Despite challenges, Keith Dambrot believes his Dukes can win
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Duquesne has reached a point in this covid-ravaged season of upheaval where coach Keith Dambrot hopes to set aside what has gone before it and focus on the future.
Most of the team tested positive for covid-19 at one point or another, but Dambrot said Tuesday all results have been negative for the past two weeks.
“Our hardest days are behind us,” he said.
The loss of starters Sincere Carry, Maceo Austin and Lamar Norman Jr. — Carry and Norman are in the process of transferring, and Austin eventually might return to Duquesne — will be difficult to endure. But Dambrot and his staff have had a week to put the remaining pieces back together.
“We got hit in the mouth pretty good,” the coach said. “Thank goodness we have pretty good depth. We’re capable of surviving it.”
Although there’s no escaping how dire the situation has been for the homeless Dukes — the nearly two-year construction project continues on UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse — but at least they’ve won as many games as they’ve lost (3-3, 2-2 Atlantic 10).
The road gets tougher — and longer — this week when the Dukes hit three cities in three days. After departing Tuesday for Wednesday’s game at Dayton, the team will be back in Pittsburgh on Thursday for maybe a quick nap and some practice. Then, it’s off to Olean, N.Y., arriving shortly before midnight Thursday to face St. Bonaventure on Friday night. That game was moved from Saturday to accommodate ESPN2 and the A-10 ESPN Friday Night Showcase.
“It’s not the easiest deal I’ve ever done,” Dambrot said.
He is not complaining because the Dukes need the work. Duquesne is one of only four A-10 teams that have played six or fewer games.
“The more we play the better we’re going to get,” he said.
While Duquesne has had five games canceled or postponed, Dayton (6-3, 2-2) has played a full schedule, including victories against SEC schools Mississippi State and Ole Miss.
“I think it matters,” Dambrot said of losing games. “Other than losing the three guys, it’s probably the most important thing, maybe even more important than that. We’re low-mileage.
“We’re still fighting the remnants of conditioning, knowledge and our young guys getting game-ready.”
Back in the normal rhythm of a season, Dambrot and his players must learn to play a different style of offense without Carry. Dambrot said Carry “basically had the keys to the car and could do anything he wanted for the most part.”
“We have a little less ability to create off the ball screen. Sincere is really good at getting guys involved and creating opportunities for others.”
With 6-foot-7 freshmen Chad Baker, Toby Okani and Andre Harris getting more playing time, Dambrot likes having the additional length on the wings, which should help on defense.
Plus, Tavian Dunn-Martin, a 3-point shot threat, will replace Carry at point guard, elevating 6-4 freshman Tyson Acuff to backup.
“We’re going to have to be a defensive-oriented team to grind out wins, and we’re going to have to be a little bit more precise in our ability offensively,” he said.
Duquesne shot 31% from the field last week in two games at La Roche and scored only 48 points both times. The Dukes were 1-1, but the coach said, “You can’t shoot like that and really win.”
Meanwhile, seniors Marcus Weathers and Michael Hughes will gain more prominence on the court as their conditioning improves.
“Marcus and Mike have to be more dominant if we’re going to win,” the coach said.
Both have produced in the past. Weathers averaged 19.2 points and eight rebounds last season in six games against the A-10’s best teams (Dayton, Richmond, Rhode Island and Saint Louis). Hughes is one of the top shot-blockers in school history at 2.4 per game.
Dambrot, who has coached in high school and at the NAIA, Division II and Division I mid-major levels, said he also must adjust.
“I’ve had to coach in a variety of ways with a bunch of different types of teams,” he said. “I know what way I really want to play, but I’m capable of making adjustments, if we have good enough players. Ultimately, that decides whether you win or lose.
“Regardless of the circumstances, my job is to make our guys believe they can win. I believe in the guys in the locker room. I believe we can win.”