Game 23: GMU (20-2 / 8-1) vs Duquesne (11-10 / 3-5) on Wednesday, February 4, at 7:00 PM.

[Patriotsince81]

Duquesne plays Rhode Island on Sunday, February 1, at noon on USA. Updates to come following the game.

Preseason predictions:
Duquesne was picked to finish 9th in A10 Preseason Polls.

The game is on ESPN+.

KenPom: Gives us a 78% chance of winning.
GMU - 76
Duquesne - 133
NET:
GMU - 67
Duquesne - 158

History:
We are 6-11 against Duquesne all-time.
Tony Skinn is 0-2 against the Dukes. They are the only team in the A10 Skinn has not taken down.

Duquesne is currently 11-10 on the season and 3-5 in A10 play. They are 8-5 at home, 3-4 on the road, and 0-1 at neutral sites.

They are 0-4 against Quad 1 teams, 1-1 against Quad 2, 1-4 vs Quad 3, and 7-1 against Quad 4 teams.

Schedule: https://goduquesne.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule

Wins: Niagara (83-63), Queens (87-81 OT), Loyola MD (92-78), Central St. (101-80), Stony Brook (84-75), Canisius (103-59), Cleary (99-49), Davidson (89-83 2OT), Fordham (74-63), Loyola Chicago (71-59), St. Bonaventure (87-79)
Losses: Villanova (87-77), Northeastern (93-86), William & Mary (83-79), Boise St. (86-64), Nevada (78-75), vcu (93-80), St. Joe’s (97-90 OT), Dayton (71-65), #24 St. Louis (81-77),

Probable Starters:
6’2” Tarence Guinyard - 16.2 ppg - Senior
6’5” Jimmie Williams - 15.8 ppg & 4.7 reb - Junior
6’1-“ Jakub Necas - 8.3 ppg & 5.7 reb - Junior
6’9” David Dixon - 7.0 ppg - Senior
6’4” Brandon Hall - 1.6 ppg - Junior

Reserves averaging double figure minutes:
6’10” John Hugley IV - 12.4 ppg & 4.9 reb - Grad Student - has 10 starts
6’5” Maximus Edwards - 6.9 ppg - Senior
6’5” Alex Williams - 6.3 ppg - Grad Student
6’5” Cameron Crawford - 6.2 ppg - Senior - has 19 starts
6’4” Jake DiMichele - 4.2 ppg - Sophomore

Roster: https://goduquesne.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster

Team Stats:

Duquesne averages 83.2 points per game (4th in the A10) while giving up 77.4 (13th in the A10).

The Dukes shoot 47.8% from the floor (4th in the A10) and 35.2% from 3 (7th in the A10).
Opponents are shooting 43.9% from the field and 33.3% from 3.

The Dukes shoot 70.2% (last in the A10) from the free throw line.

They have out rebounded opponents by 2.5 boards per game and average 13.6 turnovers per contest.

Stats: https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/...om/documents/2026/1/28/MBB_Stats_01.28.26.pdf

Thoughts: Duquesne is the only A10 team Tony Skinn has not taken down. He is 0-2 against the Dukes losing at home (59-51) and on the road (85-68). We are 1-9 against the Dukes in our last 10 games including 6 straight losses. Our last win was on March 1, 2017, at EBA.

They have a great deal of experience across their line-up and good size. Their one-two punch of Guinyard and Williams is formidable. Brandon Hall had a breakout game against St. Bonaventure scoring 10 points.

It’s time to get a W against these guys. Go Mason!

Discuss.

 

[GMU1983]

We need URI to beat DU Sunday to keep them Quad 2.

 

[MasonSAE4]

Jesus I know we've blown a few games against them but 1-9 over our last 10? How do we have Dayton's number but put up those numbers against Duquesne?

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

Let’s go! Let’s beat Dookweznee!

 

[Pikapppatri8]

Let’s go! Let’s beat Dookweznee!

You haven't released a poem in a while

 

[Portlandian]

This will be the day that Tony finally gets a dub vs the Penn state Dukes. I hope there is a good crowd Wednesday night! 4500 k at least.

 

[GunstonsGhost]

Hoping we can course correct on taking care of the ball. We've been trending the wrong direction in the TO department in the last couple games.

12/31 - La Salle - 0 TO
01/03 - RI - 9 TO
01/07 - Fordham - 9 TO
01/10 - vcu - 7 TO
01/13 - Lo-Chi - 7 TO
01/19 - GW - 13 TO
01/24 - RI - 9 TO
01/28 - Davidson - 13 TO
01/31 - Bonnies - 16 TO

 

[GMUYoda]

Duquesne defeats URI 76-61

 

[psyclone]

Duquesne defeats URI 76-61

URI struggled late against the zone.

 

[Jack Strop]

Hoping we can course correct on taking care of the ball. We've been trending the wrong direction in the TO department in the last couple games.

12/31 - La Salle - 0 TO
01/03 - RI - 9 TO
01/07 - Fordham - 9 TO
01/10 - vcu - 7 TO
01/13 - Lo-Chi - 7 TO
01/19 - GW - 13 TO
01/24 - RI - 9 TO
01/28 - Davidson - 13 TO
01/31 - Bonnies - 16 TO

The increase in turnovers are easy to explain. The URI game was lost because there was virtually no ball movement on offense—wayyyy too much dribble-driving, individual play, and star-gazing.

Mason made much better attempts at sharing the ball when Davidson came to town. I could tell that ball-movement and ball-sharing was a renewed point of emphasis and something that Mason practiced that week. But, with renewed focus comes a learning curve. Hence, the uptick in turnovers.

Same thing at St. B yesterday. Mason is still on the ball-sharing learning curve. How many lobs over defenders did we see intercepted? At least four,. And the learning curve has had ripple effects across the offense in general. The O looks out of sorts on many fronts, don't you all agree? They're still figuring out these "new" point-of-emphasis tactics during game-play.

I recall years ago Coach Ñ stating that it usually takes three games for newly emphasized tactics to become honed in practice and made effective in games. Does Mason figure it out against Dookweezee and get their offensive mojo back on track?

I say, "GO GET 'EM!"

 

[tblack33]

The increase in turnovers are easy to explain. The URI game was lost because there was virtually no ball movement on offense—wayyyy too much dribble-driving, individual play, and star-gazing.

Mason made much better attempts at sharing the ball when Davidson came to town. I could tell that ball-movement and ball-sharing was a renewed point of emphasis and something that Mason practiced that week. But, with renewed focus comes a learning curve. Hence, the uptick in turnovers.

Same thing at St. B yesterday. Mason is still on the ball-sharing learning curve. How many lobs over defenders did we see intercepted? At least four,. And the learning curve has had ripple effects across the offense in general. The O looks out of sorts on many fronts, don't you all agree? They're still figuring out these "new" point-of-emphasis tactics during game-play.

I recall years ago Coach Ñ stating that it usually takes three games for newly emphasized tactics to become honed in practice and made effective in games. Does Mason figure it out against Dookweezee and get their offensive mojo back on track?

I say, "GO GET 'EM!"

We’re 22 games into the season, these guys aren’t now learning how to make passes.

Film is out how to guard our offense, and one of our focal points hasn’t been at 100%. We have to throw a wrinkle in, and Riley needs to get healthy and get right.

 

[MasonFanatic]

Our last win was on March 1, 2017, at EBA.

I came here to bring this up if it hadn't already been mentioned.

Fun fact, we never played Duquesne in 2021 or 2022 due to covid pauses/cancellations.

We are overdue for a win in this series.

 

[GunstonsGhost]

Film is out how to guard our offense, and one of our focal points hasn’t been at 100%. We have to throw a wrinkle in, and Riley needs to get healthy and get right.

This is true. There is still room for improvement on not going for the 75' hail mary pass or the low probability lob pass and even a few lazy passes at the top of the offense before the ball screens have even started. Clean those easy ones up and hopefully we can get back down to our under 10 avg.

 

[Stoolguy]

This will be the day that Tony finally gets a dub vs the Penn state Dukes. I hope there is a good crowd Wednesday night! 4500 k at least.

Expect another good turnout from students. Hopefully won’t be too much of a lull before HOCO.

Front line should be buzzing again with some new chants and things to do. It will hopefully get everyone else buzzing as well.

 

[NewPatriot]

We’re 22 games into the season, these guys aren’t now learning how to make passes.

Film is out how to guard our offense, and one of our focal points hasn’t been at 100%. We have to throw a wrinkle in, and Riley needs to get healthy and get right

Both Davidson and St. Bonaventure used 6'6 - 6'8 wings to pressure Mincy and Long half court and block their passing field of vision to cause turnovers.

Both Dusquense and St. Joe's press quick a bit so team should expect more of the same..

I have confidence Skinn and the coaching staff will make the proper adjustments.
.
Stas needs to hit those open 3s, stretch the defense and make opponents pay for pressing the PGs

 

[Jack Strop]

We’re 22 games into the season, these guys aren’t now learning how to make passes.

If that's true then what's the sense in practicing?

1.) Coach makes adjustments.
2.) Team practices those adjustments.
3.) Team implements adjustments in-game.
4,.) There's a learning curve over two or three games to perfecting adjustments.

 

[DRK331]

Duquesne basketball wiki page:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duquesne_Dukes_men's_basketball

 

[JimP]

Duquesne nearly beat a good Nevada team on the road, I'm sure it'll be another wire to wire affair. Time for a W against the Dukes!

 

[psyclone]

George Mason Hosts Duquesne For Wednesday Clash - George Mason University Athletics

The George Mason University men's basketball team (20-2, 8-1) begins a two-game homestand Wednesday with a 7 p.m. contest vs. Duquesne (12-10, 4-5).

gomason.com

 

[GunstonsGhost]