Game 20: AT Duquesne University, Saturday, January 20th, 4:30 PM, NBCSN

[Washingtonian]

This is not the same Duquesne team of years past, as they beat Dayton and GW this season, but comes off a loss last night at St. Louis by a score of 76-63. Duquesne has a record of 12-6, 11-2 at home and 4-2 in the A-10.

The schedule is here: http://www.goduquesne.com/sports/m-baskbl/sched/duqu-m-baskbl-sched.html

The roster is here: http://www.goduquesne.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/duqu-m-baskbl-mtt.html

The stats is here: http://www.goduquesne.com/sports/m-baskbl/stats/2017-2018/teamcume.html

Last season's box score from Fairfax is here: http://gomason.com/boxscore.aspx?id=6840&path=mbball

Mike Lewis II is averaging 16.0 PPG (got 10 points in last season's game and is a sophmore)
Eric Williams Jr is averaging 13.9 PPG/9.7 RPG (he is a freshman)
Rene Castro-Caneddy is averaging 13.6 PPG (transferred from Butler after his freshman year in 2013-14 and is considered a grad transfer)
Tarin Smith is averaging 12.3 PPG (he is a junior, but hasn't started the last few games as he has started 15 games this season).

Duquesne has 3 grad transfers on their roster (Chas Brown, who is averaging 4.4 PPG, transferred from Coppin State where he averaged 12.6 PPG/7.1 RPG, and has started 15 games, Rene Castro-Caneddy, and Jordan Robinson (sat out 2013-14).

Discuss.

 

[Patriotsince81]

I don't know why but I have a bad feeling about this one. We are struggling defensively having given up 86, 79, 81, and 80 points in our last 4 outings. Duquesne 85 - Good Guys 60.



"I'm focused on our defensive effort tonight," head coach Dave Paulsen said. "We have to be able to sustain defensive energy and execution, especially if we want to win on the road. The last two games, we played well and shot the ball well. We derived our energy from our offense, but you can't be a good team if you get your energy from your offense. The energy has to come from the defensive end of the floor."

 

[GreenLantern]

Which team shows up?
Us 78
Them 77
OT

 

[PDGL Hoops]

Flipped a coin and we lose this one:

DU 76
GMU 63

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

Mason - Unicorn Wallet Sandwich Scarf
Duquesne - Paved Moon Tree Midget Cone
OT

That's about as much sense as this season is making besides Rhode Island and maybe Davidson. Just no rhyme or reason and unpredictable. Hope AJ is back. If not, we now a 7 man roster

 

[GMUgemini]

I don't know why but I have a bad feeling about this one. We are struggling defensively having given up 86, 79, 81, and 80 points in our last 4 outings. Duquesne 85 - Good Guys 60.



"I'm focused on our defensive effort tonight," head coach Dave Paulsen said. "We have to be able to sustain defensive energy and execution, especially if we want to win on the road. The last two games, we played well and shot the ball well. We derived our energy from our offense, but you can't be a good team if you get your energy from your offense. The energy has to come from the defensive end of the floor."

My thinking is the same....defense just isn't there right now and so I'm thinking we lose this one.

 

[GMUSig03]

Now that most people have pessimistic expectations, my expectations are improving. I feel better about this game than the GW game. No clue what will actually happen.

 

[MasonCrew]

I don't know why but I have a bad feeling about this one. We are struggling defensively having given up 86, 79, 81, and 80 points in our last 4 outings. Duquesne 85 - Good Guys 60.



"I'm focused on our defensive effort tonight," head coach Dave Paulsen said. "We have to be able to sustain defensive energy and execution, especially if we want to win on the road. The last two games, we played well and shot the ball well. We derived our energy from our offense, but you can't be a good team if you get your energy from your offense. The energy has to come from the defensive end of the floor."

I was watching a little of the G'town/Nova game last night, and Nova just laid a smack down. It was their defense though that was sparking their offense. Their players were so amped after every stop, that it seemed like their shot would inevitably go in on the ensuing possession. And it would. I can't remember the last time we had lock down defense, but it was such a huge roll in our run to the final four, and really that's the only time that really sticks out in my head. It's just so demoralizing to the other team, when it's stop after stop.

I think we'll win one of the next 3 with Bonny and vcu being the best chances, but I'm oddly optimistic for this one. We respond well to losses.

 

[phoenix-arizona]

If Jacksonville can win in Pittsburgh, so can Fairfax.

 

[PoorManProfit]

G Mas 67
Duquesne 74

Dukes just have better players.

 

[Mason2005]

Our defense is none existent right now. The team is too small so we pack the paint like crazy leaving open shots all day. Otis and Grayer need career days for us to win.

Us: 67
Them: 82

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

Our defense is none existent right now. The team is too small so we pack the paint like crazy leaving open shots all day. Otis and Grayer need career days for us to win.

Us: 67
Them: 82

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

If Otis and Grayer had even an average night we would playing to the buzzer last night.

 

[GMUSig03]

Our defense is none existent right now. The team is too small so we pack the paint like crazy leaving open shots all day. Otis and Grayer need career days for us to win.

Us: 67
Them: 82

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

Just looked up their stats, they have 4 guys that hit 3's at 33% or better. Not good for us. Ray of hope is that those 4 run 6'1, 6'2, 6'2, and 6'5. So at least we will match up with them better size wise.

 

[Mason2005]

If Otis and Grayer had even an average night we would playing to the buzzer last night.

I'll give you that, the role players stepped up last night. We all know they are very inconsistent though.

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

 

[GMUgemini]

Just looked up their stats, they have 4 guys that hit 3's at 33% or better. Not good for us. Ray of hope is that those 4 run 6'1, 6'2, 6'2, and 6'5. So at least we will match up with them better size wise.

I don't know how they run their offense, but we're getting killed both with the drive and kick and the mismatch after the switch on screens. Otis has been our weakest link when it comes to defending his man on the perimeter and preventing him from turning the corner on him. I expect whoever he is guarding to go right at him all game long.

The one positive is that Javon Greene looked like a better on ball defender against GW. I really liked his tenacity when he was in the game.

 

[gmujim92]

3 of Duquesne’s 4 conference wins have come over the bottom 3 teams in the standings: Fordham, La Salle and GW.

They needed 3 overtimes and a miracle last-second basket to beat La Salle at home.

They also beat Dayton, which is part of the
3-3 logjam with us.

The combined A-10 record of the teams they’ve beaten is 8-16.

Make of that what you will.

 

[Bricker]

Mason 3
Duqhenses 1

 

[Washingtonian]

There isn't a game thread, yet, but this appears to be their message boards:
http://duquesnefans.boardhost.com/viewforum.php?id=1

 

[psyclone]

Duquesne is favored by 6 (rpiforecast) or 8 (kenpom), No line yet on vegasinsider.

 

[Washingtonian]

5 point underdog based on Vegas Insider.