Tejas, I agree that it is disheartening to say the least.  I am tired of always waiting for next year. However, this season is just a mess for Duquesne as well as other teams I'm sure.  Practices were sporadic at best.  Players are out of shape.  Young players enter the A-10 schedule with virtually no college basketball experience.  In addition, Duquesne has been playing like gypsies for 2 seasons.  I can't imagine it's as much fun for these guys to be on the road every game and when they do have a "home" game it's in a high school gym.  I think they are playing hard and hopefully they will get better results with conditioning, experience and getting into their home next month.  I think having a home and getting settled there is going to make a difference--even with few or no fans.  Hopefully, someone will emerge as a legitimate scoring threat. 

Time will tell.  

Well, officials in last night’s game heavily favored SB.  How do 3 refs miss a clear goaltending call when it was obvious that Murphy’s attempt was off the glass before it was blocked; that’s an automatic call and 2-points for the Dukes; but the tree clowns all missed it!  Mike Hughes was still targeted by these boobs; two beautiful blocks both called fouls when replays showed there were no fouls; but the Bonnie babies fell down and got the calls!  Hughes still had a fine game; went hard to the hoop and beat-up on the lightweight Osun.  So Lofton was the only difference in the teams; and our inexperience showed in guarding him.  We took fakes behind the arc and let him penetrate and score.  He has struggled all year from behind the arc; so the play would be to ignore the fakes and make him shoot the 3; and miss! 
When I saw the ref crew doing this game I knew we were screwed.

KD has got file a complaint with the commissioner about the officiating and he's really got to get in the ref's faces more. His team must be frustrated that he doesn't especially when opposing coaches do for much less grievances. Hughes has totally been screwed by this league's officiating crews for three years now. You wonder why he complains and gets animated at times? Who wouldn't? If I was him i'd have thrown a chair or two by now. Then again I got thrown out of a Temple University intramural championship game. Frustrating to watch. I just want to see some fire in this coach.

I have a different feeling in that I think we are really starting to look at a program that will compete in the A10 each year. Take three starters off any team in the league and most would not be competitive. Yet, we roll out five freshmen who are pretty raw on the whole but are getting better. This team does play defense. Okani, Baker, Acuff and Harris are getting minutes and as they learn, you can see where they could really develop into a better team than last year’s 21 win team, in my humble opinion.  Once these kids start thinking the game and understand that the other teams have good players, then improvement should be really noticeable. Plus, there is a big kid sitting out and eventually I hope Roesing gets a shot. I am more hopeful, even though I would like better results.

IMO this is better defense than was played earlier in the season. Could be a number of reasons including players being healthier and better able to work harder on the court. I would hate to think that some players just weren't interested to the point of not giving their best. Kind of doubt that but you never know what's going thru the head of an unhappy 20 or 21 year old. At any rate, the defense is looking much better, not perfect, and that's something to be pleased about. Now as for the ball going thru the hoop a bit more, I do believe that we will see improvement there too but most likely nothing too dramatic for the rest of the season. Hope I'm wrong on that one!

Might we see Acuff taking on more of the point guard duties and TDM moving back to shooting guard? If TDM can get going from the 3-point line, look out. It only takes one person to start hitting some shots and open up the middle for our senior tandem to make a move. Maybe we're that close to getting back on track. Maybe Acuff is the key. He's young, but he comes with high hopes. If he can handle gradual added responsibility and TDM can focus on getting his shot, we might be in business. The 3-pointer is the great equalizer.

Crosseye wrote:

Might we see Acuff taking on more of the point guard duties and TDM moving back to shooting guard? If TDM can get going from the 3-point line, look out. It only takes one person to start hitting some shots and open up the middle for our senior tandem to make a move. Maybe we're that close to getting back on track. Maybe Acuff is the key. He's young, but he comes with high hopes. If he can handle gradual added responsibility and TDM can focus on getting his shot, we might be in business. The 3-pointer is the great equalizer.

TDM is never going to be consistent from 3. He's either hot, or he's not.
 

I just hope the freshman dont transfer.   Its too easy now.   Okani, Baker, Acuff, Harris are the future.   KD better kiss their butts, or DU hoops might disappear, along with KD.   He cant do another rebuild.   At least no Dukes have committed 3 felonies.

A chance to get well in a hurry with two winnable games coming up.  I know URI has some talent, and a veteran guard that can either shoot them to victory or defeat!  They are athletic, physical and aggressive, so perhaps the Dukes will need to keep the pace slow and play the half-court game in this one.  The  team has been doing a better job cleaning up the defensive boards, and that will again be a priority against URI.  Still, after a few days in the gym to work out some issues; I'm hoping for the beginning of the turnaround.  Thinking optimistically, Marcus and Mike are starting to look like they are getting back into shape. Mike had a strong game at SBU on Friday.  The freshmen, will have their ups and downs, but I'm looking for a general upward pointing arrow for them over the remainder of the season; perhaps beginning to even-out the performances, making better decisions on drives to the basket, and just relaxing and letting their talent show through.  I think it was mentioned in another thread, but agree that this group has the potential to be a better defensive team than perhaps we would have been with the others.  I like the length on defense and the willingness to mix it up in the paint, rebound and block shots.  

El Presidente wrote:

Does anyone think that any seniors currently on the team might express any interest in playing next season for the Dukes since this is an apparent option. Thinking about TDM in particular.

I think that would be great. I think TDM Marcus and Mike all have a chance to be able to make some money overseas, but maybe they would want to stay and try and be tournament bound if it doesn't work out this year.

HookShot wrote:

I have a different feeling in that I think we are really starting to look at a program that will compete in the A10 each year. Take three starters off any team in the league and most would not be competitive. Yet, we roll out five freshmen who are pretty raw on the whole but are getting better. This team does play defense. Okani, Baker, Acuff and Harris are getting minutes and as they learn, you can see where they could really develop into a better team than last year’s 21 win team, in my humble opinion. Once these kids start thinking the game and understand that the other teams have good players, then improvement should be really noticeable. Plus, there is a big kid sitting out and eventually I hope Roesing gets a shot. I am more hopeful, even though I would like better results.

Hey, I just watched the game last night on record, since I missed it on Friday.  St.B. is in first place, has great players, all on campus, training 24/7 in that gym, and we were within 4 points close to the end of the game.  Even the announcers stated that the Dukes have no home, even when going to practice, do not have showers, are playing on the road since our mindless Gov. shut down everything?  But here they were, with 2 fresh. and a transfer, along with the vets. just a lucky 3 ball or two from winning.  I think this season is a throw-away, but I don't think the talent and the future is all that bad.  Everything from here is an upside.  We aren't there yet, but if we had the Coop at this point, it would have made a big  difference.  No use beating up this team, they didn't make the rules or the very heavy crack down the State that Pa. is vs all other States with less restrictions.   The coach is doing the best under the conditions that Pa. has imposed.