Mulder,
I appreciate your thoughts.  A lot of what was said was factual.  (BTW I was one who never said RE should or should not get fired - that is out of my level of expertise when it comes to coaching - but I believe the AD and he didn't get along well and that played a factor).
-Look at the W-L schedules of the teams we beat when we played them.  They were very terrible.
-Some of my angst is basing it on yet another rebuilding year.  Duquesne has had more rebuilding than the roads in PA.  Let's agree that this second year won't be a winning season.  For next year he has only one scholarship commit, this guy won't even sign the letter, and there are not many really good players left who will come here.  I am not a betting man but I would bet real money that we will not have a winning season next year.  So, that is year 3! 
-Then we go into his 4th year - I mean basically, we keep rebuilding and can't win because we don't get the really good players to come here.  I am glad who Ferry went after (they were mentioned above in a post, but guess what, he lost every one!
-Did you see where his previous teams were ranked defensively when he was at LIU.  Again, facts. (not being angry here).
-Just tired of same old s---

I'm not a Ferry fan in the least. Anything I might add to the discussion has been stated by others here. So let me take it in another direction:

I remember seeing a quote by Porter---maybe it was after Ferry was hired---to the effect that he found it hard to win at Duquesne coz the academic standards are so much higher than those of the other schools in the A-10. I think he said that it caused him to pass on some 7-footers & replace them with 6-8 kids.

I do recall that he had one of the most highly-touted recruitng classes in the A-10 going into his 2nd year, when he brought in Kevin Forney, Jack May, Devin Montgomery, & Brad Midgely. This group never did play even one game together. By the time May was declared academically eligible, Montgomery had already flunked out.

I always say that college sports has become somewhat of a joke---not the sports part, but the college part. I, for one, salute Duquesne for its emphasis on academics & hope it can put together a winning program without compromising its principles.

What do you good folks think about Porter's quote? Logically it seems that it would be difficult for the Dukes to compete in the A-10 if there's a pool of players that other schools in the A-10 can recruit that Duquesne can't. Do you believe that this is a real obstacle? Is it one that can be overcome?

It would also have to be an obstacle at Stanford, Duke, and Notre Dame.

It's not.

Of course, it's not as easy as getting in kids at Pitt.

Bazinga.

Even Notre Dame is going into those dark, dirty places nowadays, having been less than enthusiastic about investigating alleged sexual assaults by their football players a year ago when they played in the BCS title game.

FAM wrote:

(Mulder said:  I think Ferry did a decent job with his first real class this year.)

Not to argue - just discuss - I don't think that is true.  He did get Soko, who obviously many teams didn't want a 1 yr. guy and he is still our best player though only in certain games!  I know Watkins was hurt but he has come back and Ferry said he doesn't use him for fast paced small ball (so that is certainly limiting) and when he is in there he is a "place holder".  We still are waiting for approval from the NCAA on one player.   I mean they don't embarass us, but we lose - often - to any team that has a winning record.  Just my thoughts for discussion.

I think it's important to keep in mind that you're evaluating this class by and large on their first year of NCAA experience many of them true freshman or projects and without the benefit of the second best prospect in the class heading into the season. Look around the A-10, there are only a handful of true freshmen excelling this year (Bembry, Severe, Jenkins, EC Matthews, Martin). Unless I'm missing someone the list ends there. Honestly, Ridenour isn't too far behind these top guys. Two other players are raw but with upside who both would have redshirted in an ideal world. Ferry also brought in two players from the JUCO ranks who are averaging double - digits in scoring. One of them leads the league in shooting percentage and is 8th in the conference in rebounding. You also should include Micah Mason here too.

Maybe I'm missing something, but I'm with Mulder on this one. We lack one of those elite freshman, but I'm not ready to judge what the current group of first years is or isn't. We made out well with one of the JUCO's and even the one we may have reached on has still added value at times. Mason has played great at times.

I see your points ElDuque.  Just frustrated because we have another lost year and another losing season.  I always feel our motto is always, "Wait til next year" and next year never comes.