Not as impressed with this class as some of you are. Ferry has to dip into JC ranks and comes out with an undersized guard. Mason, sitting out next season, seems like a 1-trick pony and Ridenour is another short (6-1) guard who doesn't seem to play much defense.

Ahhh, the expectations that killed Everhart. I figured it wouldn't take long for them to get to Ferry.

As down as I have been on the program for more than a year, I think Ferry has done a good job of recruiting both to need and to the talent level necessary to be competitive in the A-10. These kids still have to get on the court and perform, but how can you knock guys who have been sought after by higher programs, or in the case of Ridenour, had previousy signed with an A-10 team?

I really have only two objectives as a Duquesne basketball fan and alumnus of the University: To enjoyably cheer for my team, and to see it get to the NCAA Tournament. It may take a couple two-three years to accomplish the latter, because realistically I understand that the coach has to bring in players who fit his system, he really needed a season to understand how much better the A-10 is than anything he's been involved with before, and a little bit of winning attracts better players.

Reading posts like the one above may forever keep me from accomplishing my first objective.

Tucker and Reggie Jackson  couple of recent jucos who did ok.

WashPaRick wrote:

Tucker and Reggie Jackson  couple of recent jucos who did ok.

Forgot about them. They weren't at the level of Palmer, and Hargrove, but they were very solid, pretty much what you'd want from JC players. I like what Ferry has done. He's added peices that should make a big difference down the road, as well as bringing in some that will help right away. I expect that Soko, and one of the freshman forwards will start right away. The other freshman, will battle Q, Jerry, and Panto (if he's back) for playing time. I think that White, and Colter may start together in a smurf backcourt, but Indy, and Ridenhour will be in the mix for major minutes. I would expect we could see three guards on the floor at times.

There is nothing wrong with "smurf" basketball as long as the '"smurf's" are quick, talented and capable of scoring and you have a couple of talented big men to patrol the boards. We haven't had the latter in the past to make it work--Ferry is bringing in the bricks for a nice foundation to this blueprint.

Sometimes trolls are so obvious it's actually funny.  Oh, what a surprising post from "you know who".  Gee, I'm shocked that certain posters express certain views.

PrinceOf Pilsner wrote:

Sometimes trolls are so obvious it's actually funny.  Oh, what a surprising post from "you know who".  Gee, I'm shocked that certain posters express certain views.

I wasn't going to respond because anyone who has a negative view point is labeled a hater or troll on this site. Be that as it may, my point is this: It's a guard-oriented game and ours don't match up to the standards.

Colter is looked upon as having a good season but look closer and you see he is a below-average guard. He shot under 40 percent, the Mario Mendoza line for guards. He is a poor free throw shooter (66 percent) and he turns the ball over - a lot, over 100 times -  to run an offense. He averaged 13 points becuase he launched 70 more shots than any other player on the team.

Micah Mason is one dimensional. He's a three-point specialist and is not 6-2, more like 6-0. He's a third option at guard at best because his defense is so bad. But he's still a year away. 

Travaughn White has impressive numbers but it's at the JUCO level, and I'm suspicious of any stat at that level transferring over to major college basketball. It might, but not a sure thing. Why didn't any other big schools go after him? Wait and see.

This team still needs a point guard and one hasn't been found yet. The two 6-8 recruits look promising but without better guard play, defenses will simply collapse on them and stifle their offense. When you're missing nearly seven of 10 shots per game, they'll take their chances.

That's a more detailed reason why I am not impressed with this class of guards. If that make me a hater or troll, so be it.