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With the start of the season just a few weeks away, I am curious who you think will be in the starting lineup for game #1? I have zero inside info. from Dan, except that he said lots of question marks, but he's excited. The starting line-up has to be a real puzzle to us as fans. Right now, I would pencil in Libby and Nina as starters and that’s it. The other three spots would seem to be open. Looking back at last year, two problem spots were the team did not shoot the ball well enough and the team was very under-sized. Because of their overall play and shooting skill, that is why I have Bazalak and Aho as starters. Question: What other guard will be a respectable outside shooter? Kalin looks like the first option. No objection to Amanda as a third guard since she plays really good defense. But that adds to a small line-up. Can Annie-Pier play the three? That provides size. The front court is a real riddle to me. Sole, Cannon. Bovell, and Staffelino have different talents that they bring. Sole was better down the stretch when she moved from strictly the blocks to roaming more to the high post and short corners. Cannon is strong, motivated and a workhorse but is undersized and slowish. Bovell is a true athlete who hustles on every play but is limited offensively. Staffelino is a very good shooter but is limited defensively. I guess the starters will depend on who steps up in practice. And, then comes the unknown factors -Precious Johnson and Amaya Hamilton. They bring size to the table and hopefully skill. Amaya is intriguing because she looks like a three in many aspects. Precious is a tall post which helps. Dan has started freshmen in the past, so if these two are ready, then perhaps they start. Since Coach redshirts kids that a need time to contribute, I have to believe these two get time. Knowing nothing about how practice is going, I really believe a big lineup in the long run is best for growing this team. So, how about Libby, Nina, Amaya, Precious, and Laia as a starting group? It will be interesting to see how Coach sees things from watching practice every day. I trust Dan Burt. Go Dukes! I'd like to throw another name out there - Kiersten Elliott - Granted she has not played much but this is her fourth year in the program - Hopefully the lack of playing time was due more to the fact that Chas, Julianna, Kadri Ann, Connor (and to a lesser extent Enika) were taking minutes up - Just hoping she can give the team a respectable amount of minutes and produce. Unsure where her younger sister fits in at this point - Thanks, Al, for adding Keirsten to the mix. Your ball handling point made me think of the roster make-up. With 15 scholarships, a Coach has the luxury of covering all the needed areas. The issue is finding playing time for 15 good players. Most good teams have a solid 8-9 player rotation. So, I can see why Dan redshirts kids who are not injured or who may be in a five year program. And, kudos to Dan because all of his kids graduate! Ideally, with 15 scholarships, I would have 6 guards, 3 wings, and 6 bigs. My wings would be long - 6’ to 6’2” tall. Bigs would be at least 6’3” or better. At the A10 level, it is tough to get that 6’3” big that makes a difference. We need a couple of Kadri and Amadea types per year. Look at the men. They have five of 13 who are 6’9” or better. This year’s women’s roster only carries the two freshmen who fit into my bigs category. Apologies for me going off on this tangent. but the real beauty of basketball is that you need skilled players of all sizes. Interesting points from you and Al. I note the men will be streaming from LaRoche and RMU, so that gives me hope the women will also. GREAT to see the Board this active (on the Ladies Side) at this point in the season. Each poster has their own ideas - Teams can Mix and Match as far as size goes - While NOT comparing the two of them - Julianna (from Freshman Year to Sophomore Year) basically came from NOWHERE to STARTER and then All League as a Junior. - I'm a little intrigued by Kiersten's skill set which might be unique among the team.
CONGRATULATIONS COACH DRU JOYCE III
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Starting Lineup
I could be all wrong, but here are my picks: Bazelak (PG), Aho (#2 guard), Bovell (wing), Cannon (small forward), Sole (post) with Staffalino and Kalin getting quality minutes. Matt Schmidt's offense has historically favored guard play but this may be a season when there may be greater emphasis on getting the ball inside. Don't know this for a fact, but the 6'2 freshman Hamilton and/or the 6'4 freshman Johnson may be diamonds in the rough who will earn their way into the lineup and become major contributors. Rreshpja (redshirting) could well become Duquesne's most prolific scorer in the future, but needs some development.
What are your projected lineups?
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Re: Starting Lineup
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Re: Starting Lineup
My MAIN concern (at least until a clearer picture emerges) is going to be the BALL HANDLING - when teams press/double team Libby (or when she is resting) do they have the ability to push the ball down the floor quickly and make the other teams pay? Or can teams just press the entire time without worrying too much about easy layups etc. Don't know how the rust might affect Nina, Amanda is decent at this - Paige is a little limited in this area - but Chassidy, Julianna and to a lesser extent Connor showed this ability.
Would be nice if there was an open practice (even if it's in the Power Center so the fans can check out the newcomers a little. Know it might not me much more than lay up drills - still WOULD like a look at the four new signees)
ONLY 29 DAYS UNTIL THE OPENER!!!!!
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Re: Starting Lineup
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This summer Dan told me that he has noticed a trend in WBB where pure size across the front line is being replaced by more mobile and interchangeable #3's and #4's, With that in mind, his plans for the future would be to have just a couple of true bigs, but more mobile small forwards and wings.
You and Al are spot-on with legit questions about this season and the starting five. Personally, I would love to see your suggested lineup featuring 6'2 Hamilton, 6'4 Johnson and 6'2 Sole anchoring the front line, but I'm not sure we will see that, at least in the beginning of the season- perhaps;s down the road.
I love this time of the year when each program, no matter how successful, has their own set of challenges going into opening day. EG- Out here in Palo Alto, CA, my Stanford team has a different problem with so much talent and depth where Coach Tara V. will have to manage sufficient playing time for all and keep them happy and motivated.
Duquesne will be so interesting to watch this season, though from afar. Wish they would video stream some of the home games (but doubt it). Good luck to you! •
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Re: Starting Lineup
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Re: Starting Lineup
Red Auerbach used to say - It does not matter who starts a game - what matters is who FINISHES a game (especially close ones) Some teams want a "specialist" to come off the bench (even in a stopper mode at times as opposed to "Instant Offense")
For the case of a Starting 5 - My THREE Locks would be Libby, Paige, Halle (Libby is a given - tough to see Paige and Halle LOSING starting jobs given the amount of talent that graduated) If I was convinced Nina was 100% would put her in here as well. I haven't seen anything to indicate otherwise - however it is TWO years of injuries in her case - Fifth would be Laia at this point - But the staff might even change the starters based on the opposition in a certain game as opposed to anything else.
I'm hoping that A-10 package will be back for another year - for the $4.95 per month was good to be able to watch the Ladies on the Road, The Guys on the Road - and other A-10 Match Ups on a given day - beats the steady boring diet of Big 10 match ups feautring middle/bottom of the pack squads.
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