Dukes picked 13th.  I hope for Jim Ferry's sake that does not come to pass.  

https://twitter.com/Smittee_/status/788383214918328320


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Last edited by Simms (10/18/2016 9:32 am)

Duques102 wrote:

CLK wrote:

Dukes picked 13th.  I hope for Jim Ferry's sake that does not come to pass.  

I think we've been written off to some degree by the majority of media and outside people. Consistent bottom half finishes and losing your 4 leading scorers, etc. I think most people that actually have any clue what's going on with the program realize this team is likely much more talented than last years roster, despite the losses. People on the outside look at us from probably 4 news clippings and make determinations off that. Sadly, we've been irrelevant for so long how could you blame them. I think we'll surprise some people this year. Love to see Tarin step up and be a leader, use that 13 all year as motivation. Keep that list on the locker room wall all year and take it wherever you go.

Certainly, the A-10 coaches (or, in reality, the Sports Info Directors) don't know much about the incoming talent at Duquesne.  But, they have witnessed 4 years of Jim Ferry's A-10 coaching. And you could argue that not once in these 4 seasons has a Duquesne team overachieved; i.e. won more games or as many games than expected.  So the Dukes will get no benefit of the doubt at this point, regardless of the talent on paper.

Duques102 wrote:

CLK wrote:

Dukes picked 13th.  I hope for Jim Ferry's sake that does not come to pass.  

I think we've been written off to some degree by the majority of media and outside people. Consistent bottom half finishes and losing your 4 leading scorers, etc. I think most people that actually have any clue what's going on with the program realize this team is likely much more talented than last years roster, despite the losses. People on the outside look at us from probably 4 news clippings and make determinations off that. Sadly, we've been irrelevant for so long how could you blame them. I think we'll surprise some people this year. Love to see Tarin step up and be a leader, use that 13 all year as motivation. Keep that list on the locker room wall all year and take it wherever you go.

We've only been irrelevant for the past four years. One could easily see plenty of good national reporting on the program before that, and the results speak for themselves with the exception of getting back to the NCAAs.

So it's up to Coach Ferry and his staff and these players to fix that, and until my eyes and my head tell me otherwise, my heart says this is our year.
 

Glad to see that the guys are already using this as bulletin board material. I think what we have here is an overvaluing of DC and MM by those not close to the program. Sure, those two scored a lot of points, but what people who don't follow the program closely don't realize is that the team's defense should greatly improve with their departure. That has been our biggest weakness under ferry. I believe that this team will find ways to score, but the improved perimeter defense should go along way in improved play

Dukes2012 wrote:

Glad to see that the guys are already using this as bulletin board material. I think what we have here is an overvaluing of DC and MM by those not close to the program. Sure, those two scored a lot of points, but what people who don't follow the program closely don't realize is that the team's defense should greatly improve with their departure. That has been our biggest weakness under ferry. I believe that this team will find ways to score, but the improved perimeter defense should go along way in improved play

 I think the 13 rating in the coaches poll  makes sense when you look at how many newcomers Duquesne will put on the floor, against some top flight veteran talent such as the guys at Davidson, Dayton, Richmond, VCU, and even Fordham who had some good young talent last year.  Even if our talent is ramping up, it might take a while for that to result in wins in this league.  I'm looking for things to turn around in within two years, but to expect this group to go out and beat veteran and also talented A-10 teams this season is wishful thinking.  I hope it happens sooner than later, but it takes a few good recruiting years to see the benefits.

Where's Grammy? We got some crepe paper hangers doing the interior decorating.

I can't believe I'm the most optimistic guy here right now. But I've been asking for a NJ point guard for years and we finally have one, and we have a post player who's proven he can play (Lewis), and we have emerging talent in Sanders and James, and we brought in two veterans who can score. Yeah, they haven't proven they can get it done yet, but neither has anyone proven they can't.

 

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/duquesne/2016/10/18/Duquesne-basketball-picked-to-finish-13th-of-14-in-Atlantic-10/stories/201610180128

every year we get picked to finish near the bottom by coaches and other publications. legit or not
every year we complain
every year we finish right around where we are picked.
too many unknowns..
we could start 5 guys who essentially have never played a game together--a freshman, 2 grad transfers, and a guy who sat out with lewis
how impactful can the grad transfers be and why didn't they end up at a P5 school that just needed one extra piece(like LG Gill); ring rust for smith? 
will we continue to be outcoached night in and night out?
the a10 is (re)loaded again this year


based on that, i think its a fair assessment of where the dukes will finish.
now, its up to the team to prove em all wrong!!!