Game 29: GMU (18-10 / 7-8) vs Duquesne (17-11 / 7-8) on Saturday, March 2, at 2:00 PM.

[Patriotsince81]

The game is on ESPN+.

Duquesne was picked to finish 4th in preseason polls. Dae Dae Grant was selected to the Preseason All-Conference first team. Jimmy Clark was selected to the 2nd team and the All-Defensive team.

KenPom: Gives us a 66% chance of winning.
GMU - 98
Duquesne - 115
NET:
Mason - 88
Duquesne - 106

We are 6-9 (.400) against Duquesne and have lost 7 out of the last 8 matchups.

Duquesne is currently 17-11 on the season and 7-8 in A10 play. They are 12-4 at home, 3-6 on the road, and 2-1 at neutral sites.

Wins: Cleveland St. (79-77), College of Charleston (90-72), Stony Brook (85-63), Rider (77-58), UC Irvine (66-62), Marshall (85-72), St. Peter’s (68-59), Bradley (69-67), Cleary (95-47), St. Bonaventure (54-50), Fordham (68-59), Chicago St. (65-60), Rhode Island (85-71), St. Bonaventure (75-69), St. Joe’s (66-56), St. Louis (81-66), La Salle (75-63),
Losses: Princeton (70-67), Nebraska (89-79), Santa Clara (81-73), U Mass ( 80-61), Loyola Chicago (72-67), Dayton (72-62), Richmond (63-61), St. Joe’s (71-69), Davidson (72-59), Dayton (75-59), Fordham (79-67),

Schedule: https://goduquesne.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule
Roster: https://goduquesne.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster
Stats: https://goduquesne.com/documents/2024/2/23/Dambrot_Stat_Book.pdf

Probable Starters:
6’2” Dae Dae Grant (16.8 ppg) - Senior
6’3” Jimmy Clark III (15.1 ppg) - Senior
6’9” David Dixon (7.3 ppg) - Sophomore
6’4” Jake DiMichele (6.4 ppg) - Freshman
6’7” Tre Williams (3.8 ppg) - Senior

Reserves averaging double figure minutes:
6’7” Fousseyni Drame (7.2 ppg & 5.6 reb) - 2 starts - Grad Student
6’7” Andrei Savrasov (6.4 ppg) - 12 starts - Grad Student
5’9” Kareem Rozier (5.7 ppg) - 20 starts - Sophomore
6’7” Hassan Drame (3.4 ppg) - Grad Student

Team Stats:
Duquesne averages 71.7 points per game while giving up 67.7.

The Dukes shoot 43.3% from the floor and 33.4% from 3. Opponents are shooting 42.3% from the field and 32.5% from 3.

They shoot 71.0% from the free throw line.

The Dukes are currently out rebounding by their opponents by 0.0 boards per game. They average 11.9 turnovers per game.

Thoughts: They have some good experience with 6 current seniors or grad students playing substantial minutes. You may recognize both Fousseyni Drame and Hassan Drame who both started for La Salle last year. I feel like I’ve been saying it for far too long. We really need this one.

Discuss.

 

[GMU79]

I don't really care right now.

 

[GMUgemini]

We are 1-7 against Duquesne since joining the A10 and it’s largely because they play a highly physical form of defense. Another loss is very possible.

 

[KAOriginal]

We are 1-7 against Duquesne since joining the A10 and it’s largely because they play a highly physical form of defense. Another loss is very possible.

We are too soft.

 

[gmubrian]

The Dukes are currently out rebounding by their opponents by ? boards per game. They average 11.9 turnovers per game.

I am most worried about the ? boards per game advantage…

 

[Yossarian]

What the hell. I’m going with the opposite of my instincts and calling this a win.

 

[GSII]

We are too soft.

Its more we are incomplete defenders. We guard well until the last second.

 

[KAOriginal]

Its more we are incomplete defenders. We guard well until the last second.

Just feels like every game I have watched us lose....is because our offense becomes dumb and inept once the defensive pressure is dialed up. Last night, early, I said if they keep it close, we will lose. They looked like they wanted to battle. IMO-US-not so much. Voila.

Not sure we have all the dogs for a dog fight regardless of an offense or defensive problems noted.

 

[GreenLantern]

Us 65
Them 64
OT

 

[jruby]

This game will be the difference of having a disappointing A10 season vs having a horrible A10 season.

If they can’t find a way to win this game on their home court they will have to start re-evaluating whether 65-75% of this roster has any business in the A10.

10th place and a play in loss is very much on the table if they can’t find a way to win this. Win and 7/8/9 is still on table.

 

[Jack Strop]

This game will be the difference of having a disappointing A10 season vs having a horrible A10 season.

If they can’t find a way to win this game on their home court they will have to start re-evaluating whether 65-75% of this roster has any business in the A10.

10th place and a play in loss is very much on the table if they can’t find a way to win this. Win and 7/8/9 is still on table.

Like Fordham, Duquesne is a horrible team. That means we're going to lose.

Sorry, I try to stay upbeat, but it's getting more difficult with each compounding disappointment. Man, last week seems like a year ago.

 

[jruby]

Like Fordham, Duquesne is a horrible team. That means we're going to lose.

Sorry, I try to stay upbeat, but it's getting more difficult with each compounding disappointment. Man, last week seems like a year ago.

Fact is drop Duquense and fall behind both Fordham and Duquense and it will make mason what they have been the last 10 years…. A one and done Wednesday night A10 bottom feeder.

This game is important if they ever want to get past that narrative.

 

[EXpatriot13]

This game is important if they ever want to get past that narrative.

The result of this game isn’t changing any narratives, and unfortunately neither is this season. The narrative changes when we’re competing at the top of the league (top 4) on a consistent basis.

Outside of that, who really cares if we finish 8th or 10th? Or really anywhere between middle and bottom? That all sucks.

 

[jruby]

The result of this game isn’t changing any narratives, and unfortunately neither is this season. The narrative changes when we’re competing at the top of the league (top 4) on a consistent basis.

Outside of that, who really cares if we finish 8th or 10th? Or really anywhere between middle and bottom? That all sucks.

Fair, however most on here would say 7-8-9 is solid for first year. Play in game at 10th is a disaster.

I’m glad some have higher expectations but Gota start moving towards top. Don’t expect a 10 to top 4 jump. So looking at more like 7th next year then maybe 3-5 and then possibly higher after that but going to be slow process.

So in that sense this is will be disappointing to finish in play in game.

 

[psyclone]

Fair, however most on here would say 7-8-9 is solid for first year. Play in game at 10th is a disaster.

I’m glad some have higher expectations but Gota start moving towards top. Don’t expect a 10 to top 4 jump. So looking at more like 7th next year then maybe 3-5 and then possibly higher after that but going to be slow process.

So in that sense this is will be disappointing to finish in play in game.

Transfer portal has disrupted the conventional wisdom of slow, steady progress. Case in point--Loyola. Went from dead last to contender in one year. May not be typical, but shows what might be possible.

 

[GMUgemini]

What makes the season disappointing is not where we are right now, it’s how we got here. Almost every conference loss could have easily been a win, outside of two games, and it’s just lack of execution and carelessness that we aren’t a top 4 team right now.

 

[phoenix-arizona]

That just means next season all those unlucky breaks and mental lapses will bounce in GMU's favor and they'll finally be a top 4 program worthy of the double bye.

 

[GMUgemini]

That just means next season all those unlucky breaks and mental lapses will bounce in GMU's favor and they'll finally be a top 4 program worthy of the double bye.

Unless the team gets dismantled and we have to start all over again.

We also still have a few weaknesses overall. We need a rim protector and we need more consistent shooting from the 1-3 positions. Outside of Maddox, I can’t imagine there needs to be a whole lot of respect paid to our other guards when they catch the ball at the 3-point line. Hall should have a triple nickel just about every game with the way he’s doubled.

Would love to see Billups, for instance, get knocked out of the starting lineup by someone and wind up being a 6th or 7th man next season. You just can’t have a starter be that passive on the offensive side no matter how good they are on defense.

 

[jruby]

Transfer portal has disrupted the conventional wisdom of slow, steady progress. Case in point--Loyola. Went from dead last to contender in one year. May not be typical, but shows what might be possible.

Loyola is proof of how a team can take advantage of conference play with good coaching and progress during season. Also that having a complete team as oppose to just a more talented 5 because that they do not have. They were awful out of conference and have killed any shot of the A10 getting even a NIT bid. Their NET is horrible even still.

They have a great coach though and are very tough and thats what it takes in conference play. Best teams don't always win, coaches normally win! It's why same coaches win over and over and over even if they go to new schools.

 

[jruby]

What makes the season disappointing is not where we are right now, it’s how we got here. Almost every conference loss could have easily been a win, outside of two games, and it’s just lack of execution and carelessness that we aren’t a top 4 team right now.

Agreed, why is that? Coaching, lack of leadership? New group? No go to player? Not enough big men? Not a complete team? The starting 5/6 are talented enough, that's not the issue here.