It’s one thing for Duquesne to have slid through its out-of-conference schedule unscathed, but a 12-4 overall record deserves a special layer of highlighter, especially with a 3-0 start inside the still-legit Atlantic 10. Sure, the strength-of-schedule should raise real doubt — 336th-ranked out of 351 in the NCAA — but these still feel like more than baby steps.
Keith Dambrot’s going to get the bulk of the credit, and given the Dukes’ surprising defense and rebounding — they’ve got three wins when shooting worse than 40 percent from the field, for crying out loud — that’s absolutely appropriate. He’s been all that could have been expected.
Mike Lewis II will get credit, too, for sticking by the program when the sky was falling last spring, and that’s also appropriate. He’s set the leadership tone.
But give it up, too, for 6-5 freshman guard Eric Williams Jr., a two-time A-10 rookie of the week who leads the conference in rebounding at 9.8 per game. And yeah, to repeat, that’s a 6-5 listed guard. With all due respect to 6-11 Darius Lewis‘ relentless contributions to the school the previous couple years, nothing’s held the program back like its inability to compete under the basket. Every shot was one-and-done.
These kids can hit from beyond the arc, too. This could be fun.
Let’s talk again after the Dukes’ trip to Richmond.
