also what you would expect a decent team to do in that scenario. Dayton in the new building will be the real test. The game in Dayton was close for much of that matchup, and this team has seemingly improved from where they were at that point in the season. Tuesday is a real opportunity to make a statement.

Can’t help but love seeing the development of these freshman, so much talent and potential there. Okani and Harris continue to flash and show improvement. Ellis Cannon mentioned on the broadcast how much more confident Acuff has looked over the last 5 games and I couldn’t agree more. He looks like a kid being a consistent jumper away from being a power 5 level point guard. He has legit D1 size and athleticism from the get go, and that should only improve. He should eventually get the keys to the starting PG job at some point this season IMO. Bekelja is no slouch, and has shown some excellent passing ability as well as the ability to knock down open looks, but Acuff projects as the better player. Bekelja may not find himself with so much time and space if he keeps hitting those open looks.

Baker is a great two way player but does need to grow up a little. Reminds me a little of the early Mike Hughes years. I’m all for playing with an edge and even a little trash talk but Baker is taking it too far at times and it takes him out of the game mentally. Dambrot will be telling him teams are going to start going at him looking for a reaction moving forward and he needs to reign his emotions in. Simple as that, but he has been awesome to watch so far.

Happy that all in all, we are moving in the right direction again as a team. COVID and defections threw a couple early haymakers. We staggered a little there, but now seem to have righted the ship, and we are now coming back swinging. Love to see the improvement and I think we can keep in going vs Dayton. Let’s go Dukes!

Tejas_Duke wrote:

In case anyone didn't see it, Dukes back up to #100 in Ken Pom.

Very significant and important to maintain. Over the next year or two, we need to see upward movement into the top 50. If we accomplish that, the program will have achieved what many believed to be impossible just a few years ago for Duquesne. I feel very strongly that this will indeed come to pass. Very exciting times on the bluff. GO DUKES!!

Don’t forget about Okani.

Ironduke81 wrote:

Saul's A Team wrote:

I taught Middle School for 25 years.
Baker is truly talented but tonight he acted like an 8th Grader.

I can tell you this Baker will never make the A10 All Rookie Team or Rookie of the week if he keeps this chirping up. Look at Mike Hughes last year & recently no love from the League. Hughes is becoming a great senior leader with this team. Baker should pay attention if he wants league wide acknowledgment. Can you imagine without instant replay what players would do to a Freshman chirping on the court after making a basket. Oh the good old days . 

Was watching the Temple vs. Duke game yesterday from the Capel playing days. A Temple player knocked a Duke player out with a deliberate elbow which when unseen by the refs. Probably right up there with the Huggins play.

El Presidente wrote:

coffee wrote:

I can’t help but wonder if all the St. Joe’s fans that wanted Martelli fired are satisfied now? 🤔

Was just saying that to a friend the other day! Martelli wasn't a favorite of mine but always respected him as a coach. Had some outstanding teams there over the years. Not enough of them to satisfy the powers that be I guess. The program seems a complete shambles now.

Agreed- He was a marquee nationally known rival coach you loved to despise when he came into your building.  St. Joes and the Atlantic 10 are poorer with his absence.   It certainly is pulling down our conference rankings.  

FAM wrote:

Dukes 102- I agree with your synopsis. For all of Dambrots instilled discipline he lets his players chirp a little too much. Hughes is finally maturing.... we don’t need another to take his place. That chirping is a pet peeve of mine.
- I think  these two wins will really give the team confidence.
- Having their own place now to practice and play “should” move the team up another few notches with their wins.
-If they can put 2 GOOD halves together Tuesday they can win.
Go Dukes.

My single greatest criticism of KD is that there is little discipline or accountability in evidence. He does what a lot of coaches that sell that bill of goods do. He will allow Hughes to act the fool & TDM to fire 100's of damaging, bad shots over 3 seasons with no discernible consequences while also benching the less-necessesary & far less used Kelly for multiple, easy games.

No, I have no idea what Kelly has done/is doing to earn his punishment. I do know it is of little consequence to the team's present results against the likes of 2021 Fordham & St Joe's.

If KD had the discipline to bench Hughes & Baker for the grand opening of the new field house, I will change my tune.

All 4 of his DU teams have been lacking in mental discipline & focus. This is due in large part to the all-around quality of recruits available to a program digging out of 35 years of consistent failure. It is evident that, to this point in the resurgence of Dukes basketball, recruiting targets have to be chosen for some 1-3 facet combination  of higher star ratings, strong, unnoticed upside; a sound basketball mind, or excellent, on-court character. Until this year's freshman class, it is hard to argue that any player brought into the program by KD met 3 let alone all 4 of those criteria. That is the burden of bringing a program so long in a state of disrepair back to some level of prominence.

My greatest admiration for the Dambrot regime lies is its ability to recognize diamonds in the rough. With this in mind, I think that a consistent trait of future recruiting classes will be more complete players of higher overall quality. THAT, is an excellent sign of progress.

However, the observable actions of Hughes, Baker, & TDM in last night's contest make a strong case for the program's lack of discipline & accountability as core cultural values. For me, this portion of the shortfall falls squarely on the person in charge.

As such, I would also argue that losing his (profanity) to such a degree against PSU & tossing his tea bottle etc... last night provide a singularly negative example for the players that you expect to keep their emotions in check as a quality of a winning culture.

I like a fiery coach. I also need that coach to demonstrate a more controlled burn  in order to believe that maintaining composure is something he can teach young men.

Duques102 wrote:

It’s good to see the Dukes get back on track with some strong performances. Good to see the defense ratchet up while 3s and free throws no longer look impossible for us either.

All that being said, we beat 2 teams with a combined record of 2-22, and one which fired their coach within a day of our matchup. The other team was missing their leading scorer and best player. This was encouraging, but also what you would expect a decent team to do in that scenario.!

After years, even into the Keith years of Duquesne playing down to opponents and allowing inferior teams to "stay in" games and even almost win, or win, I will take the last two games as a sign of progress.
 

I agree.
I would rather have  a team that is boorish and wins than
a team that is polite and loses.
KD acknowledges the techs and the chirping and is working to correct that problem.
He also wants a team that is tough and not soft.