3 Keys For Duquesne MBB’s Game Vs DePaul

Friday night is Duquesne’s next test as it faces DePaul at 9 p.m. on FS2. The Dukes are the lone Atlantic 10 team without a win thus far, though it also has faced two programs picked to place atop their respective conferences.

With that in mind here are three keys for Duquesne to pick up its first victory of the season.

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1. The ball cannot stick on offense

By all means the good has been good, but the learning moments have been when Duquesne has been taken to task by opponents.

Kareem Rozier admitted to reporters on Wednesday that he feels the defense is ahead of where the offense has progressed.

Duquesne has been most effective offensively when it is cutting and moving the ball at a faster rate but when it is stagnant, that is when bad things have happened.

When the Dukes are late to cuts or try to be too individualistic early on, then mistakes have become contagious.

Head coach Dru Joyce III mentioned the key to ball movement and in practice he has preached moving the ball and not getting stuck in one spot. It is clear some of his main tenants are to utilize drive and kicks and getting the ball inside to the post, the latter of which was something Keith Dambrot preached in his time with the program.

When Princeton began applying defensive pressure, Duquesne shrunk in those moments. It became too individualistic.

Building everyday behaviors in practice has become critical and the hope is that continuously practicing builds trust which can transition into 40-minute performances, something which through two games has not happened yet.

2. Continue growing and learning together

It is no secret that Duquesne has dealt with injuries through the summer and latter parts of preseason practice, and this is still playing out both in practices as well as games.

Confidence can be witnessed on the court, and it is easy to tell when a team is sure of itself.

How is that a work in progress with Duquesne? It comes down to body language and actions.

If a shot does not fall or the team does not get a defensive stop, what is being done to ensure that does not happen the next time down the floor? It is how an individual can still contribute to secure things going in the right direction.

Is a player grabbing a rebound, diving on the floor for a loose ball, contributing to huddles or other behaviors which are not displayed on a scoreboard that are equally critical in determining an end result.

Rozier believes as a leader it is on him to offensively find and feed the hot hands in a given day, but he addressed this very topic with his team in meetings this week. He understands that there are many ways to affect games and that ultimately it comes down to having a strong team mentality.

Jahsean Corbett explained that confidence comes from those behaviors and that can build trust with both self and team.

At Chicago State Corbett did not talk much, but being at Duquesne has taken weight off his shoulders and he feels more comfortable.

Not only has Corbett been Duquesne’s leading scorer, but his effort has been the most consistent of any Dukes player thus far, showing his process has been paying off.

What is being seen right now is a lot of new players and some coming back from injuries and all of that coming in real time. Players are building that trust and chemistry. It is clearly growing but the goal is not to be the team which started the season and to display a winner’s mentality.

Friday will be another chance to see where exactly Duquesne is at.

3. Do not panic

As a returner, Rozier has been here before. The 0-5 start in A-10 play tested Duquesne in a way it never expected, but ultimately without that start perhaps it is unlikely that it makes history and makes a historic run to the NCAA Tournament.

Duquesne’s newcomers are aware of just how tightknit last year’s group is, but a lot of them are not used to having an 0-2 start and figuring out how to get rid of this rut.

The Dukes have displayed plenty of fight within the first two games, it just has not resulted in a win. Yet.

That being said, Joyce understands that both losses were learning lessons and that he can say what he feels after games, show it on film and then get back on the court to incorporate what needs to be done to be a better side.

Rozier has been with this team every day since August and extended summer workouts. Through endless hours of practice, time in each other’s dorms and through film and he knows that as long as everyone continues to believe and put in the work, that it will all work out.

“We’re fine, we’re going to be okay,” he explained. “I’ve been through much worse. Don’t panic. It is easy to do when you’re young and you haven’t been through this, but it’s only two games. Those were two learning games.”