2009–10 Duquesne Dukes men's basketball team
Encyclopedia
The 2009–10 Duquesne Dukes men's basketball team represented Duquesne University
in National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) Division I (D-I) college basketball
during the 2009–10 season.
Duquesne hoped to build on the success of the 2008–09 season and began the new year with five straight victories. Soon, however, a string of setbacks hit the team, including the loss of two players, one due to injury and the other to suspension. Duquesne lost its final non-conference game and slipped into a five-game losing streak. The team did manage to break the streak, but had trouble gaining any momentum. In mid-February the Dukes finally seemed to break free with a solid 21 point victory over La Salle
, followed by a crucial road upset of the University of Charlotte, which was ranked first in the Atlantic 10 Conference at the time, and finally another upset of the University of Dayton
Flyers in front of a sellout Pittsburgh crowd. However, Duquesne then lost its final two road games of the season.
Despite its lackluster season's end, Duquesne won an invitation to the College Basketball Invitational
postseason tournament. The team lost to the Princeton Tigers, and the Dukes were eliminated in the first round, ending the 2009 season.
, also called Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit, is a private Catholic
university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
, United States. The University's Duquesne Dukes
compete in NCAA
Division I (D-I). D-I schools are generally the major collegiate athletic powers, with larger budgets, more elaborate facilities, and higher numbers of athletic scholarships in comparison to Division II and III. This level was once called the University Division of the NCAA, and the Division II and III levels, the College Division; this terminology was replaced with the current numeric (I, II, III) divisions in 1973.
The Dukes have played twice in national championship games in the 1950s and won the National Invitation Tournament
championship in 1955, when the NIT was the premier collegiate basketball tournament in the country. The men's basketball Dukes annually play its cross-town rival, the University of Pittsburgh
Panthers, in Pittsburgh's highly anticipated and well-attended City Game
. The current head coach is Ron Everhart
, who has a two-year record of 27–32 (13–19 in the Atlantic 10 Conference). Well-known Duquesne players of the past include All-America
ns Chuck Cooper, Sihugo Green
, Dick Ricketts
and Willie Somerset
, and Norm Nixon
, who won the Most Outstanding Player in Duquesne's 57–54 victory over the Villanova Wildcats
in the 1977 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Tournament
.
by only five points in the conference championship game. This earned Duquesne a bid into the National Invitation Tournament
, its first postseason appearance since 1994. The team was eliminated in a double-overtime first round loss to Virginia Tech, but the Dukes' unlikely success inspired the hope of a return to the NIT, or perhaps even the NCAA tournament.
On May 12, 2009 the school announced that two freshman
forwards, Shawntez Patterson and Aleksandar Milovic, had been released from their scholarships and cleared to transfer to other schools. Both saw limited action in the 2008 season. Shawntez Patterson transferred to Pensacola Junior College, and Aleksandar Milovic transferred to the University of Hawaii
.
Andre Marhold, a small forward
and the first of two incoming freshmen, signed with Duquesne on April 16. Marhold, a native of Pittsburgh who moved to North Carolina
for High School, averaged 17.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game his senior
year, in which his team was the regular season champion. He was ranked 188 in the top 1000 high school seniors by Hoop Scoop. Marhold turned down scholarship offers from Clemson, Charlotte, and Purdue.
Several weeks later on May 13, guard Sean Johnson of Queens
, New York
also signed with the team. He attended Christ the King high school, whose basketball team finished his senior year ranked fourth in the state and eleventh in the nation by ESPN
. He averaged 22.4 points per game and was named New York City Catholic High School Athletic Association Most Valuable Player
. Johnson also received scholarship offers from Nebraska, Manhattan
, and Quinnipiac
.
Prior to the start of the season, ESPN picked Duquesne to finish fifth in the Atlantic 10 conference, noting the loss of star Aaron Jackson but looking with optimism at the addition of 7 ft (2.1 m) center
Morakinyo Williams and the continued development of other stars. Sophomore Melquan Bolding was also highlighted by ESPN as a key player in the Atlantic 10.
Source
returned for his fourth season as head coach
. After the departure of previous coach Danny Nee
, Everhart steadily improved the team's record year after year, taking the team from 3–24 the year before he arrived to the 21–13 record of 2008–09. Everhart attended Virginia Tech, from which he graduated in 1985. He served as an assistant coach at Georgia Tech, Virginia Military Institute
, and Tulane University
. In 1995 he took his first head coaching job at McNeese State University
, and also coached at Northeastern University before moving to Duquesne in 2006.
Bill Barton returned for his third season as Associate Head Coach. Steve Hall and Scott Rigot both served as Assistant Coaches for their second year. Jason Byrd was the Director of Basketball Operations.
. Duquesne scored a 47-point victory in which Damian Saunders led in scoring with 17 points. Despite the solid win, Duquesne made only 47.6% from the free throw
line, a trend which haunted the team the rest of the season.
The regular season home-opener was another victory for the team, as they defeated Nicholls State 85–62 on November 13. Early in the game, Melquan Bolding hit the floor on a hard foul during a breakaway. After a few minutes, he recovered and went on to lead the team with 25 points. Saunders scored 17 points with 19 rebounds, his first of a long streak of double-doubles. This game was also the second and final game of B.J. Monteiro's 2-game suspension following allegations of participating in a robbery. Three days later, it was announced that Bolding had fractured his wrist when he was fouled, and would be unable to play for 4–6 weeks.
Despite the loss of Bolding, the team went on the road to face Iowa
on November 17, with newly-returned B.J. Monteiro starting in place of Melquan Bolding. When down 49–50 with 11.7 seconds left, Bill Clark took an off-balance 3-point shot which spun in, putting the team up 52–50 and sealing their second victory of the regular season. This was Duquesne's first ever victory at a Big 10 arena, and its first victory against a Big 10 school since a win over Illinois in 1973.
for three games as part of the O'Reilly Auto Parts
CBE Classic. Duquesne defeated Binghamton
70–52 to extend its record to 3–0, with Saunders leading the way with 24 points. The next day the team improved to 4–0 with an overtime 75–72 victory against Division II Arkansas-Monticello. On the third day of play, Duquesne finally lost to Western Carolina
, 77–83.
on November 29th. B.J. Monteiro continued to perform well as a starter in replacing Melquan Bolding, leading the team with 21 points. Next up for the team was the annual City Game match-up between Duquesne and its crosstown rival Pitt
. In front of 12,336 fans at the Mellon Arena
, Duquesne sprang out to a 16-point lead before slipping and losing 58–67 in double overtime. Bill Clark led all players with 23 points but the team hit foul trouble, with Saunders, Monteiro, and Peggau all fouling out in the final minutes.
On December 5, Duquesne hosted the Chuck Cooper Classic, in which it defeated the Savannah State Tigers
by a score of 58–44. Eric Evans led with 17 points and Damian Saunders contributed 15.
. Saunders led the team with only 12 points. One analyst attributed this loss to the skill of the Mountaineers, an abysmal night by star Bill Clark, as well as the continued absence of Melquan Bolding and now senior captain Jason Duty, who missed the game with a sprained ankle.
On December 12 the Dukes faced off against another local rival, Robert Morris
. In a 59–54 win, B.J. Monteiro again led the team with 17 points. Monteiro's continued high level of play prompted some analysts, as well as fans, to wonder whether the approaching return of Melquan Bolding would send Monteiro back to the bench, or if someone else would lose their starting position. Four days later the Dukes held off the Canisius Golden Griffins in a double overtime 86–77 victory at home. Bill Clark and Damian Saunders both contributed double doubles while B.J. Monteiro scored a career high 27 points.
86–56. Damian Saunders scored his tenth double-double, making him the national leader in that statistic, as well as second in rebounds. Following the break, Duquesne lost its final non-conference game to the Old Dominion Monarchs by a score of 54–63, the first of a five game losing streak. Saunders still managed to post his eleventh double-double, coming just one block short of what would have been only the second triple-double in school history.
, a team which the Dukes had not defeated since the Spiders joined the Atlantic 10 in 2001. This game marked the return of Melquan Bolding, though he did not start and scored only three points in fourteen minutes of playing time. Richmond managed to extend their streak, defeating the Dukes 86–80, while Saunders maintained his nation-leading position and now placed eighth in both blocks and steals. Duquesne then traveled to Dayton, Ohio
where they lost to the Dayton Flyers
72–78 in overtime in front of a crowd of 13,435, the largest crowd the team would see all season. Senior Jason Duty was fouled on a 3-point attempt at the end of the game when his team was down by one, but made only one of three foul shots, sending the game into overtime. Melquan Bolding scored 13 points in 36 minutes, though he did not start, and Saunders came into the game now leading the nation in rebounds.
Duquesne found itself in overtime once again as they dropped another game against the St. Louis Billikens in double overtime, 75–79. Melquan Bolding suffered another setback as he sat out most of the game, playing only five minutes due to strep throat
. The team then went back out on the road to face the Rhode Island Rams
, where they again lost with a final score of 67–75, dropping their conference record to 0–4. Bill Clark missed a game for the first time in his college career due to a suspension on suspicion of a "secondary NCAA rules violation." Melquan Bolding started the game for the first time since his injury, but only scored 6 points.
, Ron Everhart tried a new starting lineup: one that included Bolding and Monteiro, but left Senior Jason Duty on the bench. The Dukes took a 15 point lead at half time, but the Bonnies came back. With less than thirty seconds left, Bill Clark drew a charging penalty which gave his team the ball, down by two. One quick possession by each team left it 67–69 in favor of the Bonnies. On the final play, Damian Saunders drove towards the basket before passing it out to Melquan Bolding, who hit a 3-point shot to put the Dukes up by one with 3.5 seconds remaining. Duquesne won 70–69, giving them their first win since December 22.
The winning feeling was short-lived, however, as the Dukes were shut down by the Xavier Musketeers on January 28, losing 86–50. Melquan Bolding led the team with 14 points, Damian Saunders scored only 6, and Bill Clark only 4. On January 31st the team pulled out a 74–71 win against the Saint Joseph's Hawks
at home, with Melquan Bolding leading the team with 24 points.
. Bill Clark and Eric Evans led the team with just 12 points each. On February 6, the Dukes braved a blizzard
for a game against the George Washington Colonials
in Washington, D.C.
. Saunders led the way to a 70–63 win with a career-high 27 points. Returning home on February 11 to face the Massachusetts Minutemen
, the Dukes were unable to win two consecutive games for the third straight time, losing 80–84. Damian Saunders scored 15 points, but was injured and left the game for a while; when he returned, he did not score in the remainder of his playing time. He did, however, become Duquesne's 33rd player to pass the 1,000 career points mark.
. Ron Everhart sought a new strategy for his team, which was struggling in conference play. In this game, La Salle was missing three players, leaving them with an active roster of only eight players. Duquesne ran a 10–40 pattern, in which two squads of five players execute short, intense bursts before being switched out for the other squad. At first, Duquesne fell behind by 14 points, but the strategy paid off as La Salle's players tired. With La Salle fatigued, Duquesne switched back to a normal rotation and went on to win 103–82. Bill Clark scored a career high 34 points, and also surpassed the 1,000 point mark.
As underdogs on the road against the Charlotte 49ers
, the Dukes' new 10–40 strategy led them to an 83–77 upset victory. This was the first time of the season the team had managed to win two consecutive conference games. On February 21, Duquesne again returned home for a nationally-televised game against the Dayton Flyers
. Senior Jason Duty was honored in a pre-game ceremony, and the game's attendance of 5,144 was only 214 short of the A.J. Palumbo Center's capacity. A late layup drive by Damian Saunders put the Dukes up by one, and they went on to win 73–71.
Duquesne closed its season against Fordham
, who had yet to win a conference game and had only won two games all season. Fordham was hungry for a win, and a lack of effective defense on both sides led to a high scoring 111–100 victory for Duquesne. Melquan Bolding and Eric Evans both posted career high scores of 32 and 23, respectively.
The game was played on March 9 and was close until the Bonnies went on a 14–0 run halfway into the second half, going on to win 71–83. Despite Damian Saunders posting his 20th and final double-double of the year, Duquesne's 5 for 21 performance from beyond the 3-point arc combined with St. Bonaventure's 75% 3-point shooting and two players scoring in the upper twenties put the game out of the Dukes' reach. The loss dashed Duquesne's last hopes at a bid to the NIT. However, an invitation to either the College Basketball Invitational
(CBI) or CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament
was still possible.
Early on March 15, hours after the NCAA and NIT fields were announced, Duquesne accepted a bid into the CBI. This would be Duquesne's 23rd postseason appearance and first in the CBI, which started in 2008. This also marked the first time since 1981 that the Dukes made two consecutive postseason appearances. It was announced that the Dukes would face off against the Princeton Tigers
at Jadwin Gymnasium
on March 17.
On Tuesday, March 16, it was announced that Junior Bill Clark had been suspended indefinitely from the team due to "conduct" issues. Clark had not attended practice the day before and would not travel to Princeton with the team for the CBI opening game on Wednesday. This would be only the second game that Bill Clark has missed in his college career.
Duquesne suffered its final disappointment of the season on March 17 as it fell to the Princeton Tigers. Bill Clark remained suspended and Damian Saunders led the team with only 14 points. Duquesne dominated the game early on, taking a 20–11 lead before Princeton came back, eventually leading 28–23 at the half. The Dukes were unable to turn the momentum and continued to fall behind, eventually losing 51–65. The absence of Bill Clark showed on defense, as the Dukes were out-rebounded heavily. The Dukes also failed to improve on their issues from the regular season, going only 8 for 18 from the free throw line and 3 for 15 from 3-point range. This loss ended the 2009 season, and all Duquesne could do was look ahead to the next year.
!colspan=9| 2010 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Tournament
|-
!colspan=9| 2010 College Basketball Invitational
Source
, was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Academic Team.
Early in the season, Damian Saunders was named Atlantic 10 (A-10) player of the week for two consecutive weeks, sharing the honors with Chris Wright of Dayton and Jordan Crawford of Xavier, respectively. Following his 34-point performance against La Salle, Bill Clark earned his first career A-10 Player of the Week award, with Richmond's Kevin Anderson.
The season was also marred by a few controversies. Prior to the beginning of play, B.J. Monteiro was arrested on October 3 in Middletown, Connecticut
. He turned himself into police on suspicion of participating in the theft of a laptop, iPod, and cash from a house during a party in early August. He was charged with third-degree larceny
and, on October 6, he was suspended indefinitely from the team. Following his court appearance on October 13, all charges were dropped and Monteiro was reinstated to the team.
In late January, Junior Bill Clark was benched for the game against Rhode Island as the NCAA investigated a potential secondary rules violation. The specific details of the incident were not released by Duquesne, even after Clark's return to the team the next day. A secondary rules violation is defined as "one that is isolated or inadvertent in nature, provides or is intended to provide only a minimal recruiting, competitive or other advantage."
In the postseason, Bill Clark was again suspended, this time by coach Everhart for a conduct issue. The day before the CBI game against Princeton, Everhart announced that Clark would not travel to the game or participate in any practices or team activities until he felt the student ready to return. Clark was reinstated two weeks later, and, as before, no details were revealed.
Duquesne University
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
in National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) Division I (D-I) college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
during the 2009–10 season.
Duquesne hoped to build on the success of the 2008–09 season and began the new year with five straight victories. Soon, however, a string of setbacks hit the team, including the loss of two players, one due to injury and the other to suspension. Duquesne lost its final non-conference game and slipped into a five-game losing streak. The team did manage to break the streak, but had trouble gaining any momentum. In mid-February the Dukes finally seemed to break free with a solid 21 point victory over La Salle
La Salle University
La Salle University is a private, co-educational, Roman Catholic university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Named for St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, the school was founded in 1863 by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. As of 2008 the school has approximately 7,554...
, followed by a crucial road upset of the University of Charlotte, which was ranked first in the Atlantic 10 Conference at the time, and finally another upset of the University of Dayton
University of Dayton
The University of Dayton is a private Roman Catholic university operated by the Society of Mary located in Dayton, Ohio...
Flyers in front of a sellout Pittsburgh crowd. However, Duquesne then lost its final two road games of the season.
Despite its lackluster season's end, Duquesne won an invitation to the College Basketball Invitational
College Basketball Invitational
The College Basketball Invitational is a men's college basketball tournament created in 2007 by The Gazelle Group. The inaugural tournament occurred after the conclusion of the 2007–08 men's college basketball regular season. The CBI selects 16 teams that are not selected for the NCAA Tournament...
postseason tournament. The team lost to the Princeton Tigers, and the Dukes were eliminated in the first round, ending the 2009 season.
Duquesne University
Duquesne UniversityDuquesne University
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
, also called Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit, is a private Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, United States. The University's Duquesne Dukes
Duquesne Dukes
The Duquesne Dukes are the athletic teams of Duquesne University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Duquesne has played men's basketball only in NCAA Division I and has played football as a club team from 1891–1894, 1896–1903, 1913–1914, and 1920–1928, in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision ...
compete in NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division I (D-I). D-I schools are generally the major collegiate athletic powers, with larger budgets, more elaborate facilities, and higher numbers of athletic scholarships in comparison to Division II and III. This level was once called the University Division of the NCAA, and the Division II and III levels, the College Division; this terminology was replaced with the current numeric (I, II, III) divisions in 1973.
The Dukes have played twice in national championship games in the 1950s and won the National Invitation Tournament
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
championship in 1955, when the NIT was the premier collegiate basketball tournament in the country. The men's basketball Dukes annually play its cross-town rival, the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
Panthers, in Pittsburgh's highly anticipated and well-attended City Game
City Game
The City Game is an annual college basketball game between the University of Pittsburgh Panthers and the Duquesne University Dukes. The term "City Game" is also used refer to women's basketball games played annually between the two universities and may also be used to refer to other athletic...
. The current head coach is Ron Everhart
Ron Everhart
Ron Everhart is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach at Duquesne University. Previously, he held the same position at Northeastern University and McNeese State University....
, who has a two-year record of 27–32 (13–19 in the Atlantic 10 Conference). Well-known Duquesne players of the past include All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
ns Chuck Cooper, Sihugo Green
Sihugo Green
Sihugo "Si" Green was an American professional basketball player who was born in New York City, New York....
, Dick Ricketts
Dick Ricketts
Richard James Ricketts, Jr. was an American professional basketball player.A 6'7" forward from Duquesne University, Ricketts was selected by the St. Louis Hawks with the first pick of the 1955 NBA Draft...
and Willie Somerset
Willie Somerset
Willard F. Somerset is an American former professional basketball player.A 5'8" guard from Duquesne University, Somerset played eight games for the Baltimore Bullets during the 1965-66 NBA season, averaging 5.6 points per game...
, and Norm Nixon
Norm Nixon
Norman Ellard "Norm" Nixon is a retired American professional basketball player for the NBA, who spent twelve seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers.-Early life:...
, who won the Most Outstanding Player in Duquesne's 57–54 victory over the Villanova Wildcats
Villanova Wildcats men's basketball
This is the article about the men's basketball team from Villanova University. The team has competed since the 1920–21 season. Nicknamed the "Wildcats", Villanova is a member of the Big East Conference and the Philadelphia Big Five. The Villanova Wildcats have appeared in the NCAA...
in the 1977 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Tournament
Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Tournament
The Atlantic 10 Conference Men's Basketball Tournament is the conference championship tournament in men's basketball for the Atlantic 10 Conference . The tournament has been held every year since 1977. It is a single-elimination tournament, and seeding is based on regular season records...
.
Preseason
Duquesne lost only one starter, Aaron Jackson, from the 2008–09 team which ended with a record of 21–13, the first time since 1981 that the school had 20 or more wins in a season. Picked to finish 12th in the Atlantic 10, Duquesne went on to finish second, losing to TempleTemple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
by only five points in the conference championship game. This earned Duquesne a bid into the National Invitation Tournament
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
, its first postseason appearance since 1994. The team was eliminated in a double-overtime first round loss to Virginia Tech, but the Dukes' unlikely success inspired the hope of a return to the NIT, or perhaps even the NCAA tournament.
On May 12, 2009 the school announced that two freshman
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
forwards, Shawntez Patterson and Aleksandar Milovic, had been released from their scholarships and cleared to transfer to other schools. Both saw limited action in the 2008 season. Shawntez Patterson transferred to Pensacola Junior College, and Aleksandar Milovic transferred to the University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
.
Andre Marhold, a small forward
Small forward
The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall...
and the first of two incoming freshmen, signed with Duquesne on April 16. Marhold, a native of Pittsburgh who moved to North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
for High School, averaged 17.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game his senior
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
year, in which his team was the regular season champion. He was ranked 188 in the top 1000 high school seniors by Hoop Scoop. Marhold turned down scholarship offers from Clemson, Charlotte, and Purdue.
Several weeks later on May 13, guard Sean Johnson of Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
also signed with the team. He attended Christ the King high school, whose basketball team finished his senior year ranked fourth in the state and eleventh in the nation by ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
. He averaged 22.4 points per game and was named New York City Catholic High School Athletic Association Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
. Johnson also received scholarship offers from Nebraska, Manhattan
Manhattan College
Manhattan College is a Roman Catholic liberal arts college in the Lasallian tradition in New York City, United States. Despite the college's name, it is no longer located in Manhattan but in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, roughly 10 miles north of Midtown. Manhattan College offers...
, and Quinnipiac
Quinnipiac University
Quinnipiac University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in Hamden, Connecticut, United States at the foot of Sleeping Giant State Park...
.
Prior to the start of the season, ESPN picked Duquesne to finish fifth in the Atlantic 10 conference, noting the loss of star Aaron Jackson but looking with optimism at the addition of 7 ft (2.1 m) center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
Morakinyo Williams and the continued development of other stars. Sophomore Melquan Bolding was also highlighted by ESPN as a key player in the Atlantic 10.
Incoming recruits
Roster
| # | Name | Height | Weight | Position | Class | Hometown | High School | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Andre Marhold | abbr=on 205 | F | Fr. | Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009... |
U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
North Mecklenburg HS North Mecklenburg High School North Mecklenburg High School is a high school in Huntersville, North Carolina. The school was founded in 1951 as an all-white school. It integrated in the 1960s. With over 3000 students, it was the largest school population-wise in North Carolina during the 2005-2006 school year. The current... |
|
| 2 | Chase Robinson | abbr=on 190 | G | So. | Huntsville, Alabama Huntsville, Alabama Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census.... |
U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Lee HS Lee High School (Huntsville, Alabama) Lee High School is a four-year public high school that serves students in grades 9-12 from Huntsville, in Madison County, Alabama in the United States, as a part of Huntsville City Schools.-History:... |
|
| 3 | Eric Evans | abbr=on 200 | G | So. | Detroit, Michigan Detroit, Michigan Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River... |
U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Northwestern HS Northwestern High School (Michigan) Northwestern High School is a secondary education facility in Detroit, Michigan. The most recent enrollment figures for Northwestern indicate a student population of approximately 2,000. Northwestern High School features numerous extracurricular activities; including: Debate, US Army JROTC,... |
|
| 4 | Salim Fauras | abbr=on 160 | G | Fr. | Geneva Geneva Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland... |
Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition.... |
Bishop Ireton HS | |
| 5 | Morakinyo Williams | abbr=on 270 | C Center (basketball) The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well... |
So. | Solihull Solihull Solihull is a town in the West Midlands of England with a population of 94,753. It is a part of the West Midlands conurbation and is located 9 miles southeast of Birmingham city centre... |
England England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental... |
Bishop Ireton HS | |
| 13 | Jason Duty | abbr=on 180 | G | Sr. | Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania Cranberry Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania Cranberry Township is a township in Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is classified as a Second Class Township and follows the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Second Class Township Code. The population was 28,098 as of the 2010 census.... |
U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Chartiers Valley HS Chartiers Valley High School Chartiers Valley High School is a public school in the Bridgeville borough of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA. The school's on-site stadium is home to the professional soccer team the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. The school has an indoor swimming pool which is open to the public three evenings a... |
|
| 20 | Sean Johnson | abbr=on 175 | G | Fr. | Queens, New York | U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Christ the King HS Christ The King Regional High School Christ the King Regional High School is a Catholic high school located in Middle Village, Queens, New York, USA and established in 1962. Often referred to as 'CK' among its students, it is located within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn.-History:... |
|
| 22 | David Theis | abbr=on 230 | F | Jr. | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States... |
U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Vincentian Academy Vincentian Academy Vincentian Academy is a Roman Catholic college preparatory school near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh.-Campus:... |
|
| 23 | Melquan Bolding | abbr=on 195 | G/F | So. | Mount Vernon, New York Mount Vernon, New York Mount Vernon is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. It lies on the border of the New York City borough of The Bronx.-Overview:... |
U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Notre Dame Prep Notre Dame Preparatory School (Fitchburg, Massachusetts) Notre Dame Preparatory School is a private, coeducational Roman Catholic high school in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester. The population of the school is average 32–42 students. It is a small sized boarding and day school... |
|
| 25 | Damian Saunders | abbr=on 210 | F | Jr. | Waterbury, Connecticut Waterbury, Connecticut Waterbury is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, on the Naugatuck River, 33 miles southwest of Hartford and 77 miles northeast of New York City... |
U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Notre Dame Prep Notre Dame Preparatory School (Fitchburg, Massachusetts) Notre Dame Preparatory School is a private, coeducational Roman Catholic high school in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester. The population of the school is average 32–42 students. It is a small sized boarding and day school... |
|
| 30 | Bill Clark | abbr=on 205 | G/F | Jr. | Redondo Beach, California Redondo Beach, California Redondo Beach is one of the three Beach Cities located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 66,748 at the 2010 census, up from 63,261 at the 2000 census. The city is located in the South Bay region of the greater Los Angeles area.Redondo Beach was originally part of... |
U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Worcester Academy Worcester Academy Worcester Academy is an independent coeducational preparatory school spread over in Worcester, Massachusetts in the United States. The school is divided into a middle school, serving approximately 150 students in grades six to eight, and an upper school, serving approximately 500 students in... |
|
| 32 | B.J. Monteiro | abbr=on 195 | G/F | So. | Waterbury, Connecticut Waterbury, Connecticut Waterbury is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, on the Naugatuck River, 33 miles southwest of Hartford and 77 miles northeast of New York City... |
U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Crosby HS Crosby High School (Waterbury, Connecticut) Crosby High School is a public high school located in Waterbury, Connecticut. It is part of the Waterbury Public Schools district. It has an enrollment of approximately 1368 students. Originally located at 255 East Main Street in Waterbury, it moved to 300 Pierpont Road in September,... |
|
| 33 | Rodrigo Peggau | abbr=on 235 | F | Fr. | Sao Paolo | Brazil Brazil Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people... |
The Patterson School The Patterson School The Patterson School is a private, non-profit, co-educational, non-denominational, multi-cultural boarding and day school for grades seven through twelve, and one year for Post Graduate study, located in Lenoir, North Carolina... |
|
| 54 | Oliver Lewinson | abbr=on 255 | C Center (basketball) The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well... |
So. | Payson, Arizona Payson, Arizona - History :Payson considers its founding year as 1882, at which time it was known as Green Valley or Union Park. On March 3, 1884, the town officially established a post office. Postmaster Frank C. Hise recommended that the town be named after a man named Levi Joseph Payson. Senator Payson was very... |
U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Payson HS Payson High School (Arizona) Payson High School is a 3A division high school located in the rural town of Payson, Arizona. It has approximately 800 students.The Payson Longhorns are well known for their wrestling program with legend Dennis Pirch as long time coach, Rc Lahaye who is now Grand Canyon University Wrestling Coach... |
|
| 55 | Lucas Newton | abbr=on 165 | G | Jr. | Ft. Lauderdale, Florida | U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Westminster Academy Westminster Academy (Florida) Westminster Academy is a private Christian school in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, serving students in grades Pre-K2 through 12. It is an educational ministry of the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church and is related denominationally to the Presbyterian Church in America.The main campus is located at 5601... |
Source
Coaching staff
Ron EverhartRon Everhart
Ron Everhart is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach at Duquesne University. Previously, he held the same position at Northeastern University and McNeese State University....
returned for his fourth season as head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
. After the departure of previous coach Danny Nee
Danny Nee
Danny Nee is the current Head Men's Basketball Coach at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. His career head coaching record as an NCAA Men's Basketball coach stands at 410-381.-Ohio University:...
, Everhart steadily improved the team's record year after year, taking the team from 3–24 the year before he arrived to the 21–13 record of 2008–09. Everhart attended Virginia Tech, from which he graduated in 1985. He served as an assistant coach at Georgia Tech, Virginia Military Institute
Virginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are...
, and Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
. In 1995 he took his first head coaching job at McNeese State University
McNeese State University
McNeese State University is a public university located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in the United States. Founded in 1939 as a junior college, McNeese experienced growth due to economic activity in the region. It adopted its present name in 1970....
, and also coached at Northeastern University before moving to Duquesne in 2006.
Bill Barton returned for his third season as Associate Head Coach. Steve Hall and Scott Rigot both served as Assistant Coaches for their second year. Jason Byrd was the Director of Basketball Operations.
Exhibition, Nicholls State, and Iowa
The Dukes played their first game of the season on November 7 in an exhibition match against Division III La RocheLa Roche College
La Roche College is a private college in McCandless, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh. It was founded in 1963 by the Sisters of Divine Providence as a Roman Catholic college and now sits on an campus in McCandless. The current president, Sister Candace Introcaso, CDP, Ph.D., was installed in...
. Duquesne scored a 47-point victory in which Damian Saunders led in scoring with 17 points. Despite the solid win, Duquesne made only 47.6% from the free throw
Free throw
In basketball, free throws or foul shots are unopposed attempts to score points from a restricted area on the court , and are generally awarded after a foul on the shooter by the opposing team...
line, a trend which haunted the team the rest of the season.
The regular season home-opener was another victory for the team, as they defeated Nicholls State 85–62 on November 13. Early in the game, Melquan Bolding hit the floor on a hard foul during a breakaway. After a few minutes, he recovered and went on to lead the team with 25 points. Saunders scored 17 points with 19 rebounds, his first of a long streak of double-doubles. This game was also the second and final game of B.J. Monteiro's 2-game suspension following allegations of participating in a robbery. Three days later, it was announced that Bolding had fractured his wrist when he was fouled, and would be unable to play for 4–6 weeks.
Despite the loss of Bolding, the team went on the road to face Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
on November 17, with newly-returned B.J. Monteiro starting in place of Melquan Bolding. When down 49–50 with 11.7 seconds left, Bill Clark took an off-balance 3-point shot which spun in, putting the team up 52–50 and sealing their second victory of the regular season. This was Duquesne's first ever victory at a Big 10 arena, and its first victory against a Big 10 school since a win over Illinois in 1973.
The CBE Classic
The team then traveled to Cullowhee, North CarolinaCullowhee, North Carolina
Cullowhee is a census-designated place in Jackson County, North Carolina, United States. Cullowhee is best known for being the home of Western Carolina University . The population was 9,428 as of the 2010 census. The area known as Cullowhee has Western Carolina University, part of the UNC...
for three games as part of the O'Reilly Auto Parts
O'Reilly Auto Parts
O'Reilly Auto Parts , originally known as O'Reilly Automotive, Inc., is a publicly traded chain of auto parts stores that started with one store in Springfield, Missouri in 1957. It has since grown to include more than 3,469 stores in 38 states. The corporate headquarters of O'Reilly is located in...
CBE Classic. Duquesne defeated Binghamton
Binghamton University
Binghamton University, also formally called State University of New York at Binghamton, , is a public research university in the State of New York. The University is one of the four university centers in the State University of New York system...
70–52 to extend its record to 3–0, with Saunders leading the way with 24 points. The next day the team improved to 4–0 with an overtime 75–72 victory against Division II Arkansas-Monticello. On the third day of play, Duquesne finally lost to Western Carolina
Western Carolina University
Western Carolina University is a coeducational public university located in Cullowhee, North Carolina, United States. The university is a constituent campus of the University of North Carolina system....
, 77–83.
The City Game and Chuck Cooper Classic
The Dukes then returned home, where they faced RadfordRadford University
Radford University is one of Virginia's eight doctoral-degree granting public universities. Originally founded in 1910, Radford offers comprehensive curricula for undergraduates in more than 100 fields, and graduate programs including the M.F.A., M.B.A...
on November 29th. B.J. Monteiro continued to perform well as a starter in replacing Melquan Bolding, leading the team with 21 points. Next up for the team was the annual City Game match-up between Duquesne and its crosstown rival Pitt
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
. In front of 12,336 fans at the Mellon Arena
Mellon Arena
Civic Arena is an indoor arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that is currently undergoing demolition. It was the first retractable roof major sports venue in the world, covering 170,000 sq. feet and constructed with just shy of 3,000 tons of Pittsburgh steel...
, Duquesne sprang out to a 16-point lead before slipping and losing 58–67 in double overtime. Bill Clark led all players with 23 points but the team hit foul trouble, with Saunders, Monteiro, and Peggau all fouling out in the final minutes.
On December 5, Duquesne hosted the Chuck Cooper Classic, in which it defeated the Savannah State Tigers
Savannah State Tigers
The Tigers is the name used for all of the men's intercollegiate athletic teams that play for Savannah State University in Savannah, Georgia. The female intercollegiate teams are known as the Lady Tigers.-Conference affiliation:...
by a score of 58–44. Eric Evans led with 17 points and Damian Saunders contributed 15.
West Virginia, Robert Morris, and Canisius
Four days later, the Dukes were blown out 39–68 by #7 West VirginiaWest Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
. Saunders led the team with only 12 points. One analyst attributed this loss to the skill of the Mountaineers, an abysmal night by star Bill Clark, as well as the continued absence of Melquan Bolding and now senior captain Jason Duty, who missed the game with a sprained ankle.
On December 12 the Dukes faced off against another local rival, Robert Morris
Robert Morris University
Robert Morris University is a private, coeducational university in suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1921, the school was named for Robert Morris, who signed the Declaration of Independence, and helped finance the ensuing war with the British.-History:Robert Morris...
. In a 59–54 win, B.J. Monteiro again led the team with 17 points. Monteiro's continued high level of play prompted some analysts, as well as fans, to wonder whether the approaching return of Melquan Bolding would send Monteiro back to the bench, or if someone else would lose their starting position. Four days later the Dukes held off the Canisius Golden Griffins in a double overtime 86–77 victory at home. Bill Clark and Damian Saunders both contributed double doubles while B.J. Monteiro scored a career high 27 points.
The end of conference play
The team then traveled to Indianapolis, where they lost to IUPUI 64–73, despite a career high 20 points from Eric Evans. In their final game before a short Christmas break, Duquesne defeated the Saint Francis Red FlashSaint Francis University
Saint Francis University is a four-year, coeducational Catholic liberal arts university in Loretto, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1847 and conducted under the tradition of the Franciscan Friars of the Third Order Regular...
86–56. Damian Saunders scored his tenth double-double, making him the national leader in that statistic, as well as second in rebounds. Following the break, Duquesne lost its final non-conference game to the Old Dominion Monarchs by a score of 54–63, the first of a five game losing streak. Saunders still managed to post his eleventh double-double, coming just one block short of what would have been only the second triple-double in school history.
Early conference play
Duquesne opened conference play on January 6 in a match against the Richmond SpidersRichmond Spiders
The Richmond Spiders represent the University of Richmond, a member of the NCAA's Division I and a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference for all sports except football and women's golf, which participate as members of the Colonial Athletic Association....
, a team which the Dukes had not defeated since the Spiders joined the Atlantic 10 in 2001. This game marked the return of Melquan Bolding, though he did not start and scored only three points in fourteen minutes of playing time. Richmond managed to extend their streak, defeating the Dukes 86–80, while Saunders maintained his nation-leading position and now placed eighth in both blocks and steals. Duquesne then traveled to Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
where they lost to the Dayton Flyers
Dayton Flyers
The Dayton Flyers are the University of Dayton's intercollegiate athletic teams, which are based in Dayton, Ohio. The Flyers' home arena is the University of Dayton Arena. The name is a reference and homage to Daytonians Orville and Wilbur Wright who pioneered heavier than air flight...
72–78 in overtime in front of a crowd of 13,435, the largest crowd the team would see all season. Senior Jason Duty was fouled on a 3-point attempt at the end of the game when his team was down by one, but made only one of three foul shots, sending the game into overtime. Melquan Bolding scored 13 points in 36 minutes, though he did not start, and Saunders came into the game now leading the nation in rebounds.
Duquesne found itself in overtime once again as they dropped another game against the St. Louis Billikens in double overtime, 75–79. Melquan Bolding suffered another setback as he sat out most of the game, playing only five minutes due to strep throat
Strep throat
Streptococcal pharyngitis, streptococcal tonsillitis, or streptococcal sore throat is a type of pharyngitis caused by a group A streptococcal infection. It affects the pharynx including the tonsils and possibly the larynx. Common symptoms include fever, sore throat, and enlarged lymph nodes...
. The team then went back out on the road to face the Rhode Island Rams
Rhode Island Rams
The Rhode Island Rams are the athletic programs of the University of Rhode Island, based in Kingston, Rhode Island, USA. The school sponsors 18 athletic programs , most of which compete in the NCAA's Division I Atlantic 10 Conference. The football team, however, competes in the Colonial Athletic...
, where they again lost with a final score of 67–75, dropping their conference record to 0–4. Bill Clark missed a game for the first time in his college career due to a suspension on suspicion of a "secondary NCAA rules violation." Melquan Bolding started the game for the first time since his injury, but only scored 6 points.
First conference win, Xavier, and Saint Joseph's
Two days later, Clark was reinstated. With Clark back in the lineup for a home game against St. Bonaventure BonniesSt. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure University is a private, Franciscan Catholic university, located in Allegany, Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. It has roughly 2,400 undergraduate and graduate students....
, Ron Everhart tried a new starting lineup: one that included Bolding and Monteiro, but left Senior Jason Duty on the bench. The Dukes took a 15 point lead at half time, but the Bonnies came back. With less than thirty seconds left, Bill Clark drew a charging penalty which gave his team the ball, down by two. One quick possession by each team left it 67–69 in favor of the Bonnies. On the final play, Damian Saunders drove towards the basket before passing it out to Melquan Bolding, who hit a 3-point shot to put the Dukes up by one with 3.5 seconds remaining. Duquesne won 70–69, giving them their first win since December 22.
The winning feeling was short-lived, however, as the Dukes were shut down by the Xavier Musketeers on January 28, losing 86–50. Melquan Bolding led the team with 14 points, Damian Saunders scored only 6, and Bill Clark only 4. On January 31st the team pulled out a 74–71 win against the Saint Joseph's Hawks
Saint Joseph's Hawks
The Saint Joseph's Hawks represent the athletic teams at Saint Joseph's University. The Hawks compete in Division I in the NCAA and the Philadelphia Big 5. The school also has intramurals and extramurals, the latter of which compete with the City 6 . The school is mostly known for its men's...
at home, with Melquan Bolding leading the team with 24 points.
Temple, George Washington, and Massachusetts
Once again, though, the Dukes were unable to build momentum as they lost 60–76 to #19 ranked TempleTemple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
. Bill Clark and Eric Evans led the team with just 12 points each. On February 6, the Dukes braved a blizzard
First North American blizzard of 2010
The February 5–6, 2010 North American blizzard also known as "Snowmaggedon" was a winter storm and severe weather event that tracked from the U.S. states of California to Arizona through northern Mexico, the American Southwest, the Midwest, Southeast, and Mid-Atlantic regions...
for a game against the George Washington Colonials
George Washington Colonials
The George Washington Colonials are the athletic teams of George Washington University. The school sponsors 21 varsity sports , the majority of which compete in the Division I Atlantic 10 Conference. The men's and women's water polo teams compete in the Collegiate Water Polo Association and the...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. Saunders led the way to a 70–63 win with a career-high 27 points. Returning home on February 11 to face the Massachusetts Minutemen
UMass Minutemen
The UMass Minutemen are the athletic teams that represent the University of Massachusetts Amherst in NCAA Division I sports competition. The nickname is also applied to club teams that do not participate within the NCAA structure. Strictly speaking, the Minutemen nickname applies to men's teams and...
, the Dukes were unable to win two consecutive games for the third straight time, losing 80–84. Damian Saunders scored 15 points, but was injured and left the game for a while; when he returned, he did not score in the remainder of his playing time. He did, however, become Duquesne's 33rd player to pass the 1,000 career points mark.
Introducing the 10–40, Charlotte, and a rematch with Dayton
Duquesne enjoyed another game at home on February 14 against the La Salle ExplorersLa Salle Explorers
La Salle Explorers is the name of the athletic teams from La Salle University. The school's 23 varsity sports teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and are a member of the Atlantic Ten Conference. The American football team previously played in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Football...
. Ron Everhart sought a new strategy for his team, which was struggling in conference play. In this game, La Salle was missing three players, leaving them with an active roster of only eight players. Duquesne ran a 10–40 pattern, in which two squads of five players execute short, intense bursts before being switched out for the other squad. At first, Duquesne fell behind by 14 points, but the strategy paid off as La Salle's players tired. With La Salle fatigued, Duquesne switched back to a normal rotation and went on to win 103–82. Bill Clark scored a career high 34 points, and also surpassed the 1,000 point mark.
As underdogs on the road against the Charlotte 49ers
Charlotte 49ers
The Charlotte 49ers represent the NCAA Division I sports teams of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Charlotte joined the Atlantic 10 in 2005. The 49ers field 16 teams, 8 men and 8 women....
, the Dukes' new 10–40 strategy led them to an 83–77 upset victory. This was the first time of the season the team had managed to win two consecutive conference games. On February 21, Duquesne again returned home for a nationally-televised game against the Dayton Flyers
Dayton Flyers
The Dayton Flyers are the University of Dayton's intercollegiate athletic teams, which are based in Dayton, Ohio. The Flyers' home arena is the University of Dayton Arena. The name is a reference and homage to Daytonians Orville and Wilbur Wright who pioneered heavier than air flight...
. Senior Jason Duty was honored in a pre-game ceremony, and the game's attendance of 5,144 was only 214 short of the A.J. Palumbo Center's capacity. A late layup drive by Damian Saunders put the Dukes up by one, and they went on to win 73–71.
Ending the regular season
Duquesne was unable to extend its streak on the road against St. Louis, as they lost 59–69. Bill Clark led the team with 17 points and Saunders grabbed four steals, enough to raise his per-game average to 2.9, a nation-leading figure. With this, Saunders had at one point led the nation in double-doubles, rebounds, and steals. The Dukes lost again, 80–92, in their final road game against Saint Bonaventure. The loss put a damper on Duquesne's hopes for a home game in the first round of the Atlantic 10 tournament, as they fell into a tie for the ninth seed position.Duquesne closed its season against Fordham
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
, who had yet to win a conference game and had only won two games all season. Fordham was hungry for a win, and a lack of effective defense on both sides led to a high scoring 111–100 victory for Duquesne. Melquan Bolding and Eric Evans both posted career high scores of 32 and 23, respectively.
Postseason
After Duquesne lost to Saint Bonaventure, the Bonnies also lost their final regular season game to Xavier, which left the two teams in a tie for the eighth seed and the home tournament game that went with it. The two teams had played each other twice during the season, with each team taking one victory, so the second tiebreaker came down to who had scored the best victory. Duquesne's best win came against Charlotte, while Saint Bonaventure's was against Rhode Island. Unfortunately, those two teams were also in a tie. So for Duquesne to get their home game, Charlotte had to win their final home game, and Rhode Island had to lose. Both teams lost, so the tie remained and Rhode Island won out due to their head-to-head records. Thus Duquesne would head back out on the road against the Bonnies.The game was played on March 9 and was close until the Bonnies went on a 14–0 run halfway into the second half, going on to win 71–83. Despite Damian Saunders posting his 20th and final double-double of the year, Duquesne's 5 for 21 performance from beyond the 3-point arc combined with St. Bonaventure's 75% 3-point shooting and two players scoring in the upper twenties put the game out of the Dukes' reach. The loss dashed Duquesne's last hopes at a bid to the NIT. However, an invitation to either the College Basketball Invitational
College Basketball Invitational
The College Basketball Invitational is a men's college basketball tournament created in 2007 by The Gazelle Group. The inaugural tournament occurred after the conclusion of the 2007–08 men's college basketball regular season. The CBI selects 16 teams that are not selected for the NCAA Tournament...
(CBI) or CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament
CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament
The CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament created in 2009 by College Insider.com. It now hosts 24 participating teams.-Champions:-2009:...
was still possible.
Early on March 15, hours after the NCAA and NIT fields were announced, Duquesne accepted a bid into the CBI. This would be Duquesne's 23rd postseason appearance and first in the CBI, which started in 2008. This also marked the first time since 1981 that the Dukes made two consecutive postseason appearances. It was announced that the Dukes would face off against the Princeton Tigers
Princeton Tigers
The Princeton Tigers are the athletic teams of Princeton University. The school sponsors 31 varsity sports. The school has won several NCAA national championships, including one in men's fencing, six in men's lacrosse, three in women's lacrosse, and eight in men's golf...
at Jadwin Gymnasium
Jadwin Gymnasium
The L. Stockwell Jadwin Gymnasium is a 6,854-seat multi-purpose arena in Princeton, New Jersey. The arena opened in 1969. It is home to the Princeton University Tigers basketball team...
on March 17.
On Tuesday, March 16, it was announced that Junior Bill Clark had been suspended indefinitely from the team due to "conduct" issues. Clark had not attended practice the day before and would not travel to Princeton with the team for the CBI opening game on Wednesday. This would be only the second game that Bill Clark has missed in his college career.
Duquesne suffered its final disappointment of the season on March 17 as it fell to the Princeton Tigers. Bill Clark remained suspended and Damian Saunders led the team with only 14 points. Duquesne dominated the game early on, taking a 20–11 lead before Princeton came back, eventually leading 28–23 at the half. The Dukes were unable to turn the momentum and continued to fall behind, eventually losing 51–65. The absence of Bill Clark showed on defense, as the Dukes were out-rebounded heavily. The Dukes also failed to improve on their issues from the regular season, going only 8 for 18 from the free throw line and 3 for 15 from 3-point range. This loss ended the 2009 season, and all Duquesne could do was look ahead to the next year.
Schedule
|-!colspan=9| 2010 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Tournament
2010 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2010 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Tournament was played initially at campus sites for the first round on March 9th, 2010 and subsequently at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey from March 12th through March 14th, 2010...
|-
!colspan=9| 2010 College Basketball Invitational
2010 College Basketball Invitational
The 2010 College Basketball Invitational is a single-elimination tournament of 16 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I teams that did not participate in the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament or the 2010 National Invitation Tournament. The opening round began Tuesday,...
Statistics
Duquesne was plagued by a few issues during the 2009 season. Most notable were the poor free-throw and 3-point shooting percentages. Duquesne was last in the Atlantic 10 in both of these categories at 60.8% and 26.3% respectively. Despite their poor performance shooting from beyond the 3-point line, Duquesne still shot the fourth most three-pointers of all teams in the Atlantic 10. The following chart displays player per-game average statistics for the regular season and Atlantic 10 tournament.| # | Name | Minutes | Points | Assists | Turnovers | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Field Goal % | 3-Point % | Free Throw % | Fouls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Andre Marhold | 6.4 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.1 | .263 | 0 | .200 | .8 |
| 2 | Chase Robinson | 3.8 | 0.7 | 0 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0 | 0.1 | .286 | .200 | 1.000 | 0.5 |
| 3 | Eric Evans | 31.1 | 10.2 | 3.8 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 0 | 1.3 | .383 | .229 | .633 | 2.5 |
| 4 | Salim Fauras | 0.5 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 |
| 5 | Morakinyo Williams | 9.7 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 0.1 | 0 | .435 | 0 | .385 | 1.3 |
| 13 | Jason Duty | 27.7 | 5.4 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 0.1 | 0.6 | .352 | .342 | .741 | 2.0 |
| 20 | Sean Johnson | 15 | 5.4 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 0.4 | .425 | .160 | .678 | 1.6 |
| 22 | David Theis | 3.8 | 0.3 | 0 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | .200 | 0 | 0 | 0.8 |
| 23 | Melquan Bolding | 27.7 | 12.1 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 3.7 | 0 | 1.4 | .409 | .243 | .731 | 1.9 |
| 25 | Damian Saunders | 36.6 | 15.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 11.3 | 3.0 | 2.8 | .497 | .196 | .487 | 2.6 |
| 30 | Bill Clark | 32.1 | 14.1 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 6.0 | 0.4 | 1.0 | .412 | .279 | .740 | 3.2 |
| 32 | B.J. Monteiro | 27.9 | 11.1 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 4.3 | 0.4 | 0.8 | .471 | .317 | .505 | 2.7 |
| 33 | Rodrigo Peggau | 7.7 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 0 | 0.2 | .424 | 0 | .300 | 1.4 |
| 54 | Oliver Lewinson | 6.8 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 0 | 0.2 | .500 | 0 | .667 | 1.1 |
| 55 | Lucas Newton | 5.2 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0 | 0.2 | .444 | .429 | 1.000 | 0.5 |
Source
Awards and controversies
Duquesne players received a few accolades in the 2009–10 season. Junior Damian Saunders's outstanding play earned him a spot on the Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team. He was also named the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year. Earlier in the season, Jason Duty was nominated as a finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS award, an award which recognizes college seniors who demonstrate exemplary outstanding performance both on the court and in the classroom. Duty, who held a 3.72 GPA as an accounting major and had already accepted a job with PricewaterhouseCoopersPricewaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers is a global professional services firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest professional services firm measured by revenues and one of the "Big Four" accountancy firms....
, was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Academic Team.
Early in the season, Damian Saunders was named Atlantic 10 (A-10) player of the week for two consecutive weeks, sharing the honors with Chris Wright of Dayton and Jordan Crawford of Xavier, respectively. Following his 34-point performance against La Salle, Bill Clark earned his first career A-10 Player of the Week award, with Richmond's Kevin Anderson.
The season was also marred by a few controversies. Prior to the beginning of play, B.J. Monteiro was arrested on October 3 in Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653. In 1784, the central...
. He turned himself into police on suspicion of participating in the theft of a laptop, iPod, and cash from a house during a party in early August. He was charged with third-degree larceny
Larceny
Larceny is a crime involving the wrongful acquisition of the personal property of another person. It was an offence under the common law of England and became an offence in jurisdictions which incorporated the common law of England into their own law. It has been abolished in England and Wales,...
and, on October 6, he was suspended indefinitely from the team. Following his court appearance on October 13, all charges were dropped and Monteiro was reinstated to the team.
In late January, Junior Bill Clark was benched for the game against Rhode Island as the NCAA investigated a potential secondary rules violation. The specific details of the incident were not released by Duquesne, even after Clark's return to the team the next day. A secondary rules violation is defined as "one that is isolated or inadvertent in nature, provides or is intended to provide only a minimal recruiting, competitive or other advantage."
In the postseason, Bill Clark was again suspended, this time by coach Everhart for a conduct issue. The day before the CBI game against Princeton, Everhart announced that Clark would not travel to the game or participate in any practices or team activities until he felt the student ready to return. Clark was reinstated two weeks later, and, as before, no details were revealed.