Keith Dambrot torn on rules — and reasons — surrounding recent Duquesne departures
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The 2020-21 season was supposed to be a step forward for the Duquesne men’s basketball program (3-4). That hope was largely based on the premise that they had a great deal of upperclass returning talent and experience.
Well, it started that way. But so much for that idea, just seven games into the year.
When the Dukes hit the floor Friday night at St. Bonaventure, they’ll be doing so without guards Sincere Carry, Lamar Norman Jr. and Maceo Austin. Carry and Norman entered the transfer portal with Carry already electing to go to Kent State. Carry will have two full seasons of athletic eligibility remaining with the Golden Flashes.
Austin’s family suffered a blow last year when his sister died. And he has taken time away from the team to cope. Although Duquesne men’s coach Keith Dambrot said this week he expects Austin to be back with the program eventually. Austin told Pittsburgh Sports Now recently that he has no plans to transfer.
Carry was a second-team All-Atlantic 10 selection last season and a three-year starter at point guard. He was second in scoring (12.2 points per game) and led the team in assists (158) a year ago. He was averaging nine points and four assists per game this season.
Norman started 25 games over his two-plus seasons at Duquesne. His scoring average rose from 4.8 points per game as a freshman to 6.1 last season.
Austin, a sophomore from Kennedy Catholic, started 29 games in 2019-20. He was averaging 4.8 points per game while making four starts this season.
All three players — especially Carry — were valuable contributors to a team that got the Dukes above the 20-win threshold for the first time since 2009 last year. And the trio was supposed to soak up a large chunk of minutes in the backcourt this season, with fellow returning senior Tavian Dunn-Martin.
However, given the addition of freshman Tyson Acuff and former Pitt guard Ryan Murphy to the rotation, as well as taller freshman swing players such as Toby Okani, Chad Baker and Andre Harris, playing time was at a premium.
Dambrot has differing views as to why each player left.
“I understand Maceo’s deal 100%,” Dambrot said Tuesday. “Even to some extent, I get Lamar’s. He wanted a bigger role. He wanted to handle the ball more. (He) just felt like he couldn’t get what he wanted here. Sincere, on the other hand, it’s just straight unhappiness. Just not very happy. … If you aren’t that happy, you’ve got to make a change.”
But Dambrot claims Carry “didn’t really express” what that unhappiness was about.
“Ultimately, it can’t be playing time or role for him,” Dambrot continued. “He basically had the keys to the car and could do anything he wanted for the most part. So it must be unhappiness with me or the team or circumstances.”
Extended eligibility rules because of the covid-19 pandemic and relaxed waiver restrictions on transfers have opened the transfer process. Dambrot has mixed feelings about it.
“If other athletes are allowed to transfer and be immediately eligible, then our guys should be immediately eligible,” Dambrot said. “That being said, I don’t believe in giving up on situations so quickly as the young people of today do. I don’t believe that going as far as you can go before you have to leave is good for people. … We quit early. We give up early. We don’t fight.
“So I don’t think the rule is good for people. But I think it should be there. Because coaches leave. So there’s no choice, really.”
Now the Dukes have to revamp who they are as a team, just as the Atlantic 10 season is getting underway.
“We have a little less ability to create off-the-ball screens,” Dambrot said. “Sincere was really good at getting others involved. We are a little bit bigger on the wings. We showed we could defend. We are going to have to be a defensive-oriented team and grind out wins. We are going to have to be a little more precise in our ability offensively.”
Dambrot also knows that returning frontcourt staples Marcus Weathers and Michael Hughes are going to have to shoulder more of the scoring burden. Both of those players are scoring a bit less than they were a year ago. But now they’ll be called upon even more.
“Marcus and Mike need to be more dominant if we are going to win,” Dambrot insisted.
Norman left the team before its loss against Davidson on Jan. 5. Austin and Carry departed before the team’s win at Fordham on Jan. 9. The Dukes are 1-2 since the players left. On Friday night, they visit St. Bonaventure.
“We got hit in the mouth pretty good,” Dambrot said. “Thank goodness we have depth. We are capable of surviving it. It’s not going to be easy. The circumstances make it more difficult. But I believe in the guys in the locker room. I believe we can win.”
TribLive reached out to both Norman and Carry for comment about their decisions to transfer. Neither replied.
As for the remaining Dukes, there are 12 games left on the schedule as of now, with the prospect of some postponements to be rescheduled.
It’s one thing to never be quite sure when you are taking the court due to coronavirus cancelations. It’s quite another to have no idea who’ll be taking the court in the first place.
Just another hurdle to be conquered in a season of challenges for Duquesne — and every other team in college basketball.