The trip to Akron could prove to be a turning point for this team. Apparently Dru really wanted that one and got a much needed win. Still Towson isn't a very good team, and it could have been a one game aberration.

Irvine has won more than 20 games 9 of the last 12 years and was picked to win their conference this year. They might not have played a murders row, but there also aren't really any cupcakes on the schedule other than their season opener. We held them 20 points below their season average and scored 7 more than they've allowed on average.

Beyond just numbers though, this team looks very different than earlier in the season. Fitting DiMichele back in will be vital whenever he returns, but whether it's just personnel changes or something else, this lineup seems to have found some chemistry. Of course knocking down 14 threes on 56% shooting will make any offense look good, but the execution was much crisper than we've seen over the last month regardless of if the shots actually were falling.

The uptempo start to this game makes everyone on the board who have been calling for it look like basketball savants. The positionless sets in the second half were great to see too. Necas has always had stat sheet stuffing potential, and Hronsky may be our most improved player even if he didn't have a great game tonight. Seeing some point forward flashes out of Dixon tonight was very unexpected though. I don't think anyone wants to see him shooting three threes a game, but he made some beautiful passes and worked well in the high post a few times too. For whatever reason he seems to play better coming off the bench, but finding the game he had last season would go a long way.

The increased time for Crawford has been big too. His shooting opens up the floor, and I don't see him as nearly the defensive liability most do. He'll never be a lockdown defender (which probably is why he took so long to see the floor), but he's not an open door either. 

Hopefully this doesn't prove to be a flash in the pan, and there is still plenty of room for improvement. I was cautiously optimistic after Towson though, and feel even better after this one since it's now two comfortable wins a row, and this one over a much better team. It may have taken longer for the lightbulb to turn on for Dru than any of us expected or wanted, but hopefully it has happened and we can look back on the 2-8 start to this season like we do on the 0-5 start to last conference season. 

VBC wrote:

SkepticAl wrote:

It appeared that DiMichelle had the walking boot removed.   Hoping his return is imminent.

I was told that Jake was not wearing the boot last week in Akron so I am hopeful that he may be back for the Cleary game.
 

Once Jake returns that would be it for Edwards playing time. As I said he is this years Savrosov. Good news for Edwards he can hit the transfer portal & find a better fit. I would assume Corbett gets a slight reduction in playing time. Impressive win. Joyce figuring out the proper rotation. Better news the Dukes defense is very good. Go Dukes.

Ironduke81 wrote:

PhoenixRising2 wrote:

CLK wrote:

This will be a good indication of how Duquesne will fare in League play.  I would rank UC Irvine as a top 4-6 A10 team.  I am hoping the $1 hot dog day works its magic for the Dukes.     

CLK, a couple of hundred hot dogs delivered to the UCI locker room pregame might be the magic we are looking for.

Phoenix they are called the ant eaters not the Joey Chestnuts😂🤣

 That's a winner, ironduke81.  They played like the Joey Chestnuts.  Looking at the game, you never would have guessed which team was 10-1 or 3-8.  Really top notch performance by the Dukes.

luckymcd wrote:

The trip to Akron could prove to be a turning point for this team. Apparently Dru really wanted that one and got a much needed win. Still Towson isn't a very good team, and it could have been a one game aberration.

Irvine has won more than 20 games 9 of the last 12 years and was picked to win their conference this year. They might not have played a murders row, but there also aren't really any cupcakes on the schedule other than their season opener. We held them 20 points below their season average and scored 7 more than they've allowed on average.

Beyond just numbers though, this team looks very different than earlier in the season. Fitting DiMichele back in will be vital whenever he returns, but whether it's just personnel changes or something else, this lineup seems to have found some chemistry. Of course knocking down 14 threes on 56% shooting will make any offense look good, but the execution was much crisper than we've seen over the last month regardless of if the shots actually were falling.

The uptempo start to this game makes everyone on the board who have been calling for it look like basketball savants. The positionless sets in the second half were great to see too. Necas has always had stat sheet stuffing potential, and Hronsky may be our most improved player even if he didn't have a great game tonight. Seeing some point forward flashes out of Dixon tonight was very unexpected though. I don't think anyone wants to see him shooting three threes a game, but he made some beautiful passes and worked well in the high post a few times too. For whatever reason he seems to play better coming off the bench, but finding the game he had last season would go a long way.

The increased time for Crawford has been big too. His shooting opens up the floor, and I don't see him as nearly the defensive liability most do. He'll never be a lockdown defender (which probably is why he took so long to see the floor), but he's not an open door either. 

Hopefully this doesn't prove to be a flash in the pan, and there is still plenty of room for improvement. I was cautiously optimistic after Towson though, and feel even better after this one since it's now two comfortable wins a row, and this one over a much better team. It may have taken longer for the lightbulb to turn on for Dru than any of us expected or wanted, but hopefully it has happened and we can look back on the 2-8 start to this season like we do on the 0-5 start to last conference season. 

I agree. Very good post. Dinkins and Crawford looked a lot like Dae Dae and Clark in these last two games. They work well together and Rozier first in off the bench comes in with energy and has had two great games. Necas adds so much in the paint and on the perimeter. Hronski is great on defense and a 3 ball threat. This is the team we were anticipating and I get the feeling they know it too. Corbett had a monster of a game. Barre and Dixon have really stepped up. Next game, we get to see a lot of guys in there, but right now, this is the team we all expected to see. Coach Dru had a great game too. He's feeling it too.