Ghost of Walter White wrote:

The Utomi kid from Akron can shoot it.
Saw him play at Kent State last month.
He would be a nice addition.

He has big time interest, but maybe KD can work some magic.

PistolPete wrote:

MikeR I hope KD can get this kid, maybe having recruited him at Akron will help - who knows, maybe he was upset KD left.  Anyway, we can't stand still, we need to improve on what we have and I am not going along with the young team argument.  Sure we were very young, but talent is talent and you could see where we need help.  I am sure KD sees it as well.  Signing period begins on April 15th I believe so it is going to be an interesting month - at least I hope so.

The "we're young" excuse will no longer fly next year. This will be a veteran team. TDM, Mike Hughes, Frank Hughes, and Marcus Weathers will be 4th year juniors. I won't accept hearing them described as kids, grown men is what they'll be. Eric will be in his third year as a starter. Sincere will be a sophomore, but one with a year as a heavily used starter under his belt. Will there be a young player or two in the mix, of course, but pretty much every team has that. Bottom line, if this team struggles next year, youth will not be an acceptable excuse.
 

Ironduke81 wrote:

Wow Duq 81 take no prisoners if KD fails as per your expectations. Do we really need to run out a good coach. Sorry Ron Everhart scenario Duquesne can not afford. This guy with the current AD & President is the key to a successful program.Tired of Collery & Amodio failures. Go Dukes

Who's running out the coach? KD has higher expectations than all of us. I'm glad he's the coach, and not some of the pansy fans on this board who would be happy with 16-16, and a CBI bid every year for eternity. The fact is, the team won't be young next season like it was this year. Doesn't mean that injuries or something else can't derail them, but if they struggle, youth won't be the reason.

CLK wrote:

Duq81, your post confused me also.  Your comment that: The "we're young" excuse will no longer fly next year. sounded like you were accusing KD of making excuses, as if this year was a failure.  I don't think you meant that.  The Dukes were one of the most young and inexperienced teams in D1 this year, that is a fact and not an excuse.  What KD did in finishing tied for 6th and not 11th as predicted was appreciated by most fans.   

KD wasn't the one making the excuses, the posters were. Some posters look for excuses for failure, fortunately, KD doesn't. KD isn't big on making excuses. That said, it was a legit excuse. We were very young this year. One of the reasons you play a young team and take your lumps, is that that team then becomes a veteran team with tons of experience. That said, with this year under our belt, we will no longer be a super young team. We won't be the most veteran team around, but our major pieces will all be experienced, thus, any struggles we might have won't be because we're so young. In 20-21, we should be one of the most experienced teams in the country. If we stay healthy, and don't have any unforeseen disasters (this is Duquesne after all), we should hear our name called on Selection Sunday.

By the way, the team wasn't a failure this year. 10-8 in league play was a definite step forward. Of course, most of us always hope for a bit more. The NIT would be a great result next year, but that doesn't mean we can't dream about a true breakthrough season.
 

I’m looking to bypass the NIT and go straight to the NCAA.

I

duq81 wrote:

levon1975 wrote:

I’m looking to bypass the NIT and go straight to the NCAA.

You and me both brother! That said, an NIT bid would still show progress, so I wouldn't be upset if that's where we land.
 

 
Duq81 now that’s the ticket I like your rationale & positive comments. If although highly unlikely KD fails no doubt due to the curse of Dudley More😂the program is over. Go Dukes

Tongue & cheek my friend. You do know there is no such thing as curses. Especially at Duquesne. After all ESPN just did a blog on the 10 worse head coaching hires the last decade. Duquesne unlike Pitt did not  make the list. However maybe due to the irrelevance of this program thanks to the lack of support from the top as well as incompetence of former ADs & Presidents Duquesne not worth a mention. I was told be a good source Dudey not Dudley the actor was upset with the Spiritans who had enough with program supporters which had a pipeline to NY kids usually African Americans & Jewish kids. Remember the Jim Crow laws which benefited a northern Catholic school like Duquesne in regard to recruiting. Clearly no curse....Scott Edgar, Danny Née, Darrell Porter, Jim Ferry Brian Colleary & yes the Quinnipiac Clown. 🤔🤔🤔

Ironduke81 wrote:

Tongue & cheek my friend. You do know there is no such thing as curses. Especially at Duquesne. After all ESPN just did a blog on the 10 worse head coaching hires the last decade. Duquesne unlike Pitt did not make the list. However maybe due to the irrelevance of this program thanks to the lack of support from the top as well as incompetence of former ADs & Presidents Duquesne not worth a mention. I was told be a good source Dudey not Dudley the actor was upset with the Spiritans who had enough with program supporters which had a pipeline to NY kids usually African Americans & Jewish kids. Remember the Jim Crow laws which benefited a northern Catholic school like Duquesne in regard to recruiting. Clearly no curse....Scott Edgar, Danny Née, Darrell Porter, Jim Ferry Brian Colleary & yes the Quinnipiac Clown. 🤔🤔🤔

Duquesne could have continued landing the cream of the crop from NYC, but they didn't want to be seen as a basketball school. Kind of reminds me of how Pitt dismantled a top 5 football program in the late 30s for similar reasons. Maybe it's a Pittsburgh thing?

Is there a way Ellis is on the team next season and not on "scholarship"?  I say that only because he had to sit out this year.  Does that leave any doors open in those regards? 

Last edited by townsonkid (4/04/2019 1:06 pm)

townsonkid wrote:

Is there a way Ellis is on the team next season and not on "scholarship"?  I say that only because he had to sit out this year.  Does that leave any doors open in those regards? 

I would be absolutely shocked if he was expected to “pay his own way” for another year. They probably found a way to make academic scholarship money work for this year but they need to get him on scholarship for him to stay here, just a guess.

Duquesne tuition is like $35k/yr at this point.

I didnt mean to bring up him not being on the team topic.  With everyone in the country it seems either declaring for draft or transferring by now, and no one leaving our program yet, I am just curious what the backup plan is if no one does leave, we'd be a +1 scholarship wise.  I have no reason to believe KD will not follow thru on everything he promised Ellis.  
I assume the likelihood of someone leaving it still high, but maybe everyone is happy at DU???

Dennis, I was thinking the same thing about the guys that already transferred.  I don't see anything happening there.  You do bring up a good point about "soft landing" as I think KD and staff would want to help anyone find a better situation that either wanted to go voluntarily or was advised that it may be in their best interest to do so.  12 days and counting, we'll just have to wait and see.