Styles1229 wrote:

stew wrote:

Going to be difficult for this team with only 4 guards and one being a freshman.By the end of season the 4 will
tire.Dont know what Dambrot plans are dealing with lack of depth.Any info or thoughts?

I agree but I am holding out hope something happens.  If not, perhaps KD likes Barba as a guard?  Or one of the walk-ons he thinks is good enough to play?  I really can't see any other options.

 Well, 4 guards at 2 positions (as opposed to the usual 3 at Duquesne) is like having a 10-man roster for 5 positions. One is a freshman? So was Kareem last year. I hope this is not a dire situation if there are no more additions. Tend to think it is not that.

CLK, if you were to enter the transfer portal, with all the hard work of providing us with info and Your loyalty, you would be picked up by a power 5 team in a heartbeat. I personally check this board daily to see info you provide for us. Thanks for the information. But for now stay put, wait another year or two to see what happens on the bluff. I know you are thirsting for info on this team and future recruiting plans, but that would all be speculative. Let’s just see them on the court next year, supposedly a good year according to the pundits.

Very puzzling on Charles Thomas, CLK. IMO, For many years, Charles was the #1 assistant coach and logically heir apparent for Dambrot’s job, until Dru Joyce was hired. That move shook up the coaching staff, with Steve McNees, Carl Thomas and now apparently Charles moving on. I’m not sure if these losses are all a bad thing; staffs can get stale and lose effectiveness both in coaching and recruiting. 

I don’t have very much of an issue with the lack of public recruiting info. It’s nice for us fans to know in order to speculate, but I don’t think it hinders the actual recruiting of a player.

The lack of any promotional info coming out of Duquesne is appalling. Player profiles, foreign tours, scheduling hints/updates, fan events, etc. are never to be found. No engagement whatsoever with the fan base, limited as it is.

Another quality guard would be welcome; but if they have determined that Hronsky can play and defend at the 2 guard position, then the need is less pressing. This currently is a roster mix that is unfamiliar to us Dukes fans. We are used to seeing a parade of undersized centers and power forwards, using 3 or sometimes 4 guards. This year, I don’t think we will see much of 3 guards on the floor at the same time; we may see the Dukes go big having 4 guys on the court that are 6’7” or taller. Interesting times.

Phoenix, when did McNees leave and do you know if he went to another program?

Thanks Wildwood.  I do understand the recruiting secrecy, although I don't agree, but usually you find information from kids or other sources indicating recruiting activity.  That is what I meant by no "visible" recruiting efforts.  I don't see any recent evidence that the Dukes are on the recruiting trail for future players like you see for just about every other team.  Recently the contact period opened for '25 recruits and coaches are contacting these players by the dozens.  In the past we would see many names mentioning Duquesne.  I have yet to see one.  Part of it is due to shifting recruiting to the portal, but I think the bigger part of it is the unknown and uncertainty of Dambrot's status and who is going to be coaching these kids.  I am surprised actually at how well DU did in the Portal so far this year.  However, all of these players are grad students, and there is no uncertainty for these kids as Dambrot is in the final year of his contract.  

As for Charles Thomas, his decision was made when Harper brought in Dru Joyce came in with a title that no other assistant had - Associatee Head Coach.  I like Charles and thought he worked hard recruiting for Duquesne, however since he is working for one of our competitors, I don't want to wish him too much luck.  

Phoenix, I also don't understand the complete lack of informational or promotional effort by Duquesne. It has always been that way, and nothing has changed.  As far as the structure of this team is concerned, I don't understand how we are going to see less than three guards on the court unless the determination has been made that either Clark or Grant will spend some time at the point.  I just don't see this team being that good unless we have both of the guys playing major minutes together.  That also raises the question of what do you do if one of these guys is out with an injury.  I am really hoping we are not done recruiting for this year.

 

Last edited by CLK (6/16/2023 11:30 am)

I am taking an optimistic outlook on the coaching staff changes. KD & Dru have great recruiting expertise in MI, OH, & the portal. Hopefully new staff members are better at recruiting major metro areas & the west while bringing fresh perspectives on offensive & defensive systems.

The assistants had to be pissed when Dru got rhe top assistant job.But its dog eat dog in the coaching profession.Hopefully Dru is the golden boy and he does a great job for Duquesne when Dambrot leaves.Right now it looks good,a smooth transition when KD leaves.

Dambrot is constatntly recruiting.There are stories and you could right fake stuff like the Dukes are interested
in players they have no chance of getting.For me I am a Dukes fan 365 days a year. Im always looking
for anything about Duquesne.Nothing alse matter more as a fan than Duquesne.
I wear  it and I breathe it.

I personally do not see the infatuation with Dru Joyce. He was not involved in last year’s recruiting class. This year it’s mostly portal guys with one freshman. The future list of recruits is below average. His biggest attribute is that he is close to LeBron. He served a few years at Cleveland State, not a what you would call a power school. We have witnessed what this relationship has gotten us with Dambrot. I prefer a guy from the east coast. Some one that has ties to NY, Philly, NJ and Maryland. Not only is that the fruitful recruiting area but we also play in conference games in those areas. This Ohio connection has got to expand to other areas. We are not a MAC team, we are in the A-10. From Harper to the head coach to the assistants, all Ohio products.

PhoenixRising2 wrote:

Very puzzling on Charles Thomas, CLK. IMO, For many years, Charles was the #1 assistant coach and logically heir apparent for Dambrot’s job, until Dru Joyce was hired. That move shook up the coaching staff, with Steve McNees, Carl Thomas and now apparently Charles moving on. I’m not sure if these losses are all a bad thing; staffs can get stale and lose effectiveness both in coaching and recruiting.

I don’t have very much of an issue with the lack of public recruiting info. It’s nice for us fans to know in order to speculate, but I don’t think it hinders the actual recruiting of a player.

The lack of any promotional info coming out of Duquesne is appalling. Player profiles, foreign tours, scheduling hints/updates, fan events, etc. are never to be found. No engagement whatsoever with the fan base, limited as it is.

Another quality guard would be welcome; but if they have determined that Hronsky can play and defend at the 2 guard position, then the need is less pressing. This currently is a roster mix that is unfamiliar to us Dukes fans. We are used to seeing a parade of undersized centers and power forwards, using 3 or sometimes 4 guards. This year, I don’t think we will see much of 3 guards on the floor at the same time; we may see the Dukes go big having 4 guys on the court that are 6’7” or taller. Interesting times.

I'm less concerned about who will backup the 2-guard than I am about who is the backup to Kareem at the point?  Things move so much more smoothly with a true point than with a 2-guard trying to play the point.  Kareem will need to rest at times and will collect fouls and need to sit.  Who will run the show when he sits?  Quincy had his faults, but he did eat some minutes at the point in games.  Is there another guy on the roster who can fill that role?  Hronsky turned it over too often for a point guard.  
 

Last edited by levon1975 (6/19/2023 9:28 am)

Jimmy Clark played PG at VCU.  I have no problem if he is our starting PG.  His only problem is he is so agressive on defense he gets into foul trouble that limits his playing time.  He plays a lot like ajax and mike james at the PG position.  I also hve no problem if KD goes with only two guards,  two forwards and a center.  He was very successful with that mix at Akron because he had the talent at those positions.  It appears he will have the talent with this years team to play that same type of hoops.  

Hoping this freshman has some Sincere Carry in him.