We should get a lot of second chance points against the Lamardinals.

Yes, and Friday/Sat with back to back games on neutral court in Las Vegas will tell us more about our team.

The strengths and  weaknesses analysis has to ignore schedule strength. Like everyone else, I am pleased with KD's coaching of this team and the clear improvement. Still need another little bump-up to put this team away. Don't want a nail biter or worse. Getting used to W's, and it's a nice change.

Team plays defense and reflects the personality of the coach.
In the two games I have attended, KD sits and watches the other team shoot around
with great intensity. I assume he is looking for weaknesses.
At the start of the game, he takes off his suit coat, place a bottle of water on the scorer's table. He does not
sit.  He watches again with great intensity. He yells, he coaches, he is supportive.  No player is spared. Lewis, Williams, Caneddy, it doesn't matter-all receive robust feedback on their performance if it is lacking.
A set starting five followed by sensible substitutions. Presses, double teams, man to man(players must have gotten smarter since the last coach) executed to the best of their ability.
Not a real good team-their shooting is not great but overall the team has improved.
If KD's recruiting continues to improve, the Dukes should finally make the NCAA's.
 

More impressive is the fact that Dambrot's Dukes are currently ranked ninth in the country in committing the fewest turnovers per game, averaging only 10.2 per game — only two turnovers more per game than NCAA Div. 1 leader St. Mary's (CA), the well-coached perennial WCC power.

It all comes down to coaching.

Let's Go Duquesne!

IronDukes12 wrote:

Dambrot's defensive-minded Dukes are currently ranked 24th in the country in scoring defense, yielding only 62.6 points per game.  Lamar University, tomorrow night's opponent, is currently ranked 32nd, giving up an average of 63.7 points in their first ten outings.

Look for a defensive struggle tomorrow night.

Let's Go Duquesne!
 

One interesting thing, we haven't really had a close game this year.  All their wins were blowouts or the other team picked up some garbage time points to bring it to under ten points, but still and their three losses, you could tell how that game was going to end up with ten minutes to go in the game.

Looking foward to seeing Coach D in a tight game, but at the same time my blood pressure might not appreciate it.
 

Been looking forward to this one for awhile. Should be a close one.

Go Dukes!

Boy, Lamar's a tough team. They defend, they press, they bump people around. Have some quick guards and some thick bigs. Tied up with @5 minutes to go. Jordan Robinson has been our most effective big.

Up 3 at the half.

Nothing like tough defense and strong rebounding to keep a team in the game.
Bad shooting and 8 turnovers and yet the Dukes lead by 3 at half.
Lamar has 16 fouls. That can't go on.  Either they back off or start losing players.

Not to be missed, we did an excellent job drawing fouls and getting to the line in the first. The foul totals should really give us an advantage in the second half. Their guys were starting to look gassed at the end of he half.

Last edited by Duques102 (12/19/2017 8:03 pm)

indygjm wrote:

Good comeback for the half.  Keep it going. 
Also of interest - Pitt losing to Delaware State at the half - 22-44!
 

Pitts got the lead my man.