Big opportunity for the Dukes.  Let's Go Dukes!

Not personal toward anyone, but here are some facts (nothing brilliant here, but nonetheless some folks don’t like facts.)
-Duquesne WAS picked last in their conference
-The out of conference games they won were Not against very good teams
-The two teams they lost to are better than us, but those earlier wins got folks overly confident
-The student attendance is poor….but has been for years because aside from one good year, Dambrot's teams were poor.  Students don’t want to go see a team lose.
-We are still in non-conference play and it is early in the season so we need to wait a month to judge
Opinion:  If Dambrot doesn’t have a winning season this year, the AD needs to decide if he should keep him.
Question:  In the MAC, Dambrot was excellent for recruiting and wins.  Is he out of his element in the Atlantic 10?
So far, my opinion is yes.  Why? just look at how many NIT or NCAA tournaments we have made...those are facts.

Go Dukes

This team has many more wins in it. I am confident in this prediction. There is a lot to this roster.

My opinion on whether KD should stay or go is based on 2 factors.

I need to see at least 16 wins & 6 major contributors return for next season. Otherwise, DU needs to move on because KD will have failed to establish a winning program after 6 years. Last year was just that bad.

I've seen DePaul play but trying to remember who. Might have been Fordham for one. Not sure now. I wasn't overly impressed with them even though in the top hundred. Of course, we have a way of making average teams look like world beaters with lots of open looks and our inability in the paint at both ends of the court. Here's hoping that tonight is the start of a turnaround for the Dukes. I missed what happened to Brewer. Hope he is back tonight. We need him! GO DUKES!!

Motor wrote:

El Presidente wrote:

I've seen DePaul play but trying to remember who. Might have been Fordham for one. Not sure now. I wasn't overly impressed with them even though in the top hundred. Of course, we have a way of making average teams look like world beaters with lots of open looks and our inability in the paint at both ends of the court. Here's hoping that tonight is the start of a turnaround for the Dukes. I missed what happened to Brewer. Hope he is back tonight. We need him! GO DUKES!!

Brewer did not play second half of NMS. He sat on bench with ice pack on his shoulder. Hoping he’s ok and maybe only a bruise guess we will see once warmups start.

Sitting in the stands behind the Dukes bench on Saturday, as Brewer came off the court after his injury my friend who was sitting next to me got a good look at him as the trainers began working on him.  She said it appeared that he had separated his shoulder and they were working on getting it back into place. I was busy BSing with Mysterio who was sitting to my left so I didn't see as much as she did, but the way they had his shoulder iced afterwards makes me think she's probably correct. I really hope it wasn't too bad so he can be back on the court tonight.
 

I was at the NMS game on Sunday but from my vantage point could not see the Dukes bench well. Actually moved a couple of times as seats were quite plentiful. Never realized why Brewer was out but assumed an injury of some sort. Hope he is back soon. He is an excellent athlete and a decent shooter as well from long range.

I like the win, but I just watched a half court team beat a half court team. These dukes could have run away with this. Down the road, KD isn't going to win against the Marshall's running style teams, though we could have. Still, I am both  happy and, at this point, surprised  for this win. The last two losses should have been wins, but this one gives me hope.

NapaDuke wrote:

I like the win, but I just watched a half court team beat a half court team. These dukes could have run away with this. Down the road, KD isn't going to win against the Marshall's running style teams, though we could have. Still, I am both  happy and, at this point, surprised  for this win. The last two losses should have been wins, but this one gives me hope.

My thoughts exactly.  What happened around the 11 minute mark.  Offense took a nap or something. 
At least it woke up in time.

The Dukes beat a top 100 team from a power conference and people are complaining. SMH.

Where is Andy Barba ?

PhoenixRising2 wrote:

The Dukes beat a top 100 team from a power conference and people are complaining. SMH.

I hear you.

As for me, I'm pleased as punch with this good win where we led all the way even with a less than spectacular shooting effort and some sloppiness in the second half.

I was really concerned when I saw Brewer is sweats before the game but Rozier and McGriff really came through.

DePaul wasn't nearly as good as I expected, but a double digit home win over a Big East team is nothing to apologize for. The last time we beat a power conference team on campus at all was 20 years ago against West Virginia. I'm curious how practice has looked this week compared to the last two because it looked like a totally different team on the floor. Time management can be tough with holiday travel and finals too. Hopefully we see more of this team going forward and less of the one we saw the last two times out. 

Barre was a great addition to the lineup. He's very raw, but I love the youthful energy he brings. He looks like he could be a big piece for the Dukes down the road. He needs to work on his screening, but it's rare to see such a young player so willing to do it. Dae Dae looked like his usual self after two games where not only weren't the shots falling, but he didn't look healthy. Reece was more assertive than I've seen him previously and really took over for a few minutes in the second half. Trey didn't put up big numbers, but had a solid game as well.

All in all a good game and a good win for the Dukes. Now onto what has been a very inconsistent Indiana State team.