Duquesne Dukes Fan Forum / Game Thread - Virginia Commonwealth Rams

**Posted by BluffHunter** 3/03/2025 5:40 pm

Fresh off of a win against regular season championship contender George Mason, Duquesne hosts the conference-leading VCU Rams in their first matchup since one of the best days of our lives. VCU look stronger and stronger as the season wanes on, and just today received 85 AP Top 25 votes... just two less than #25 Mississippi State's 87 votes. While the optics of a March Top 25 matchup in the Coop would be awesome, this game changes nothing for the Dukes. VCU has been routing their competition, and are currently on an 8 game winning streak beating opponents by an average of 21 points during that stretch. If Duquesne can stand tough, it proves to the conference and themselves they can compete with anybody. Final home game. Tuesday, March 4th at 7:00 PM EST in the Cooper Fieldhouse.

Coverage on CBS Sports Network with Jordan Kent and Chris Walker
Radio 104.7 HD2 with Ray Goss and Noah Buono

KenPom:
#134 Duquesne (13-16)(8-8) Best wins vs. #71 UC Irvine, #75 Saint Joseph's, #101 Saint Bonaventure
#28 VCU (24-5)(14-2) Best wins vs. #57 Colorado State, #75 Saint Joseph's, #79 Dayton
https://kenpom.com

NET:
#147 Duquesne
#29 VCU
https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketball-men/d1/ncaa-mens-basketball-net-rankings

Haslametrics:
#133 Duquesne - 62
#27 VCU - 73
https://haslametrics.com/preview.php?yr=&tid1=5363&tid2=4391&neut=0

BartTorvik:
#122 Duquesne - 64
#26 VCU - 71
https://www.barttorvik.com/trank.php?&year=2025&t1l=VCU&t2l=Duquesne#

Duquesne Preview:
https://goduquesne.com/news/2025/3/3/mens-basketball-dukes-host-vcu-for-home-finale.aspx

A10 Standings:
https://atlantic10.com/standings.aspx?path=mbball

Betting:
Spread: Duquesne +9.5
Moneyline: Duquesne +360, VCU -480
Over/Under 135.5 (FanDuel)

**Posted by BluffHunter** 3/03/2025 5:44 pm

VCU Cracks Coaches Poll Top 25 for First Time Since 2019:
https://www.vcuramnation.com/articles/vcu-cracks-coaches-poll-top-25-for-first-time-since-2019.3756/

**Posted by NapaDuke** 3/03/2025 7:26 pm

I just went thru their entire season and matched it to GM. They are the same. GM came up here and DU at this moment ran over them. VCU is a juggernaut of a team this year, and yet we beat them three time in the last three meetings? Dae Dae and, their worst nightmare, Clark, are gone, but, this team is very likely better, and are the defending A-10 Champions. This Dukes team, right now, has Dinkins and Crawford, that cut loose last game, and very likely can't be stopped. It's crunch time, and Dru just beat the crap out of this teams equal. I have said all season, we have the best Bigs in over 50 years, but, right now, Dinkins and Crawford, then in the middle, Edwards, just ran over one top A-10 team, and VCU is next. It's just my take. Beat this team and the A-10 tourney is very likely ours to take. Go Dukes.

Last edited by NapaDuke (3/03/2025 7:29 pm)

**Posted by NapaDuke** 3/03/2025 7:51 pm

NapaDuke wrote:
I just went thru their entire season and matched it to GM. They are the same. GM came up here and DU at this moment ran over them. VCU is a juggernaut of a team this year, and yet we beat them three time in the last three meetings? Dae Dae and, their worst nightmare, Clark, are gone, but, this team is very likely better, and are the defending A-10 Champions. This Dukes team, right now, has Dinkins and Crawford, that cut loose last game, and very likely can't be stopped. It's crunch time, and Dru just beat the crap out of this teams equal. I have said all season, we have the best Bigs in over 50 years, but, right now, Dinkins and Crawford, then in the middle, Edwards, just ran over one top A-10 team, and VCU is next. It's just my take. Beat this team and the A-10 tourney is very likely ours to take. Go Dukes.

I would like to make that a bit more clear. Dinkins has played the entire season on script. It took 11 games before Dinkins and Crawford to started a game together? Both didnt lanch 3's like this game.till now..
One or two 3 point attempts per game at the most, and Crawford was on the bench getting 8 minutes off the bench at the start the season. They have both proven to be equal to the Dae Dae, and Clark of last year, and were just yet, this last game, allowed to get the "green light" to score on the run, That's what last years team did, in the tourney. Coach Dru, go for broke. Your two starting guards and Edwards can run an aggressive offense, but tell all of them, at the first open shot, take it.

Last edited by NapaDuke (3/04/2025 4:20 pm)

**Posted by NapaDuke** 3/03/2025 8:02 pm

By the way. If you're a betting kind of person, throw some small money on the Dukes. First, they have played up to competition all season. And they just made GM look stupid. And the Dukes, lately, have VCU's number. BUT, right now, late in the season, all teams are "road exhausted", and Dru's deep bench team deep in substitutions is not at all exhausted, in fact, they seem to be on fire. Just my take. Go Dukes.

**Posted by CTS** 3/04/2025 8:04 am

NapaDuke that is a good callout. gum looked fatigued and tired second half. I’m sure other teams are too. Let’s go get another W tonight

**Posted by Styles1229** 3/04/2025 8:37 am

I’d like to preface this by saying I don’t believe it will happen, but, if the Dukes win out and St Joes and Loyola both lose out the Dukes get the double bye?

**Posted by PhoenixRising2** 3/04/2025 9:18 am

Styles1229 wrote:
I’d like to preface this by saying I don’t believe it will happen, but, if the Dukes win out and St Joes and Loyola both lose out the Dukes get the double bye?

https://x.com/liminutemen/status/1896225848916918652

**Posted by Styles1229** 3/04/2025 9:19 am

PhoenixRising2 wrote:
Styles1229 wrote:
I’d like to preface this by saying I don’t believe it will happen, but, if the Dukes win out and St Joes and Loyola both lose out the Dukes get the double bye?
https://x.com/liminutemen/status/1896225848916918652

So you’re telling me there’s a chance! 😂

**Posted by MikeR** 3/04/2025 9:39 am

Styles1229 wrote:
PhoenixRising2 wrote:
Styles1229 wrote:
I’d like to preface this by saying I don’t believe it will happen, but, if the Dukes win out and St Joes and Loyola both lose out the Dukes get the double bye?
https://x.com/liminutemen/status/1896225848916918652
So you’re telling me there’s a chance! 😂

The double bye isn't all it's cracked up to be. As I recall all four teams immediately lost last year.

**Posted by PhoenixRising2** 3/04/2025 12:56 pm

Tristan Freeman's 3 Keys:
3 keys to Duquesne putting a big dent into VCU's at-large resume

**Posted by WashPaRick** 3/04/2025 7:59 pm

Rozier gives 100%. Hope he's o.k.

**Posted by NapaDuke** 3/04/2025 10:06 pm

VCU came in here and won, but it was a decent game for the Dukes. If I'd say that VCU has one weakness is driving on them in the paint to the basket. They played defense to stop our 3's and did a pretty good job of it. Lot's of contact on drives in the lane that were not called, but the ref's called some on little contact out of the paint . The A-10 needed VCU to win to have a ranked team for a possible at-large bid, It makes you wonder sometimes if the refs favored VCU, for that reason?

**Posted by Styles1229** 3/04/2025 10:43 pm

NapaDuke wrote:
VCU came in here and won, but it was a decent game for the Dukes. If I'd say that VCU has one weakness is driving on them in the paint to the basket. They played defense to stop our 3's and did a pretty good job of it. Lot's of contact on drives in the lane that were not called, but the ref's called some on little contact out of the paint . The A-10 needed VCU to win to have a ranked team for a possible at-large bid, It makes you wonder sometimes if the refs favored VCU, for that reason?

Officiating was terrible. Just because it was so inconsistent. I don’t think VCU gain any advantage from the officiating though we got to the line more than they did. VCU was well coached. They never gave Trey an inch. Dukes played hard. And VCU had the best player on the floor and he was clearly the difference we played with them in the end. Their defense was just too strong.

**Posted by PhoenixRising2** 3/04/2025 10:45 pm

The Dukes were beaten by a very good VCU team.

**Posted by Styles1229** 3/04/2025 10:53 pm

No Chabi at all. I wonder if it was because VCU is so fast and athletic or because of no foul trouble or Dixon and Wilborn playing so well. Anybody?

**Posted by levon1975** 3/04/2025 11:10 pm

VCU is a good team, but as stated above, they don’t have much in the paint. Their two bigs are pretty thin, and Eli and Necas had some early success muscling down low. Eli was stronger than their bigs, but their guards were allowed to be very physical with lots of bumping and riding drivers. The refs in this game gave them a fairly free pass to be extremely physical. They did make some open threes set up by their quickness and ability to get into the paint off the dribble. Two things that could hurt them would be a referee crew that doesn’t allow all of the body blows; and a team with some skilled and physical big men. Max Shulga is the key to their team on offense. He was clearly the best player on the floor. He has a nice shot from long-range but did a lot of damage beating his defender and forcing help defense.
The Dukes were very persistent and kept it close until the final minutes of the game. VCU did a nice job shutting down any open 3’s from Tre and Cam Crawford. The Dukes had problems getting the high screen set to start their offense. Max Edwards had another strong game with some nice assists, drives to the hoop in traffic as well as a bevy of threes. Max has the size and high release-point on his jumper that allows him to get his shot off even when guarded. You can see his offensive skills coming through. Unfortunately, other than Eli, VCU was able to take away our other weapons.
If we play them again, some changes will be necessary to unleash all of our weapons.

**Posted by levon1975** 3/04/2025 11:13 pm

Styles1229 wrote:
No Chabi at all. I wonder if it was because VCU is so fast and athletic or because of no foul trouble or Dixon and Wilborn playing so well. Anybody?

My guess would be the latter. Eli is so strong and explosive. The guy is really improving, but unusually had some issues from the line tonight.
Dave was competing well inside, but VCU did a good job taking away our lobs to Dave for the jams.

Last edited by levon1975 (3/04/2025 11:16 pm)

**Posted by BluffHunter** 3/05/2025 9:24 am

Article with pressers:
https://pittsburghsportsnow.com/2025/03/04/duquesne-mbb-drops-home-finale/

**Posted by townsonkid** 3/05/2025 9:37 am

VCU is a quality team, I hope they win a couple in the NCAAs. Hope they lose in the A10T and allow another A10 to get in the dance.

Sorry, but every time I saw Shulga, I couldnt help but this of this guy....
https://preview.redd.it/im-so-sad-we-have-to-wait-so-long-for-season-2-i-have-a-v0-pzgofgmdtis81.jpg?auto=webp&s=903f46f07cf095ff6e096fdc333672b02c14783a

He's a good ball player tho, cant deny that. And Bamisile, has he been around since the 2010s?

Last edited by townsonkid (3/05/2025 9:38 am)

**Posted by BluffHunter** 3/05/2025 10:09 am

townsonkid wrote:
VCU is a quality team, I hope they win a couple in the NCAAs. Hope they lose in the A10T and allow another A10 to get in the dance.

Sorry, but every time I saw Shulga, I couldnt help but this of this guy....
https://preview.redd.it/im-so-sad-we-have-to-wait-so-long-for-season-2-i-have-a-v0-pzgofgmdtis81.jpg?auto=webp&s=903f46f07cf095ff6e096fdc333672b02c14783a

He's a good ball player tho, cant deny that. And Bamisile, has he been around since the 2010s?

Bamisile started his career at Virginia Tech in 20/21. He then transferred to GW in 21/22 then to Oklahoma in 22/23. The past two seasons he is back in the A10 at VCU.

**Posted by El Presidente** 3/05/2025 11:35 am

I thought going in that the George Mason matchup was a much better one for us than VCU. VCU is super athletic and can play a smothering brand of defense. As pointed out by levon 1975, they do not have very impressive bigs. They're not bad but nothing to rave about. I thought the best big on the court was definitely Eli. Really impressed that Dinkins and Crawford had almost no opportunities to get off a shot. Our own "D" did a solid job and worked hard all nite. Depending on matchups, VCU could get to the Sweet 16 but I won't put money on it. Truly hoping that things work out so that the A-10 can field 2 teams in the "Dance". In the meantime, let's win one in St. Louis and head for the A-10 tourney. GO DUKES!

Last edited by El Presidente (3/05/2025 11:36 am)

**Posted by FAM** 3/05/2025 11:48 am

Good team. We were competitive. I’d be surprised if they win more than one game in the NCAA because their big guys are not going to overpower anyone.

**Posted by BluffHunter** 3/05/2025 1:53 pm

El Presidente wrote:
I thought going in that the George Mason matchup was a much better one for us than VCU. VCU is super athletic and can play a smothering brand of defense. As pointed out by levon 1975, they do not have very impressive bigs. They're not bad but nothing to rave about. I thought the best big on the court was definitely Eli. Really impressed that Dinkins and Crawford had almost no opportunities to get off a shot. Our own "D" did a solid job and worked hard all nite. Depending on matchups, VCU could get to the Sweet 16 but I won't put money on it. Truly hoping that things work out so that the A-10 can field 2 teams in the "Dance". In the meantime, let's win one in St. Louis and head for the A-10 tourney. GO DUKES!

Agreed. The 8 or 9 seed will be scary.

**Posted by NapaDuke** 3/05/2025 2:59 pm

The Dukes could have a spot in the brackets that have us face GM, (a better matchup for us) and VCU on the other side and get bumped of by a St.L. or St.B. both of which beat them. But, if we do face them, I'd expect to drive the lane more and get more foul calls against them than last night. The refs last night were not calling enough fouls on VCU for contact in the paint. It's good for the league that they won, but next time, if we face them, it might turn out our way.

Last edited by NapaDuke (3/05/2025 3:01 pm)