December 10, 2008 | AP Press

RADFORD, VA — Aaron Jackson scored a career-high 36 points to lead Duquesne to a 94-75 victory over Radford on Wednesday night.

Jackson made 15 of 17 field goals and was 1-for-1 from the free-throw line one week after scoring a season-low six points against No. 3 Pittsburgh.

The Dukes (5-2) went on a 10-0 run midway through the first half to break open a 22-21 game and took a 51-40 lead into halftime.

Radford (3-5) drew within six points at 76-70 with 5:43 left, but Duquesne scored seven straight points, including a 3-pointer by Jackson.

Damian Saunders added 11 points and Bill Clark had 10 for the Dukes.

Martell McDuffy led the Highlanders with 21 points, while Artsiom Parakhouski had a double-double with 17 points and 20 rebounds — nearly half of Radford’s 43 total rebounds. Kenny Thomas added 14 points and Joey Lynch-Flohr had 12.

December 3, 2008 | AP Press

PITTSBURGH, PA – DeJuan Blair knows more about the rivalry called the City Game than any other Pitt player, so he was a little surprised when the No. 3 Panthers came off sluggish and tentative against the opponent they know better than any outside the Big East Conference.

Sam Young scored 23 points and Blair had 14 points and 17 rebounds, helping Pittsburgh overcome a sluggish start to defeat down-the-street rival Duquesne 78-51 on Wednesday night.

Jermaine Dixon scored 12 points as the Panthers improved to 8-0 for the seventh consecutive season, using runs of 9-0 and 11-2 to begin pulling away after the Dukes (4-2) led 20-19 with seven minutes left in the first half.

“We started off a little slow,” said Blair, who watched both teams while growing up only a few blocks from each school’s campus. “I don’t know why. We had a little bit of a fight, but that made us come out better in the second half.”

The two teams play in the same summer league and compete in informal offseason pickup games, but the once-intense rivalry between schools located two miles apart along Forbes Avenue has cooled off since Pitt moved into the Big East 26 years ago. The Panthers have won eight in a row and 27 of 30 in a series that peaked in interest in the late 1970s, when both belonged to the Eastern Eight.

Blair, a sophomore, won’t be surprised if the rivalry becomes competitive again now that Duquesne, which improved from a three-win team to a 17-win team in only two years, is recruiting at a much higher level.

“It’s a fun rivalry,” Blair said. “I want to get out of here undefeated against them. It’s going to be a good rivalry, a tough matchup, so that means we’ve got to keep working hard if we’re going to get what we want.”

Duquesne, one of the nation’s youngest teams with eight freshmen and one of the smallest in a major conference with only one regular taller than 6-foot-5, has lost consecutive games to current top five teams. Duquesne lost 95-72 to now-No. 4 Duke on Friday.

“Duke comes after you with pressure defense, but Pitt is very intense when the ball leaves somebody’s hand,” Dukes coach Ron Everhart said. “They go to the glass like it’s nobody’s business. They have two different styles, but it wouldn’t surprise me if both teams are in the Final Four.”

Especially when both are currently in the top four.

“We see now what good teams do,” Duquesne’s Aaron Jackson said. “They’re both in the top five, but they do all the little things, they do the extra things, and it’s what we’ve got to start doing.”

Pitt had too much size and depth for the Dukes, who were outrebounded 44-31 as Blair had 10 rebounds on the offensive end. Unable to go inside against the 6-7 Blair and 6-6 Young, Duquesne was constantly forced to try to establish an offense around the perimeter of a Pitt defense that allowed few followup shots or second chances.

Damian Saunders scored 15 points, but the Dukes shot only 36.4 percent (20-of-55), including 7-of-29 (24.1 percent) from 3-point range. They were worse still at the foul line, 4-of-12, and committed 25 turnovers to Pitt’s 18.

Pitt took the lead for good at 21-20 as Blair scored inside to start the 9-0 run.

“In the first half, we played more of their game than our game,” Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said.

Duquesne trailed 32-26 with 1:48 left before halftime when Everhart drew a technical for arguing a foul call on freshman Melquan Bolding. Levance Fields made all four free throws to push the lead to 10, beginning an 11-2 run that carried into the second half.

After Saunders scored on a followup, Young dunked one-handed off a Dixon lob, Blair scored on a putback and Young drove to the basket for a 49-33 lead that effectively put it out of reach. Levance Fields added 11 assists and two steals.

AP Photo

November 28, 2008 by Mike Boyle | A10 CollegeHoops

Cameron Indoor Stadium 9,314 in Attendance

DURHAM, N.C. — In what appeared to be a primetime matchup of two undefeateds ball clubs, reality set in quickly for the Duquesne Dukes.  The frazzled Dukes succumed to the early pressure and were highly overmatched by Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s deep Duke squad.  The Blue Devils bench outscored their opponent 46-28.  Reserve Lance Thomas was tonight’s player of the game, posting a remarkable 8-8 (FG-FGA) from the field (21 points and 6 rebounds) in just 17 minutes of action to lead all Duke players.

Duquesne came into tonight’s game with a (4-0) record, Avg. 82.8 points per game, and leading the Atlantic 10 in field goal percentage (.527).   Duquesne’s record turned out to be very deceptive, as this marquee opponent led the entire way en route to 95-72 victory.  The Blue Devils shot a season high (54.7%) from the field and improved to (7-0) heading into next week’s ACC/Big10 Challenge.

This game was pretty much in hand by halftime as Duke took control with a 23-6 run that capped off a 20 point halftime lead (52-32).  The Blue Devils shot (60.0%) in the first half and finished the game 10-27 from beyond the arc.  Coach Krzyzewski’s defensive sets posed to much for the visiting Dukes limiting them at one point in the first half to two field goals in a span of nine minutes and overall 3-21 from beyond the arc.

The Blue Devils capitalized on 19 Duquesne turnovers.  Fearless sophmore Kyle Singler had 17 pts and 7 rebounds.  Junior Guard Jon Scheyer added 8 pts and 4 rebounds in 23 minutes of action.  Coach K received great contribution from both of his point guards tonight as Nolan Smith and Greg Paulus combined for 20 pts and 6 assists.

“We got that huge lead and it was a result of Duke scoring, not a certain player scoring,” Krzyzewski said. “That’s when it’s always the best, when you don’t even know who scored. You just know that we scored.”

Duquesne Senior Aaron Jackson finished the game with 14 points and 6 rebounds.  Damian Saunders logged in 36 minutes of action with 22 points and 10 rebounds.  Saunders who is your typical SF played the 4 spot during tonight’s contest due to a very scarce Duquesne frontcourt.  Big man Rodrigo Peggau was cleared to begin limited practice work on Oct. 17, Coach Everhart will need him to step up big if Duquesne is to make a run at the A10 Title.

For the Dukes the loss will be a stepping stone to the future.  Head Coach Ron Everhart has reenergized the Duquesne basketball program with an aggressive style of play putting up points in bunches with solid defensive pressure.  He has put together a great recruiting class consisting of highly touted freshman Melquan Bolding, Eric Evans, and Chase Robinson.  Duquesne is one of the youngest teams in the nation with eight scholarship freshman.  A tough task in hand for underclassmen to come into what is known to be one of the greatest college sports venue’s in the entire nation.

The Cameron Crazies never cease to amaze.  The average college campus would be empty during the Thanksgiving Holiday, but not at Duke as 9,314 piled in once again to cheer their team to an astounding 64 straight non-conference home game victory.

Mike Boyle can be reached at mboyle@a10collegehoops.com

November 25, 2008 | AP Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Damian Saunders scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead Duquesne past South Carolina-Upstate 79-69 on Tuesday night.

The Dukes are off to a 4-0 start for the second consecutive year. Last year, Duquesne opened 6-0 — its best start in 28 years — en route to posting the school’s first winning record in 14 years at 17-13.

Leading 44-40 at halftime, the Dukes scored the first five points of the second half. The Spartans (0-4), trying for their first win of the season, scored the next 11 points to cut the lead to 51-49, but could get no closer.

Jason Duty chipped in 17 points for Duquesne and Aaron Jackson was a triple threat with 15 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists.

Bobby Davis led the Spartans with 24 points on 10-of-14 shooting while De’Marion Gordon added 11.

November 23, 2008 | AP Press

PITTSBURGH, PA — Aaron Jackson had 20 points, 10 rebounds and six assists as Duquesne opened up an early nine-point lead and went on to defeat Furman 85-65 on Sunday.

Damian Saunders added 15 points while Bill Clark and freshman reserve Eric Evans each scored 14 for the Dukes (3-0).

Jordan Miller scored 14 points and Noah States and Connor Nolte had 10 each for Furman (1-2), which fell behind 11-2 and never caught up. The Paladins got to within 50-44 with 15:52 remaining, but Clark had five points and Jackson accounted for four as Duquesne scored the next nine points to begin a 21-4 run that put the game away.

The Dukes are 3-0 for the second season in a row, the first time in 21 years they’ve accomplished that feat.

November 20, 2008 | AP Press

LORETTO, Pa. — Aaron Jackson scored 20 points and led four Duquesne scorers in double figures in an 83-72 victory over St. Francis, Pa., on Thursday night.

Eric Evans finished with 16 points, Bill Clark 12 and Damian Saunders 11 for the Dukes (2-0), who overcame 8-for-25 shooting from the line.

Devin Sweetney scored a career-best 25 points and Marquis Ford added 17 points as new St. Francis coach Don Friday lost his home debut.

Duquesne trailed 36-32 late in the first half before scoring eight straight points and taking the lead for good.

St. Francis (0-3) pulled within 55-53 on a 3-pointer by Cale Nelson with 14:10 left, but Duquesne scored six straight points, including four by Eric Evans, to restore a comfortable lead.

PITTSBURGH, PA –Damian Saunders was dominating at both ends of the court with 21 points, six steals and three blocked shots, helping Duquesne open a 28-point lead at halftime en route to its 84-55 victory over High Point on Friday night.

The Dukes, coming off their first winning season in 14 years, weren’t pushed in winning their third opener in as many tries under coach Ron Everhart as Bill Clark and Aaron Jackson each scored 14 points.

Saunders, a 6-foot-7 sophomore originally recruited by Marquette, needed only 22 minutes—four in the second half—to reach his career scoring high.

Eugene Harris led High Point with 15 points.

Sunday, November 2, 2008 by WH | A10CollegeHoops Contributor

The sophomore class is the only one for which we have evidence of the future trajectory of the league since none of the freshmen have played yet. What follows are quick impressions and a Who’s Who among the A-10’s second-year players.

STARS AND POTENTIAL STARS

An’Juan Wilderness, Charlotte 49ers

Rugged 6-6 forward can score off the bounce and is a good defender and rebounder, especially on the offensive glass. If he can hone his outside jumper, he could be a terrific player.

Chris Wright, Dayton Flyers

The best athlete in the league, Wright is good enough to contend for a spot on the A-10 First Team. Scores inside, rebounds, blocks shots. He’s a pretty good ball-handler and can take defenders off the dribble. With a consistent outside jumper, Wright is an NBA First Round pick.

Damian Saunders, Duquesne Dukes

Saunders can be a force at both ends. He’s a better shooter than advertised and he uses his great athleticism to score, rebound and block shots.

Jerrell Williams, LaSalle Explorers

The 6-8 forward is a tremendous rebounder and he knows how to score inside. Williams is also very quick and can take defenders off the dribble. Like Wilderness, he’s a reliable jumpshot and away from future stardom.

Anthony Gurley, Massachusetts Minutemen

Bigtime recruit transferred from Wake Forest to be closer to home, not because he wasn’t getting any time (He was). Gurley is a tremendous athlete with a quick first step and deep range.

Delroy James, Rhode Island Rams

Brother of Sean James has the full package of inside and outside skills. He could be URI’s next great player if he stays focused in the classroom and plays with poise and intelligence.

Kevin Anderson, Richmond Spiders

He might be the second best point guard in the A-10 in just his second year. Anderson is almost impossible to stop off the dribble by any one defender and his outside shot has improved.

Justin Harper, Richmond Spiders

He’s 6-9, highly athletic and a fine 3-point shooter. Harper has to learn how to score inside and use his length more effectively as a defender, but he just oozes potential.

Lavoy Allen, Temple Owls

Allen is arguably the second best bigman in the A-10 right now. He’s a tremendous passer and rapidly improving low-post scorer. He needs to learn to play with more aggressiveness on offense but with more discipline on defense.

Dante Jackson, Xavier Musketeers

The 6-5 guard is quick and rangy and has All-Conference defensive potential. He’s also a decent ball-handler and shooter and could be a terrific offensive player by his senior year if he continues to improve.

THE NEXT RUNG ON THE LADDER

Phil Jones, Charlotte 49ers

The 6-10 center disappointed as a freshman, but he has great size, soft hands and nice shooting touch. Jones can be as good as he wants to be, but he has to show more urgency.

Devin Searcy, Dayton Flyers

Searcy didn’t play a lot as a freshman, but he showed great energy and a nose for the ball. He runs like a deer and is very long. All he needs is more meat on his bones and some steady coaching to become a good two-way player.

Bill Clark, Duquesne Dukes

The smart 6-6 forward is not a great athlete like his teammate Saunders, but he’s a superb rebounder for his size and a very good outside shooter despite a below-average percentage as a freshman. Clark is unlikely to become a star, but he’ll make the stars on his team better.

Mike Moore, Fordham Rams

Rangy 6-5- guard played great early as a freshman before fading. Moore doesn’t stand out on the court, but he’s a good ball-handler and shooter who can drive to the hoop or drain the trey. His lengths suggest above-average defensive potential as well.

Xavier Alexander, George Washington Colonials

Strong 6-6 forward struggled offensively as a frosh – he’s not a good outside shooter and had trouble finishing. Alexander should become a decent scorer in time, but he’s the ultimate lunch-pail guy, a player who rebounds and defends. He has Defensive Player of the Year potential.

Matt Glass, Massachusetts Minutemen

The 6-7 Glass is a tremendous shooter, somewhat like a more athletic version of former St. Joe’s star Pat Carroll. He is supbar defensively and on the boards, but he will stretch defenses.

Kevin Smith, Richmond Spiders

He doesn’t look like a superb athlete, but that’s exactly what Smith is. He’s very quick and explodes to the rim for spectacular dunks. Richmond coach Chris Mooney calls him a glue guy – a player who defends, rebounds, passes and makes the hustle plays. Smith has shown some range on his jumper, if not consistency. He’s a star if he addresses that problem.

Idris Hilliard, St. Joseph’s Hawks

Coming-out party takes place this season. Hilliard is very quick and strong for a 6-6 forward and he knows how to score inside. He’s a pretty good dribbler as well and should be able take defenders off the bounce.

Jamel McClean, Xavier Musketeers

Powerfully built 235-pound Tulsa transfer is a tremendous athlete who rebounds and blocks shots. He’s not as dangerous offensively as teammates CJ Anderson and Derrick Brown, but he could become a double-digit scorer after his older teammates move on.

Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Enrollment: 10,000

Founded: 1878

President: Dr. Charles Dougherty

Athletic Director: Greg Amodio

Athletic Websites: http://goduquesne.cstv.com, http://www.voy.com/14109/, http://dukeschat.blogspot.com, http://dukescourt.blogspot.com

Nickname: Dukes

Colors: Red and Blue

Arena: A.J. Palumbo Center (built 1988; renovated 2006)

Capacity: 5,358

Average Attendance: 3,091

Head Coach: Ron Everhart

Overall Record: 201-204 (49.6% winning percentage)

Record at Duquesne: 27-32

2007-2008 Record: 17-13 (7-9) No Post Season

Assistants: Bill Barton, Steve Hall, Scott Rigot

ROSTER

*1 Aaron Jackson SR G 6-4 180 Hartford, Conn/Worcester (MA) Academy
2 Chase Robinson FR G 6-2 190 Huntsville, AL
3 Eric Evans FR PG 5-11 195 Detroit
13 Jason Duty JR G 6-0 170 Cranberry Township, PA
21 Shawntez Patterson FR PF 6-7 180 Detroit
22 David Theis SO F 6-7 230 Pittsburgh/Mercersburg (PA) Prep
23 Melquan Bolding FR WG 6-4 190 Mount Vernon, NY/Notre Dame (MA) Prep
*25 Damian Saunders SO 6-7 210 Waterbury, CT/Notre Dame Prep (MA)
30 Bill Clark SO G/F 6-5 205 Redondo Beach, CA/Worcester (MA) Academy
31 Aleksandar Milovic FR F 6-7 220 Cetinje, Montenegro
32 B.J. Monteiro FR WF 6-5 195 Waterbury, CT
33 Rodrigo Peggau FR PF 6-8 230 Sao Paulo, Brazil/Patterson (NC) School
54 Oliver Lewinson C/F 6-9 240 FR Payson, AZ

*Returning starters (2)

OVERVIEW

The second year of Ron Everhart’s rebuilding effort can be viewed, like a cup, as half empty or half full.

Here’s the half-full part. The Dukes won 17 games overall and seven in A-10 play, the highest totals since the school’s last winning season in 1993-94. Everhart has done a great job recruiting – the latest class is one of the best in the league. He’s established an exciting style of play. And he’s attracted much bigger crowds, with attendance doubling to 3,000 from 1,500 two years ago.

Here’s the half-empty part. Everhart turbo-charged his rebuilding effort with short-term transfers and a constant revolving door, so the foundation of the program remains on unsettled ground. The top five scorers are gone, eight new players have arrived and the Dukes are rebuilding again.

Only time will tell which view is closer to reality. One thing seems clear, though. Everhart’s blueprint for success has some smudges, but the outline clearly shows a long-suffering program on the mend. It’s just going to take longer than it might have seemed one year ago.

“There’s not a whole lot of stability to build on,” Everhart told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

DEPARTED PLAYERS

Shawn James (12.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 3.9 bpg). Big things were expected from the Northeastern transfer, who led the nation in blocks three years ago. The 6-10 James did not entirely live up to expectations, but he was not a disappointment. Even though he did not dominate at either end, James led the team in scoring and rebounding and finished first in the A-10 in blocks (111). A thin, unorthodox shooter, James lacked dominant post moves and could be pushed around. A constantly shuffling lineup early in the season did not help his production. Nor did assorted injuries and dislocated shoulder late in the season. Nearly 25 years old, James decided to turn pro despite uncertain NBA prospects.

Kieron Achara (11.3 ppg, 53% FG, 4.0 rpg, 45 blocks). Fifth-year center never found a suitable role in Everhart’s revolving-door offense. Achara played 7 fewer minutes a game (19 mpg) and rarely saw time on the court with James. It was only when James got hurt that Achara appeared to find his game. Much of the fault lies with Everhart, but Achara is also to blame. He settled for jumpers and was not always aggressive inside.

Reggie Jackson (9.8 ppg, 3.4 apg). Juco point guard took a backseat early on to touted transfer Kojo Mensah, but Mensah’s carelessness eventually put Jackson back in the driver’s seat. He limited turnovers, distributed the ball well and knocked down open treys (43.8% 3PG). He saved his best for last, scoring a career high 29 in a tough 82-79 loss to LaSalle in the A-10 tournament. The Dukes might have been a better team by year end had Jackson started all along and gotten more than 21 minutes a game.

Gary Tucker – The 6-2 juco transfer, though not a classic wing, was the most athletic guard in the A-10, thrilling fans with soaring dunks, bursts of scoring and disruptive defense (31 steals). Tucker (9.4 ppg, 31% 3PG) was not a great shooter, however, and he would have been suited to a reserve role if the Dukes had a better player at his position.

Kojo Mensah (12.1 ppg, 38% FG, 24% 3PG, 99 assists, 89 turnovers) Touted Siena transfer gave up his final year of eligibility to explore pro options despite one lackluster season. Mensah appeared rusty and not as quick after a one-year layoff and failed to make a big dent in the A-10 like he did in the Metro Atlantic Conference. His production fell in every category and he become noticeably frustrated. Mensah turned the ball over too much to keep his starting job and he did not shoot well enough to be a topflight wing. Yet he still hogged the ball and took the most shots on the team. When he wasn’t scoring, Mensah did not exert himself much on defense.

Philip Fayne – Reserve big guard was forced to stop playing basketball after developing a rare form of arthritis. Though just a part-time player (3.5 ppg, 43% FG), Fayne’s physical presence and experience could be missed.

Stephen Wood – Onetime big scorer in New York prep ranks transferred after a disappointing sophomore season in which the 6-4 guard barely played.

RETURNING PLAYERS

Aaron Jackson (9 ppg, 4 rpg, 3.5 apg, 55% FG, 24% 3PG, 74% FT). Strong 6-3 guard was not the best player on Duquesne, but he was the most valuable. Jackson played more minutes than any of his teammates and gave the Dukes toughness and leadership. Though not a true point guard, Jackson handles the ball well enough (105 assists to 53 turnovers) to run the offense. Even if his outside shot is suspect, Jackson finds a way to get his points by pushing the ball in the open floor and slashing to the basket. He reached double figures in 13 games even though he took 10 or more shots just four times.

As the only four-year veteran on the roster, Jackson will have to guide his young teammates through the A-10 wars. A good defender (43 steals) and fine rebounder for his size, Jackson can play three positions. He can be expected to handle the ball in late-game situations if freshman Eric Evans shows jitters.

Bill Clark (8.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 38.3% FG, 31.3% 3PG, 41 assists). Sophomore forward is likely to build upon a solid inaugural season and become a main cog in the offense. Clark is not especially quick and doesn’t have big hops, but he’s a smart player with good passing and shooting skills. Although he hit just 31% of his treys, Clark should raise his percentage as he learns to pick his spots. He’s really a catch-and-shoot player who needs to get his feet set before he fires away. When he rushes, he often misfires badly. The 6-5 Clark is also an excellent rebounder, though his defense needs work, especially down low. He might have to defend the post more often with the loss of James and Achara.

Damian Saunders (6.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 48% FG, 35% 3PG, 48 assists, 45 steals, 39 blocks). Versatile 6-7 sophomore, named to the All-Rookie Team, had off-season surgery on his ankle. It’s unclear if he’s fully recuperated, but the Dukes surely need him. A healthy Saunders is a topflight athlete who can impact a game at both ends. He was a better outside shooter than his high school career suggested and he’s effective attacking the basket, especially along the baseline. With long arms and quick hops, he was the team’s second best rebounder and a shot-blocking threat.

Although the onetime Marquette recruit did fade in A-10 play, chronic ankle problems contributed to his difficulties. Unfortunately he didn’t have much time over the summer to develop the parts of his game that need improvement such as post play. Saunders is the team’s best inside threat simply because of his length and athleticism.

David Theis (1.8 ppg, 5-19 FG, 11 games). Reserve forward didn’t see much time after Everhart tightened his rotation, but he showed sound fundamentals and solid form on his shot even though he did not hit many. As a sophomore, a bulked-up Theis may play inside, at least on defense. His role on offense is less clear. Theis is not a low-post scorer or a big threat in the open floor, though he was a good 3-point shooter in high school. He might fare better as a center in the high post, where he could draw out defenders if he shows a consistent jumper.

Jason Duty (2.3 ppg, 11.4 mpg). Hard-working junior is actually a good shooter even though he only hit 29% of his 3-pointers. The recruited walk-on is not very big, however, and his defense is average at best. His time also fell after Everhart scaled back the practice of mass substitutions.

NEWCOMERS

Melquan Bolding – Former Louisville recruit (No. 119, PrepStars) signed with Duquesne after admission difficulties at the Big East school. Bolding uses his length and quickness to attack the basket and he finishes well in traffic. With so many departures at Duquesne, Bolding will get a chance to start. His athleticism and aggressiveness fit in well with Everhart’s style of play, although Bolding needs to demonstrate a consistent jumper. Duquesne has to find a few shooters in its large crop of newcomers.

Eric Evans – Tough lefty point guard (No. 179, PrepStars), one of the top players in Detroit, likes to push the ball, penetrate and dish. He accelerates quickly, has a nice change of pace and is strong for his size, which helps him finish even when he gets bumped. As a high school senior, he also showed range, hitting 40%-plus behind the arc. He’s unlikely to shoot as well in college, but he should be able to keep defenders honest. Because he’s the only pure point on the roster, Evans could start if he takes care of the ball.

Shawntez Patterson – A teammate of Evans, the late-blooming Patterson is a combo forward with big hops. He’s active around the basket and scores on short shots, tip-ins and putbacks. He’s reportedly still growing but is unlikely to fare well in the trenches until he adds some bulk.

BJ Monteiro – Late signee, one of the best players in Connecticut, is a high-scoring 6-5 swingman. He shoots well off the dribble and has 3-point range, though his jumper needs work. He can also post up smaller defenders or score in the lane with floaters and runners. Monteiro attracted attention from major programs last year until a poor performance on the summer circuit. He bounced back with a great senior season. Monteiro attended the same high school as sophomore teammate Damian Saunders.

Aleksandar Milovic – Little is known about the 220-pound spring signee from Montenegro, whom Everhart called one of the best young players in Europe. The coach said he’s a solid rebounder and “tremendous” shooter. Unless Milovic truly is one of the best young players in Europe, it’s hard to expect him to make a major impact as a frosh.

Rodrigo Peggau – Brazilian native became available after new James Madison coach Matt Brady suggested the 6-8 forward would no longer fit in. Peggau missed most of his senior season to knee surgery and had another arthroscopic procedure in September. Before his injury, Peggau received looks from some major programs. He’s seen as a versatile European-style player with a solid perimeter game and the willingness to get physical. A healthy Peggau might be the newcomer most likely to see plenty of action in the frontcourt.

Chase Robinson - Spring signee had a great senior season and was considered one of the better guards in Alabama. A 6-3 combo guard, Robinson is supposed to be a good shooter who’s strong for his size and able to finish off drives. He was also recruited by St. Louis and Tulane.

Oliver Lewinson – The 6-9 center, a late-summer signee, has been described by Everhart as a “pleasant surprise” in preseason practice. “He might be the most solid kid we’ve had in workouts,” Everhart told the Post-Gazette. “He’s going to play.”

Lewinson gives the smallish Dukes a big body to plant in the middle of the lane. He is not an explosive athlete or a big scorer, but he’s willing to bang and is said to be a good rebounder.

SCOUTING REPORT

Everhart won’t find it easy to integrate eight newcomers, all of whom are legitimate freshmen. Yet the latest class gives him plenty of raw material to fill gaps at center and point guard.

Eric Evans is almost certain to start at point if the goal is to build for the future. He’ll get plenty of help from veteran Aaron Jackson, one of the most underrated players in the A-10.

It’s less clear which of the bigmen will be able to contribute, but Lewinson and Peggau, if healthy, give the Dukes some badly needed size down low.

Another newcomer sure to see big minutes is Bolding, the former Louisville recruit. He’s a pogo-stick athlete who should jump out in Everhart’s system.

Which begs the question. What exactly is Everhart’s system? Sure, he likes to press and run, but the Dukes changed players and styles last season like a women’s clothing store.

The coach made a lot of mistakes, too. Everhart gave Kojo Mensah a starting position before he earned it. He failed to figure out how to play James and Achara together. And he wasted the talent of his best players by deploying mass substitutions.

Everhart will likely go deep with his lineup again, but there’s no need to replace all five players at once. Some continuity is not such a bad thing, especially on a very young team.

Beyond questions about the Dukes’ rotation, the offense remains a puzzle. The strength of the team is on the wing with Saunders, Jackson, Clark and Bolding. Pressing and running will help generate points, but youngsters tend to be turnover prone in a high-paced game.

When the game slows down, the Dukes will have to be creative. The team lacks a true low-post option and will probably rely on dribble penetration from the wing. The perimeter players can throw the ball inside to Saunders from time to time, but the rising sophomore is not yet a polished scorer in the paint.

Dribble penetration from the wing won’t be effective, however, if the perimeter players can’t shoot. Defenses will simply pack it in. The Dukes were the worst 3-point shooting team (31%) in the A-10 last season even with a bevy of veterans. There’s little reason to believe the current squad will do much better, particularly after an NCAA rule change to extend the 3-point line by one foot to 20 feet and nine inches.

PREDICTION

The Dukes will likely duke it out with Fordham to avoid last place. Even with good players such as Jackson and Saunders, the team is simply too young and too inexperienced to replicate last year’s winning record. Most A-10 teams are rich in veterans and have just as much, if not more, raw talent.

“This is the first time I’ve ever coached a team with so many young kids being depended on,” Everhart told the Post-Gazette.

Everhart will try to use his team’s speed and athleticism to fluster more experienced opponents. Expect the team to play an exciting brand of ball and there will be a few upsets along the way, but what’s most important is whether the Dukes are appreciably better at the end of the season than at the beginning.

Said Everhart: “There’s always tomorrow.”

WH’s

NONCON PREDICTION:
6-7

W – HIGH POINT
W At St. Francis (Pa)
L – FURMAN
W – South Carolina Upstate
L – At Duke
L – At Pittsburgh
L – At Radford
L – WEST VIRGINIA
L – OLD DOMINION
W – RICE
W – NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL
L – At Robert Morris
W – BOWLING GREEN

I take a cautious view on Duquesne. I think it’s certain the team loses to all the big-name programs on the sked (Duke, Pitts, West Va). Too much talent, too many vets on those teams. Only WV strikes me remotely as an upset possibility.

As for the rest of the teams, some are very competitive and older than the Dukes, including ODU, Robert Morris (26 wins last year) and Bowling Green, which returns all five starters. So does Furman and Radford. Although both of those teams are beatable, I give Furman the nod because it catches Duquesne early while Radford is playing at home. Beating Bowling Green won’t be easy, but the young Dukes will have been tested enough to pull it off.

One caveat: coach Ron Everhart has usually exceeded noncon forecasts for his teams. He will use all his speed, athleticism and depth to apply intense pressure on opponents as a means to mitigate the disadvantage in experience.

While I predict a 6-7 noncon record, I could see the Dukes winning as many as 8-9 of these games. Six or seven wins is more realistic.