In a year that started with their best player transferring (Robert Mitchell to Seton Hall) and one of their top young players (Stuard Baldonado) leaving the team due to run-ins with the law, the Dukes still managed to make a splash in 2007-08.

The Duquesne program has had to deal with hardship over the past few seasons. Two years ago, the Dukes were one of the worst teams in the nation, sporting a feeble 3-24 record. Last season the team was depleted due to an off-court shooting incident that left a handful of players out for the season.

So losing six of its last seven games didn't entirely erase the good feeling at Duquesne. The fact that it has been able to overcome so much and still manage a 17-13 record is a step in the right direction.

"We brought pride back to Duquesne basketball," said senior guard Reggie Jackson. "All around campus, a lot of people are just excited where the program has come the last couple years. It felt good to bring the excitement back."

Excitement is right. The Dukes led the A-10 in scoring (82.3 ppg), assists (18.1 apg) and steals (9.4 spg) in Ron Everhart's hectic, platoon-substitution, full-court press system. Ten players averaged at least 10 minutes per game, with eight players scoring at least 6.5 points per contest. It gave teams fits early in the season, helping Duquesne to a 10-3 nonconference schedule, with its only losses coming to three NCAA Tournament teams in Drake, Pittsburgh and West Virginia.

Duquesne was unable to keep that momentum going through the A-10 schedule. A lack of consistent outside shooting and several close losses landed the Dukes with a 7-9 conference record and a No. 10 seed in the A-10 Tournament, where they would lose to La Salle 82-79 in the first round.

But the future is bright. Everhart is very popular on campus. The team returns several key pieces from the 2007-08 season.

Copyright (C) 2008 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.