At this point I should make money betting against my Dukes. But 11 1/2 wow. If they can’t cover Coach Dambrot needs a wake up call. The program is in the toilet. Step up please. Old school is a joke.

What needs to be said is that those who come off the bench really hurt the team defensively. Gave up the lead in both halves.

Why isn't Jackie in during the last 2 minutes when they needed 3's?

Between Hima not getting in when they needed to stop VCU's attacking the rim and JJ missing at the end when they needed 3's, I don't understand ...

Even though JJ was 0 for 6, I'd still rather take my chances with him at the end versus Tre putting up 3s.

Just my opinion.

I think your analysis about Hima is correct, but how will the kid learn if you do not put him in these type of game situations? Shows a lack of faith or lack of teaching by Coach. With the season now about getting better, why waste minutes with Larson? Find out if the Hima kid will help in the future. Today’s starting five we’re at least connected. To win, they might have to play 33 minutes together.  The play of Ayers and Johnson has been disappointing.

Last edited by HookShot (2/05/2022 6:34 pm)

CLK wrote:

Don't play Hima but play Larsen. That makes sense.

Oh CLK you mean Hima 7”7 wingspan sits on the bench. VCU absolutely dominated Duquesne on the low block in points. Gee imagine placing Williams at the 4 as a power forward. Wow this is crazy. Sorry but Ayers is just not strong . Watching Dambrots substitutions makes me believe he wants the assistant AD job at Akron with a buyout from Duquesne. Unfortunately, Archie Miller come May of this year is a free agent. How can you not play Hima more then a minute after receiving the abuse on the low block. Hima may not be Mr. offense but Larsen really? Total joke. Duquesne vs Lasalle for last place in the A10. Hmmm Lasalle High School gym no commitment  from the University. Coach Dambrot however was handed keys to the Cadillac. Pathetic.

Last edited by Ironduke81 (2/05/2022 8:29 pm)

No problems that another good big and a PG can't fix. Tre needs help and needs to move to the 4 and a solid PG be it someone already on the team or a transfer or freshman, will turn this team into a solid contender next year.  There, problem solved. No charge! Go Dukes!

Ken,
I thought the same thing exactly!!!!!!!   We are in February.  These are young men.  If they can't play for that amount Dambrot does not have them conditioned.  Go look at the Bonnies...and yes, a tough year for them but still a lot better than Duquesne.  There are many other examples.  I also don't want to hear how he has a bunch of new players who don't know each other yet.  We aren't the only team like that and others have "gotten" to know each other.   Then take all of the good players he couldn't interact with...Weathers, EW, Sincere, and more.  Yes, I know there were issues but there are issues everywhere.  I truly believe that the GAME IS PASSING DAMBROT BY.  He was good in his day, no more.  It happens.  Hopefully out of the next 3 games we can beat Fordham with the attendance at 1,000 and announced at 2,800.  That win (I hope) is one of the 2 I chose before now and the end of the year.

One more word on conditioning. Recall when Coach Everhart was hired. He told the returning players that he was starting mandatory 6:00AM morning runs. Everyone left but, guess who, Aaron Jackson! No, RE never made it to the dance but I believe that you can thank the on-campus shooting for that. He did make it to the A-10 championship game and that was as close to the dance that we've been in years. Then came the in-fighting with Satan the AD and it was over...

CityDuke wrote:

indygjm wrote:

Why isn't Jackie in during the last 2 minutes when they needed 3's?

Between Hima not getting in when they needed to stop VCU's attacking the rim and JJ missing at the end when they needed 3's, I don't understand ...

Did you watch the game? Jackie was terrible tonight. He was 0-6 and his +/- was equally painful. I too would have like to see Hima defensively, but not sure how he would have handled the pressure. Also, from what I saw from our offensive attack today, whenever VCU trapped on the ballscreens, we threw it short to our big who set the screen to go 4v3 with the remaining rams. Not sure Hima would be best in that role. If Tre Williams can continue to play like that offensively, I am very excited about his future.

Hima may not have handled the pressure well but Larson is a mismatch no matter where is is.  No excuse to see Larson out there instead of Hima.  Though JJ was 0-6 he wasn't missing 3s as match as getting blocked on drives.  He definitely should have been out there in the last 3 minutes to take a couple 3s.  KD not using the correct personnel in the right spots.  You are down 5-8 points late and have a deadly 3 pointer shooter on your bench?  get him out there!   

The Dukes played hard and gave themselves a chance to win but got too sloppy down the stretch.  Ayers has regressed.  He continues to show that he has talent and the length to score in different ways in this league but makes costly mistakes in big spots.  

This team is young.  I would like to say that they will round into form over the next 2 seasons but unfortunately that is not how mid major college basketball works anymore.  Maybe the pendulum will swing back and we can watch players develop like in the olden days. 

CLK wrote:

Styles I couldn't agree more.  I have attached below the season stats.  There is a lot of interesting things to be gleaned there, but with respect to Ayers he is really hurting this team with his inability to make wide open three point shots, and his turnovers.  Conversely there is a strong argument that Acuff needs to play and shoot more. 

2021-2022 Duquesne University Men's Basketball (PDF) - Duquesne University Athletics (goduquesne.com)

Agree about Acuff.  Phil has been saying that they need to run plays regularly to get him open 3s.  He's shooting almost 50% from 3!!!  

JJ, Acuff, & Okani have all suffered from KD's bizarro substitution patterns & musical lineups.

None of these guys was going to be a star this season but, it is hard to flourish & grow if there is no consistency in these matters. There is no way that these guys are confident about understanding their roles & responsibilities.