Really looking forward to our first look at Halil Barre. While I'm not expecting miracles, it will be interesting to witness his first collegiate action. At least we now have more options in the forecourt which really helps all our bigs. Let's get a W today and get the Marshall game completely out of our rear view mirror! GO DUKES!

I am also looking forward to seeing Barre in action. Coming into this season I felt that Barre was slightly more advanced than Dixon in his all-around game readiness. It will take some time for Barre to wear off the inactivity and improve his game conditioning but down the road I thing Barre will add more help in scoring and offensive rebounding for the team. Barre and Dixon will prove to be very substantial recruits.
 

Defense is awful.   Dukes shooting is too.

I wasn't aware that last years team was to play this afternoon.

The high post and roll offense has been around a long time.  You have to have the roll players to make it effective.  I’m not sure Duquesne does.  Obviously, Duquesne depends on dae Dae, but his catch and shoot days are over. If I had to plan against Duquesne, I would deny him at all costs.  And that’s what we’re facing.  Here we go again with our offense being dribble dribble, then a run at the rim.  Duquesne has to have more options on offense than the high pick and roll .  Dae DAE will come out of his funk, but Duquesne needs to run more offenses. Who’s afraid of our centers with the ball way out there.  Too easy.

How long before they come after NMSU's logo. Guy with the two 6 shooters?

Shooting will hopefully improve as it can come an go throughout the season; but that depends on getting quality shots and, I think the Dukes did that better in the second half; after taking some pretty bad shots in the first.  Too many cases of "when in doubt, shoot" in the first half.  It appeared that guys were unsure of how they wanted to attack and ended up taking bad shots in compromised positions.  
Bigs still gave up the ball too easily on contested passes and rebounds. They are getting stripped at an alarming rate when in traffic in the paint.  Teams are seeing this on film, and will continue to slap and reach as long as it is successful and not creating fouls.  I think the games have in general been very loosely officiated allowing for lots of reaching and slapping by opponents; so the Dukes have to be stronger with the ball and generate fouls when teams are reaching.  
Although the full-court press and a few half-court traps were effective in the second half; the ease at which players get to the hoop on the Dukes half-court defense is troubling.  Both the guards and bigs need to do a better job of staying on the floor and not taking ball fakes and leaving their feet.  Dixon bit on a ball fake by Mohammed and it resulted in a slam at a point where the Dukes were showing some life and threatening to make it a game.  Guards need to understand that the ball fakes on the wings are leading to drives to the hoop and breaking down the defense.  The guys also need to be better at identifying shooters as opposed to non-shooters on these ball fakes.  Washington just dominated the defense yesterday; really nobody could guard him and he waltzed into the lane seemingly anytime he wanted.  It became very repetitive as NMSU started to pull away late first half.  Sometimes you have to challenge a guy to beat you with a long jumper instead of getting repeatedly beat to the hoop for easy baskets.  It became very hard to watch at times.  
 

levon1975 wrote:

Shooting will hopefully improve as it can come an go throughout the season; but that depends on getting quality shots and, I think the Dukes did that better in the second half; after taking some pretty bad shots in the first.  Too many cases of "when in doubt, shoot" in the first half.  It appeared that guys were unsure of how they wanted to attack and ended up taking bad shots in compromised positions.  
Bigs still gave up the ball too easily on contested passes and rebounds. They are getting stripped at an alarming rate when in traffic in the paint.  Teams are seeing this on film, and will continue to slap and reach as long as it is successful and not creating fouls.  I think the games have in general been very loosely officiated allowing for lots of reaching and slapping by opponents; so the Dukes have to be stronger with the ball and generate fouls when teams are reaching.  
Although the full-court press and a few half-court traps were effective in the second half; the ease at which players get to the hoop on the Dukes half-court defense is troubling.  Both the guards and bigs need to do a better job of staying on the floor and not taking ball fakes and leaving their feet.  Dixon bit on a ball fake by Mohammed and it resulted in a slam at a point where the Dukes were showing some life and threatening to make it a game.  Guards need to understand that the ball fakes on the wings are leading to drives to the hoop and breaking down the defense.  The guys also need to be better at identifying shooters as opposed to non-shooters on these ball fakes.  Washington just dominated the defense yesterday; really nobody could guard him and he waltzed into the lane seemingly anytime he wanted.  It became very repetitive as NMSU started to pull away late first half.  Sometimes you have to challenge a guy to beat you with a long jumper instead of getting repeatedly beat to the hoop for easy baskets.  It became very hard to watch at times.  
 

I pretty much agree with all the above. Williams in particular from what I'm seeing is having trouble grabbing passes and rebounds when contested.

Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlFltANmP70