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| INSIDE THE NUMBERS |
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2000-01 record: 9-19;
4-12 in A-10 (6th/West)
Postseason: None. Last NCAA appearance was in 1977.
RETURNING LEADERS
Points: Forney 11.4
Rebs: Forney 3.8
Assists: Forney 1.7
FG: Forney 49.8%
3pt: Forney 39.3%
FT: Pawlak 83.9%
01-02 Stats:
Duquesne | A-10
KEY LOSSES
Wayne Smith | 16.4 ppg
Jamal Hunter | 9.7
Aaron Lovelace | 7.7
PROJECTED STARTERS
G | Br. McAllister | Fresh
G | Kevin Forney | Senior
F | Elijah Palmer | Junior
F | Ron Dokes | Junior
C | Simplice Njoya | Soph
Player to Watch
Kevin Forney
Junior Guard
As you can tell from above, he's the best coming back for Dukes.
DATE TO REMEMBER
Duquesne won't win this game, but what a learning experience - a trip to College Park, Md., to play defending national champion Maryland in its brand-new facility.
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DUQUESNE DUKES
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It doesn't feel right to write this, but Duquesne, despite losing its leading scorer, rebounder and assist man -- and that's three different players -- could improve on last season's record. Then again, the Dukes were only 9-19 a year ago. A little improvement isn't that much to ask, especially considering the four newcomers second-year coach Danny Nee brought to the program. Three of them are college veterans, including 6-8 guard Jimmy Tricco, an intriguing transfer from Gonzaga, where he was a member of two Sweet 16 teams. Also joining the program are a pair of junior college transfers, 6-7 wing Elijah Palmer and 6-9 power forward Ron Dokes, and both are expected to join 6-10 sophomore Simplice Njoya (9.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg) in a pretty solid front line. The leading returning scorer is 6-4 senior Kevin Forney (11.4 ppg), who may have to battle Tricco for a starting spot. The new point guard probably will be the fourth newcomer, 6-3 freshman Bryant McAllister, an in-state recruiting coup.
TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
Know the name Njoya. He might be an NBA player in the making, and his learning curve ought to be pretty steep. He played just nine games last season thanks to an NCAA suspension, but in those nine games he showed enough of an upside to have NBA scouts making Duquesne a must-see team this season. Expect Njoya to double (or better) his one-block average of last season.
TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
Duquesne has just one significant question mark, thanks to the transfers of three juniors, but it's at a critical position: point guard. No returning player had more assists than turnovers last season, so this is a team in dire need of a floor leader. McAllister might just be a star, or he might be a typical freshman -- sloppy, unpredictable. The Dukes have enough players like that already.
BOTTOM LINE..............................
Duquesne closed the gap between itself and the middle of the league late last season, winning three straight games in February, and that trend will continue this season if McAllister is ready to play major minutes right away.
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