FAM & Heels thank you for each of you helped better state what I have been trying to say. Those who are totally positive should know none of us are rooting for Ferry to lose this job but for him to perform to the level HE and Amodio said we could get to. Heels truer words could not be spoken about the A-10 tourney. This thing is wide open there is no dominant team, but there is absolutely no path forward playing your guards 40 minutes.

ClLK, it was incredible the frantic play that the wide angle of the tv shot only illustrated with focus.

In those 10 points you listed why not a time out to calm the situation down, force Dayton to foul DC or Mason and put the game away?

As far as the fouls and refs, Ferry doesn't have the respect of the crew since he is not one of the winning coaches of the league. And having to be restrained by his players, come 'on man!

DOME,  FAM AND CLK:  

I AM SICK TO MY STOMACH OVER YOUR RELENTLESS NEGATIVITY.  I AM SURE OTHERS ARE.  YOU IGNORE THE POSITIVES OF THIS TEAM AND THIS COACHING STAFF AND GIVE PARSIMONIOUS AND FALSE PRAISE WHILE STICKING A PROVERBIAL KNIFE INTO THE BACKS OF THE KIDS AND THE COACHES.

 OTHER THAN THE FINAL SCORE LAST NIGHT THERE WAS NOTHING THE DUKES DID TO SHAME THEMSELVES.  THE GAME WAS FULL OF RUNS GOOD AND BAD BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE TEAMS.  THE EXPECTATION WAS THAT THEY WOULD LOSE BY THIRTEEN AND ONE-HALF.  THEY LOST BY TWO.  DAYTON WON BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY GOOD-WITNESS THEY ARE RANKED 17 OR 19 DEPENDING ON WHO VOTES.

THE ANNOUNCERS GAVE NOTHING BUT PRAISE TO OUR FAVORITE TEAM AND COACHING STAFF.  YOU AND YOUR ILK SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOUR VICIOUS NEGATIVE RANTS. YOU SOUND LIKE BABIES.

WHAT WERE YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR THIS TEAM FAM?  13?  WELL, YOU WERE WRONG. CLK?  16--17??  I GUARANTEE THEY WILL MEET YOUR EXPECTATIONS. HOLY CRIPES!! THE TEAM IS 15-9 TO THE PLUS AND 5-6 IN CONFERENCE PLAY.  DOME?  YOUR EXPECTATIONS?  YOU DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THE COURAGE OR DECENCY TO SAY WHAT YOU EXPECTED.  BASED ON YOUR NEGATIVE SLANT ALL YEAR, MY GUESS IS YOU WOULD HAVE SAID 11 OR 12. 

DO ANY OF YOU BELIEVE THAT IF THEY PUT IN THE EFFORT THEY DID AGAINST DAYTON LAST NIGHT THAT THEY WON'T WIN AT LEAST THREE MORE GAMES?  OKAY PUT YOUR HANDS DOWN.    

Phildog wrote:

ClLK, it was incredible the frantic play that the wide angle of the tv shot only illustrated with focus.

In those 10 points you listed why not a time out to calm the situation down, force Dayton to foul DC or Mason and put the game away?

As far as the fouls and refs, Ferry doesn't have the respect of the crew since he is not one of the winning coaches of the league. And having to be restrained by his players, come 'on man!

They only had one timeout left, which they did call when the lead was cut to four. The lack of a timeout killed them when mason got trapped along the sideline. Hey, I wish the guards didn't have to play 40 minutes, but what can you do. Maybe if Ridenhour was still here, you could trust him for 10 minutes a game. The guys they have, no way. The game wouldn't have been close if Castro had been given minutes.
 

Thanks 102.  As hard as it may be for some people to accept, your analysis is right on point. 

102' I have to tell you when we were up by 12 I really didn't think we would hold on, I hoped but unfortunately was correct, agree with CLK on your perspective. Thanks for the comments.

I disagree with a lot of what is being said on this board in both directions, mainly because I think a lot of people are only looking at it from Duquesne eyes and not the way Dayton's played this year.

Shame a shooting night like that from Mason goes to waste.  When you get that type of performance, you expect to win.

I thought Dayton won the game more than Duquesne lost it.  Dayton's #19/17 for a reason, and they showed it the last five minutes as they did what good teams do - find a way to win a close game at home.  DU is still in learning mode.    Fatigue was also at play with DU not having guard depth and playing Colter and Mason as much as they did.  The Dukes two guards looked sluggish the last four minutes.

Regarding pace:  Yes, Dayton was able to control it the last four minutes.  Some of that IMO was the fatigue factor of DC and Micah, the UD Arena rocking, and Archie Miller's coaching.  To me, a ton of credit goes to Archie there as Dayton's a very good team here at holding opponents and forcing turnovers when necessary down the stretch.  Dayton's done it four games now this year - Iowa (down 4 with 2:30 to go before getting 10 possessions in the last 2:30 while holding Iowa to 2 points), Miami OH (held Miami to 2 points in the last 2:37 to get the come from behind victory), Vandy (held to 1 FG the last 7:43 to key a UD comeback), and now Duquesne.  It's history repeating itself on both sides - Dayton's in finding ways to win these as well as DU finding a way to lose. 

The only real offensive possession I had a problem with the last five minutes was the quick shot from Marqwell, and he was yanked immediately afterward in favor of James.

I fully agree with those that said that Ferry got outcoached last night.  However, I thought it was much more with Xs and Os, not timeout usage (used to stop runs, not enough left late which I was ok with) or the T.  Then again, Archie's outcoached a lot of good coaches...

I'm surprised nobody thus far has mentioned Kendall Pollard for Dayton.  Pollard finished the last four minutes of the game after playing only twelve minutes previously due to picking up four fouls, and his presence was invaluable to Dayton on D and was a large part of DU's offensive struggles.  To me, Pollard's presence was the difference maker, and it didn't show in the box because it was his D.

Regarding Ferry's technical:  I had no problems with it in the Davidson game.  Lewis's reaction there to me said enough - smiling and clapping - as if proud that his coach was standing up for him.  This game?  Different story to me.  You have to be more controlled here IMO.  It's not like the officiating was that terrible, particularly on the road in an A10 game.  While it didn't cost us the game, it could have.

Hi Guys, back after long hiatus, with a new handle (my favorite college player of all time)!!  I used to have season tickets, but gave them up 2 years ago and for the record is was purely based on bball results.  I am past the old disputes about coaches and AD and I am glad to see that when I checked the Board this year the vast majority of the posts are really basketball related and current. I know that everyone really is just a DU hoops junkie so I am jumping back on the train so to speak.  Now with regard to the team the talent level is much better, but we still haven't gotten over the hump.  I am in total agreement with CLK and Dome and anyone else who sees that we blew this opportunity!!  When I read your last 10 possession posts CLK I said I have to re-register and give my two cents.  My view is that the collapse, and that is what is was, was a combination of Coaching, poor execution, and exhaustion.  When a team as good as Dayton takes our shorter guards out no one consistently can step up.  We don't have a third guy.  I love the contributions of Colter and Micah, but they need help and more of an occasional rest.  I know Castro has been a real puzzler, but Steele and Jackson should have played more in the OCC.  Hell if JJ didn't get hurt, and we certainly miss him,  Jackson would probably still be riding the pine!  Players develop by playing.  I also am incredulous as to why Robinson doesn't play more - especially in the Davidson game when our bigs were getting outrebounded and outhustled to the ball by a smaller team.  I think JR would have had an field day, both offensively and on the boards against Davidson.  At a minimum he should have had the splinters taken out of his arse by Ferry.  I don't know, I've been trying to regain optimism with this year's results, but last night was inexcusable collapse.  I know we didn't score a bucket in the last 5:50, and DC's missed layup was a killer, but I think I heard the announcer say UD had a 16-1 run over that period and that is just bad. 

PistolPete wrote:

Hi Guys, back after long hiatus, with a new handle (my favorite college player of all time)!!  I used to have season tickets, but gave them up 2 years ago and for the record is was purely based on bball results.  I am past the old disputes about coaches and AD and I am glad to see that when I checked the Board this year the vast majority of the posts are really basketball related and current. I know that everyone really is just a DU hoops junkie so I am jumping back on the train so to speak.  Now with regard to the team the talent level is much better, but we still haven't gotten over the hump.  I am in total agreement with CLK and Dome and anyone else who sees that we blew this opportunity!!  When I read your last 10 possession posts CLK I said I have to re-register and give my two cents.  My view is that the collapse, and that is what is was, was a combination of Coaching, poor execution, and exhaustion.  When a team as good as Dayton takes our shorter guards out no one consistently can step up.  We don't have a third guy.  I love the contributions of Colter and Micah, but they need help and more of an occasional rest.  I know Castro has been a real puzzler, but Steele and Jackson should have played more in the OCC.  Hell if JJ didn't get hurt, and we certainly miss him,  Jackson would probably still be riding the pine!  Players develop by playing.  I also am incredulous as to why Robinson doesn't play more - especially in the Davidson game when our bigs were getting outrebounded and outhustled to the ball by a smaller team.  I think JR would have had an field day, both offensively and on the boards against Davidson.  At a minimum he should have had the splinters taken out of his arse by Ferry.  I don't know, I've been trying to regain optimism with this year's results, but last night was inexcusable collapse.  I know we didn't score a bucket in the last 5:50, and DC's missed layup was a killer, but I think I heard the announcer say UD had a 16-1 run over that period and that is just bad. 

That missed layup was probably bigger than any of us are mentioning. Colter blew by the defender for one of those wide open right handed wrap around lay-ups were so used to seeing and him making. Can't believe he didn't make that, and as soon as it happened I thought to myself this could be the difference in the game. In essence it was, as the miss led to another fast break layup that resulted in a 4 point swing from us being up 6 to up two in a matter of seconds. That was in the middle of the 10-0 run Dayton made when we led by ten with 4:00 left during our epic meltdown when we gave ten right back in a matter of about two minutes. That layup could have stopped the momentum and run Dayton quickly made on us. And hate to mention it but he blew the bunny and we ended up losing by two, so you do the math. Not saying the loss was completely on DC in any way, shape, or form but it was a crucial play at the end of the game that was a major reason we stumbled and really choked.

Here is Ferry's exact quote: "I thought our guys played with great poise from start to finish," said Ferry. "You've got to give credit to Dayton." Sorry Jimmy, I would disagree with how the last 5 minutes were handled. 

Pistol, good to have you back.  Dome and others have been making the point that playing Colter and Mason 38 to 40 minutes a game is really hurting not only the future development of this team, but also as shown last night, it puts us in a disadvantage when teams pressure our guys in close games down the stretch.  I love these guys, but this play them till they drop strategy is not good.  As you pointed out it looked like C&M had nothing left in the tank.  The Dayton guards were just blowing by C & M all the way to the hoop down the stretch.  There was no stopping the dribble penetration by Davis and Smith in the last 5 minutes.  I do not say that to excoriate (from Late Latin excoriates to skin) our guards or coach, but to make an observation. 

CLK wrote:

Pistol, good to have you back.  Dome and others have been making the point that playing Colter and Mason 38 to 40 minutes a game is really hurting not only the future development of this team, but also as shown last night, it puts us in a disadvantage when teams pressure our guys in close games down the stretch.  I love these guys, but this play them till they drop strategy is not good.  As you pointed out it looked like C&M had nothing left in the tank.  The Dayton guards were just blowing by C & M all the way to the hoop down the stretch.  There was no stopping the dribble penetration by Davis and Smith in the last 5 minutes.  I do not say that to excoriate (from Late Latin excoriates to skin) our guards or coach, but to make an observation. 

I couldn't agree with this more.Last night showed the short-term effects of a 6 man rotation. I am more concerned about the long-term effects of not giving potential contributors like Nikeye, Marquell, and Steele time to experience and develop in game conditions. Not that they should have been used in last night's game, but they could have been used for longer periods in many of the earlier games that were lopsided wins or losses. That is how you develop your players and team for the future. There could have been a side-effect of fresher legs and other contributors to spell the starters.

As far as the last two games, I haven't learned anything about the Dukes that I didn't already know. They are a decent team that looks far superior than they have in the past three years, but are still - at best - a middle of the pack A-10 team. I'm glad they beat RM and St. Francis, but they are 1-8 vs the RPI top 100. They looked better for a very long stretch last night and showed some resiliency, but reverted (due to pressure and/or tiredness) to old form in the last 5 minutes last night. Cost a game. Another loss.