Agree that he will  be an asset especially if he doesn't have to be the starting point guard. Like most shooters, he can be streaky, but when he is on, we don't have anyone else who can match him.

Great News. His role off the bench can be a big one!!  One down, two to go!!!

PhoenixRising2 wrote:

I respect TDM's loyalty to his coach and Duquesne - that is old school. I sure wish that there was as much of a commitment from players in college basketball.

Doesn’t make me less happy he is coming back but have to think COVID, his last season, and his size had likely made professional ball options pretty limited this coming year for TDM. If he can play as a 6th man next year and get back to his “microwave” scoring ability off the bench he can be a positive to the roster.

Hope he comes back, has a productive year, and parlays that into a decent pro contract when things open back up internationally.

Don’t know Marcus and Mike’s options will be as limited going into this next pro season, but my gut is still somewhere in the neighborhood of a 50/50 chance of them returning.

phil95 wrote:

...
I find it hard to believe that KD won't play him 28-32 minutes a game no matter who joins the squad or makes a big developmental leap over the summer. That's just too much for the team to thrive because TDM will never be more than an above-average/high-volume shooter & a major defensive liability.

I agree with phil95 in not seeing this as a positive. TDM isn't coming back to play less than 25+ minutes and coupled with the 15 minutes Bekelja will apparently get, that means taking a huge amount of time away from other guards with a greater upside. The players know this all to well and the consequence will likely mean we lose someone to transfer. It's the way of things these days. Furthermore if all three return, I'm afraid we'll lose a total of 2-3 younger players, possibly Austin, Okani, and / or Kelly, each of whom would suffer a loss of playing time in such a scenario. I'd be surprised if Jett & possibly Rotroff return either way. I guess I'd rather see what the group of (now) sophs (plus Maceo) can do coupled with whatever recruits we can snag.

Trib Article

Senior guard Tavian Dunn-Martin will return to Duquesne for 6th season as collegian | TribLIVE.com

Really not too certain how many options KD had this past season. If TDM did not get the minutes that he got, wondering who else would have been qualified to eat those minutes. Also given TDM's track record of getting hot and really lighting it up at times, I'm not certain that it was a bad decision to give him the opportunity to do so. It just didn't bear the fruit that might have blossomed. This coming season there will undoubtedly be other guards in the program giving KD more available options. I'll be surprised to see TDM getting more minutes than he earns next season. We will see.

Tejas and Townson I am with you guys!!!  Phil, I hope you meant to say that KD will NOT play TDM 28-32 min per game and Mud if TDM is coming back to play 25+ min a game and Bekelja 15+ min we are in trouble.  Why?  I've posted numerous times about A-10 upper tier talent level, period.  TDM is ok as a microwave off the bench if he is hot, but at 5'8" he is otherwise a D liability.  As to Bekelja, well Tejas made a very good analogy in my view..........

KD strikes me as the type of guy that despite loving TDM and wanting him to get minutes, he also realizes the shortfalls of his game and how that translates to the team as a whole.

Hoping he isn’t back as the starting 1.

TDM is a fan favorite, even if he doesn't get much love on this Board.  The young kids love him.  Now to be fair TDM was asked to take on the role as our primary point guard, and to his credit he gave it all he had playing 30m/pg up from 20-25m/pg.  In the process his three point shooting dropped 35% to 30%.   KD had no choice as TDM was the closet player we had to a game ready point guard, even though he is best suited as a micro wave shooting guard coming off the bench. Given the circumstances it worked out as well as could be expected.

By all accounts KD i searching for a top notch point guard.  If he finds the right guy I expect to see him play 30+ minutes per game.  I also see stud SG Chad Baker (40% three point shooter) given the chance to protect his starting role.  I see TDM getting 20+  minutes a game,  mostly at SG but much depends on how well KD recruits. This does complicate the recruiting at the 2 a little bit.  In all honesty some of the names in the PSN seem like pie in the sky although I like that KD is going after them.  He really needs to win those types of high level transfer recruits.

Bottom line I am glad TDM is returning.  He is a free player as he does not count toward the scholarship limit, and it is good for him as he can get his masters degree which will serve him well after basketball.  TDM's minutes and role  is TBD.     

CLK wrote:

TDM is a fan favorite, even if he doesn't get much love on this Board.  The young kids love him.  Now to be fair TDM was asked to take on the role as our primary point guard, and to his credit he gave it all he had playing 30m/pg up from 20-25m/pg.  In the process his three point shooting dropped 35% to 30%.   KD had no choice as TDM was the closet player we had to a game ready point guard, even though he is best suited as a micro wave shooting guard coming off the bench. Given the circumstances it worked out as well as could be expected.

By all accounts KD i searching for a top notch point guard.  If he finds the right guy I expect to see him play 30+ minutes per game.  I also see stud SG Chad Baker (40% three point shooter) given the chance to protect his starting role.  I see TDM getting 20+  minutes a game,  mostly at SG but much depends on how well KD recruits. This does complicate the recruiting at the 2 a little bit.  In all honesty some of the names in the PSN seem like pie in the sky although I like that KD is going after them.  He really needs to win those types of high level transfer recruits.

Bottom line I am glad TDM is returning.  He is a free player as he does not count toward the scholarship limit, and it is good for him as he can get his masters degree which will serve him well after basketball.  TDM's minutes and role  is TBD.     

All true.

If KD had committed to giving Acuff serious minutes the moment Sin departed, that would have gone a long way toward me being more enthusiastic about TDM's return.

Captain Obvious:  I’m glad he is returning...BUT, he is NOT the answer to our problems or will solve the issue of us getting to the NIT or NCAA at all.

This narrative  that Acuff was somehow shortchanged on playing time is a little old. Remember that the goal is always to play the guys that give you the best shot at winning the game; so can we just assume that the Coach who sees the players practice daily; may actually know more than us about who deserves playing time!