Just got my tickets for game 1.  Will be interesting.

Bonnie’s Record 21-10

Dukes Record 13-18

Duquesne is +8000 to win it all on MGM.

All season, Dru over played some players that by all statistics should not get that much time on the court. Number one is Rozier, it's not the kids fault, but it's the coach. Next, Hronsky. Next Corbett, not enough at the start of the game and too much later. Dinkins, should be in there every momonet. Crawford, all game long. Eli, every moment till fouls dictate  Dixon, way under-used. Necas in and out every 2 plus minutes. Max everytime we are even or behind, his aggresive moves in the paint are unstoppable. I would say that  Dru's choices to this point, have made 7 sure wins to 7 sure loses on this season,  because of very bad coaching decisions. We should beat St. B. very easily, but Dru is too determined to keep Rozier in there for 27 minutes instead of 8 minutes. I wish I was wrong, but bet the bank on it, Dru will put Rozier in there too much and we loose. The last game was textbook bad coaching, but superior team effort.  This is a great team, we need a great coaching effort to win this tournament.

Last edited by NapaDuke (3/12/2025 9:30 am)

El Presidente wrote:

Agree that Rozier is overused though a great ball handler. Corbett should never be on the court at crunch time in the last 5 or 6 minutes of any game unless we have a comfortable lead. Eli our best big by far. DJ3 needs to squeeze every minute out of him that he possibly can. Necas really needs to get his head out of his butt at times and have more court awareness. Bad passes and very average hands lead to too many turnovers! Other than that-GO DUKES!!

We are in a great position to win this, but Dru has to mature and see his best players are the only way to win and his bench is in there only to spell the starters, or,  only when fouls dictate, sub in otherwise. Beyond that, we are the best team in the A-10.  Come on coach! START COACHING!

Go back to the box scores 5 last games last year for the Dukes. Karen had 14 minutes period. Love this kid . He is a classic leader & 6 th man. Go Dru it’s your call. Go Dukes

NapaDuke wrote:

BluffHunter wrote:

NapaDuke wrote:

We are in a great position to win this, but Dru has to mature and see his best players are the only way to win and his bench is in there only to spell the starters, or,  only when fouls dictate, sub in otherwise. Beyond that, we are the best team in the A-10.  Come on coach! START COACHING!

Napa have you ever thought about being a coach?? I’d bet you’d have great success with that strategy and advice. Just imagine how many coaches have never thought about playing their best players or starting to coach!

Actually, I have coached, not at a college level, but over ten years from Little League thru Palomino League along with a former Pittsburgh Pirate Pitcher. I have played in HS on winning teams  and losing teams, . Both as a running back and on a very successful Wrestling team.  I like the rest of you, maybe a few, have seen over 50 years of college Basketball. Most of us have a very good ideal of what coaches with the right players can do. Dru is right now going to win or play some poeple the wrong way.  Exactly, how much did you ever coach anyone? 

And in ten years, we won some conf. championships, and other years, I got out coached. Mostly, I learned fron being out-coached. I would hope Dru is done being out coached and wins this tourney.

Last edited by NapaDuke (3/12/2025 9:20 am)

I just invited conversation. We can express our views only when someone starts a thread. I like the debate. It's just our opinions. In the end, we need to win on Thursday. No one can disagree about that. 

BluffHunter wrote:

NapaDuke wrote:

I just invited conversation. We can express our views only when someone starts a thread. I like the debate. It's just our opinions. In the end, we need to win on Thursday. No one can disagree about that. 

We need to win, you’re right. But “start coaching” is horrible debate or opinion. The same conversation about Rozier happens in every single thread and it gets ridiculous. I think everybody is on the same page. Coach doesn’t read this forum looking for advice. At least he better not!

Too true, if he is looking at our rookie opinions to get up to snuff, then that's in it's self too funny. All of us are just fans. We express our opinions then our hopes of what it takes to win. Or, why else have a board in the first play, right. At the end of the day. Coaches do see the blog. It likely as never bent their views going forward, but gives them a feeling about the fans view in the stands right behind him. First, we are all behind him, second we , several think he doesn't sub in the right guys at the right times. He get's that. But, we see what he sees and I hope he wins this tourney because he does have the best players. Here is the majic, play your best and sub in when it's a neccessity, then very likely we win.   No matter what, Dru, we are all behind you.

Last edited by NapaDuke (3/11/2025 10:40 pm)

Thank you, thank you, thank you NAPA and Lucky.  I have been saying this all year that the recruiting miss is a true quality A-10 PG.  No one thinks less about Rozier, but at this level he should only be getting 12-14 minutes a game and that is it.  Look at what Lucky pointed out as to the last 5 games last year!!  He came in when we had an 8 point lead against St. Louis and lead disappears and we all know how he is exploited on defensive end and he is limited offensively.  The kid is a great leader, someone you want on your team, but his playing time cannot be what it has been.  Look out though, now my California buddy will be on the next Podcast telling us we are off base! 

When I see this, my first thought is now, "which up-and-comers or surprisingly good recruits can the Dukes steal from these teams. This is being a college basketball fan in 2025.

MikeR wrote:

RMU and SFU dancing, PITT not so much.

MikeR wrote:

RMU and SFU dancing, PITT not so much.

 
Dukes need to schedule both these teams.   Don’t complain that Pitt won’t play us if we don’t play them… We play in football, should play on the court too.