This team can be hard to watch.  I tuned in at the start of the second half, while the game was still very much up for grabs.  I saw the Dukes briefly cut into the lead, and then were victimized by a phantom travel call made by a clueless referee.  The replay showed the pivot foot pivoted as is allowed but was never lifted or slid across the floor.  It was a huge blunder by the referee on that play, and it lead to a series of misfortunes for the Dukes, that resulted in them losing touch with the Rams and never recovering.  Fordham isn't a bad team, but certainly not in a team that the Dukes can't beat from a talent perspective.  They played a swarming defense that would have required the Dukes to beat them to the basket, back-cut them, or toss the ball inside to a post player and reverse it through the post, or shoot from the paint.  It was certainly effective in stopping the offense from getting open shots. 

Beyond that X's and O's, however, I saw the biggest difference between the two teams to be their competitive spirit.  Their is something definitely missing from this team.  I don't want to get into individuals, because some players seem to play hard, while the team just seems to lack focus in general, and lack organization.  It's like they are a group of private contractors, fulfilling their requirements, but not pulling on the rope in the same direction.  I don't see people doing the little things that win games like taking a charge, when the opponent drives to the basket.  I just don't see the team playing with the juice and passion needed to compete at this level. 

I know this team has had a great deal of success over the last 8-10 years, and perhaps they were due for some disappointment, but I don't think anyone saw this kind of performance coming from this group of seniors.  I think we all expected next year to be more of a struggle after losing so many highly respected seniors, but this is a bit of a mystery. 

Sperlman,
Definitely agree with your points as well.  The officiating in the women's game is really a disaster.  I've seen officials at least in our league make calls that simply defy all logic and basketball sense.  I know that it's a tough job and everyone is going to make mistakes, but when a ref starts imagining things that didn't actually occur, that is worrisome.  Seeing traveling that didn't happen makes me suspicious about the intentions of an official. 

On the Pitt Board, it says that the new coach will have at least five 6’3” players or better next year. With a roster of 15 players, this seems like the right amount of bigs. I hope Dan takes note. You never have enough of them.