PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – As I heard one Duquesne fan say behind me to a very excited counterpart in the first half as the Dukes were already blowing out Montana Tuesday night-'it's eight minutes into the season, relax a minute'. It would be hard for Duquesne fans not to be excited after a 91-63 thrashing of the Grizzlies in the season opener.
The Dukes defense so intense it held Montana to twice as many turnovers as field goals in the first half. The Griz were 4-22 from the floor, 2-11 from three, only a 9 of 10 performance from the foul line got them in the teens. That Dukes defense led to an offense that shot 58% in the first half with six steals.
"We are super-deep, our young core is talented," said forward Joe Reece. "It shows that on-and-off the court we have a connection. We have been implementing brotherhood on-and-off the court. We clicked up early and it shows on the court."
Duquesne would shoot 64% for the game (a program high under Dambrot), 42% from three, plus 13 rebounding. Montana would get a few buckets in the back part of the second half to shoot 38% overall, 30% from three.
We wondered what a Duquesne team would look like with 10 new players and facing a team that won 18 games last year.
"When we saw the preseason polls we were pissed," Reece said of the Dukes being picked last in the preseason Atlantic 10 polls. "We had a chip on our shoulder from jump. We thought we were way better than that. Every day at practice coach always puts that out there. That brings us fire. That brings us energy because once again, they had us last."
A perfect night for Dae Dae Grant-the Miami of Ohio transfer finished with 25 points on 8 for 8 shooting (6-6 from 3 and 3-3 FT).
"He's been really simple," said Duquesne Head Coach Keith Dambrot. "He just shot open shots. With his stroke, when he shoots open shots they are going in. That's how it's been every day in practice, if he gets an open shot. It's going in."
"Trusting my teammates, giving thanks to them most of all and to coach as well," Grant said. "Trusting them to give me the ball and playing off me as well. I love to share it as well, not just score it."
Other contributors:
· Freshman 6'8" forward Matus Hronsky went 5 of 6 from the floor with a pair of threes and 13 points.
· 6'8" Old Dominion senior transfer Joe Reece had 12 points and two blocks in 16 minutes, adding five rebounds.
· Sophomore community college transfer guard Quincy McGriff played a team-high 29 minutes and scored 10 points.
· Junior guard Jimmy Clark had eight points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal
Duquesne won six games all last season, they won one conference game. Yeah, it's early, but hard for Dukes' fans not to be excited with what they saw at the Cooper Fieldhouse Tuesday.
Next Up
The competition rises as the Dukes play at number four Kentucky Friday night at 7p.
"I think it's a big test," Reece said. "It's a huge test for us to see where we are at. We are all excited for it. It's a huge stage, why not be happy for it."
"They are another team," Grant said. "It's another game. There will be a ball and two hoops like us. We will go out and compete and look forward to a 'W'."
