Great research Phoenix. I agree with your premise. The hot shooting is great, but we can't expect it continue for four games. We have to get back to the top flight defense we had been playing. Bottom line though is if we are going to win the tournament (pretty much our only chance at any postseason) we will need both. As always our chances in the tournament will be largely dependent on how the bracket sets up for us.

We are good enough now that I think we can beat any team in the conference. We're not good enough that we can run through four teams in a row without having some favorable matchups. The good news is the bracket is looking pretty good for us. With three games left there isn't much that set in stone yet, but we can have a pretty good idea of what the bracket will look like.

Dayton will likely be our first round opponent (only other possibilities are St. Louis or a minute chance of Richmond). We not only beat them in the last game, but dominated them for 35 minutes. Our next opponent would be St. Bonaventure. They are playing really good ball, but we took them to the wire in our last game. If we get a couple bounces that we didn't get in that one, we can certainly beat them too. The next game would likely be Davidson. They have had our number, including a blow out win this year. So that would be really tough. Not that we can't beat them, but we'd have to bring our A+ game to do it. The other possibility (baring a few upsets the only other possibility) would be St. Louis. I haven't seen them this year, but our games with them always seem to be hard fought close battles for 40 minutes. They are very beatable outside St. Louis though. So I think we could beat them. That would put us in the final against likely VCU or Richmond. Both would be very tough games, but you wouldn't expect anything less in a conference championship game. I think we match up better with VCU, but we did just play Richmond tight last week.

Long story short, if tomorrow's games go the way I expect I think the bracket sets up as good as it possibly could for us. As you pointed out, the defense needs to returns. Dambrot's team have always gone as far as the defense took them. Winning the last two games would also require the hot shooting to continue. I'd give us a 50% chance to make the quarters, a 35% chance to make the semis, 15% to make the final, and 10% to win it all. We're far from the favorite, but we're not talking about Dumb and Dumber odds either.

Dayton wins and St. Joes up 9 on Richmond at the half. St. Joes on a roll since Daley came back.

So, Dukes first game in the tourney is Richmond?
 

Richmond banged up Francis looks out. Gillard broken thumb. Big break thanks to the all time goat of slow fat white guy Ryan Daly. This guy is a winner. Beware of the Hawk. Dukes this is a huge opportunity don’t crap the bed.

Love him. Puts up 30 a game. Upon his return from injury he has taken the Hawks to another level. Golden bad hand Cayo playing well.Francis doubtful.  Dukes should smell blood in the water based on the Spiders current injuries situation. Take them out on their own home court. Go Dukes. Big break thanks to my man Daly.

I like this team it’s hard to fully evaluate them since they only played 16 games with two pauses but I’ll take Hughes and weathers over any bigs in the A10. With that being said as a team we need to play to our strength. That means let our bigs go to work and give them a lot of touches when both Mike and Marcus gain confidence on offense they’re even better on defense taking charges and protecting the rim. This could be seen in the Dayton game. Also young kids need to play with composure I really enjoy Chad Bakers energy but he cannot get a T and cannot throw up contested 3s. Work the ball around since a lot of movement inside helps open up some outside shots. Finally make the Spiders shoot contested shots get a hand their face and never put your hands down when guarding the perimeter. They beat us last time by knocking down some late 3s don’t let that happen again.

Last edited by Dukes412 (3/02/2021 12:05 am)

They should play Richmond at VCU rather than at their own gym.  That would provide some level of fairness.

They can beat any team in the conference. I think the 2 teams that present the biggest challenge are the bonnies n Davidson. Hughes composure is a big key. Btw, noticed a few games back that Baker is a south paw. He shoots a nice pull up jumper from the left corner of the basket.

I'm just happy, and hopefully for more than one, I can watch a game(Thursday) while WFH.   A friday game would also present the same opp, so lets at least win 1, and get 2 games, and make the work week go by quicker.   :-)
If its chalky......Richmond/SBU/SLU/VCU....chances of pulling that off are slim, but we do have a chance.   

As of today total silence from Spider Nation & the local media as to the status of Golden & Francis. Good sign for Duquesne. Over the past 40 years crap like this happened to Duquesne. The tide maybe turning on the bluff.

Ironduke81 wrote:

As of today total silence from Spider Nation & the local media as to the status of Golden & Francis. Good sign for Duquesne. Over the past 40 years crap like this happened to Duquesne. The tide maybe turning on the bluff.

I am glad to see the Dukes getting another chance to play Richmond.  I want to see the Dukes crush them, and put a dagger in any post season dreams they may have. Dukes by 12, this time I mean it.  Go all the way Dukes!