This should be a good test of the development of the team. We've struggled away from home and they have been very good at home. Hopefully the week off allowed for some healing. Even moreso, hopefully we've gotten all the freak injuries out of the way early.

The A-10 might not be the best conference in the country, but I think it is the most balanced. Only three teams made it to even 2-0. Two of the three lost their next two. St. Louis did make it to 3-0, and then lost by 16. The biggest reason for that is that it's proving to be very difficult to win on the road in the conference. Home teams are 19-8 so far, and if you take out the bottom four teams that record jumps to 18-3.

According to ESPN the betting line opened up at GW -5.5 but has since adjusted to -3.5. Over/Under is 135.5.

BluffHunter wrote:

luckymcd wrote:

This should be a good test of the development of the team. We've struggled away from home and they have been very good at home. Hopefully the week off allowed for some healing. Even moreso, hopefully we've gotten all the freak injuries out of the way early.

The A-10 might not be the best conference in the country, but I think it is the most balanced. Only three teams made it to even 2-0. Two of the three lost their next two. St. Louis did make it to 3-0, and then lost by 16. The biggest reason for that is that it's proving to be very difficult to win on the road in the conference. Home teams are 19-8 so far, and if you take out the bottom four teams that record jumps to 18-3.

Can’t forget about the Maximus Edwards spin on this game too in the only matchup against his former team this season.

Edwards might just have the best game this season, since he is used to the court and he might hit some big 3's. He might like Tre Clark, get a chip on his shoulder from some comments from his former teammates and light things up. . Also, Necas was not available for that Davidson game, and it might have been the difference. If he is a go today, we likely can win this road game. 

NapaDuke wrote:

BluffHunter wrote:

luckymcd wrote:

This should be a good test of the development of the team. We've struggled away from home and they have been very good at home. Hopefully the week off allowed for some healing. Even moreso, hopefully we've gotten all the freak injuries out of the way early.

The A-10 might not be the best conference in the country, but I think it is the most balanced. Only three teams made it to even 2-0. Two of the three lost their next two. St. Louis did make it to 3-0, and then lost by 16. The biggest reason for that is that it's proving to be very difficult to win on the road in the conference. Home teams are 19-8 so far, and if you take out the bottom four teams that record jumps to 18-3.

Can’t forget about the Maximus Edwards spin on this game too in the only matchup against his former team this season.

Edwards might just have the best game this season, since he is used to the court and he might hit some big 3's. He might like Tre Clark, get a chip on his shoulder from some comments from his former teammates and light things up. . Also, Necas was not available for that Davidson game, and it might have been the difference. If he is a go today, we likely can win this road game. 

That is a double edged sword though. Jimmy had an equally awful shooting performance vs VCU once too. I  hope, especially with Jake and Jakub possibly playing, Max maintains the 5-8 minutes of PT he has been getting. That has worked - no need to create a situation where he tries to do too much.

Styles1229 wrote:

NapaDuke wrote:

BluffHunter wrote:

Can’t forget about the Maximus Edwards spin on this game too in the only matchup against his former team this season.

Edwards might just have the best game this season, since he is used to the court and he might hit some big 3's. He might like Tre Clark, get a chip on his shoulder from some comments from his former teammates and light things up. . Also, Necas was not available for that Davidson game, and it might have been the difference. If he is a go today, we likely can win this road game. 

That is a double edged sword though. Jimmy had an equally awful shooting performance vs VCU once too. I hope, especially with Jake and Jakub possibly playing, Max maintains the 5-8 minutes of PT he has been getting. That has worked - no need to create a situation where he tries to do too much.

Jimmy's first game against VCU, that first year, he went off script and personally beat them. At the end of last year, someone in the stands from DU said he heard their fans say, can you believe, he was once on our team as we won?  Edwards just might, and should,  be the difference in this game. This game isn't the season, but a win there right now puts us at 3-1 in the A-10, and that's a very big deal. We have a lot of skill, and every game, someone steps up. It would not supprise me that it's Edwards turn. 

BluffHunter wrote:

Edwards embracing former teammate Darren Buchanan at mid court during warmups:

https://x.com/david_korn4/status/1879665432904519912?s=46

Also reports the both Dimichele and Necas are both set to play. GW’s Buchanan was also injured and returns today.

Necas started but looks like no dimichele

Well Maximus has a season high 16 points and 2 steals at halftime. That was definitely the storyline

BluffHunter wrote:

Well Maximus has a season high 16 points and 2 steals at halftime. That was definitely the storyline

Several of you commenters pretty much expected Max's production would be there. Right now, he is doing wonders.

CTS wrote:

At the game. GW is bigger this year and more physical. Refs letting them play with more contact and not calling every foul.  Dukes are playing composed and finding the open shots. Glad to see Edwards finding his shot in this game.  Dixon is a beast blocking shots.  Really like how our bigs can match up and create problems. This team has potential.  We need to find our true guards and rotations there but it’s coming together.

Refs definitely letting them play.

Dukes need to keep their composure up ten here down the stretch. Corbett has got to stop Complaining already. 

BluffHunter wrote:

Fantastic road win on a cold week night. Hard to do. Free throws are what won the game. Such a different team in every way compared to earlier in the season. So much growth and still lots to work on. Caputo was not happy at all during the postgame interview on ESPN+. Threw down the headset and everything.

Not sure he meant it when he said he was happy Maximus played well.
 

Dukes didn't play near their best ball, but got it done. 8-9 after a 2-8 start. Just going to get better. Depth is going to play a HUGE part especially come A-10 tourney time. Think this team can win the A-10 if they keep improving. Edwards and Dixon were beasts tonight. The foul shooting was huge as well. Hit the O-Boards big time.