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Duquesne University
By Chris Peak

There's no doubting that Duquesne had a rough time last season. It's never a good thing when your team has more starting lineups than wins, but that's exactly what the Dukes went through in 2004-05, as head coach Danny Nee used 12 different groupings and produced only eight wins.

The lineup changes weren't a result of poor play. Rather, the rotation grew out of continuing injury issues, as 10 different players missed a total of 18 games last season. None of the combinations started more than four consecutive games.

"We were very thin," Nee said of last year's squad. "This year's team is much deeper and much stronger. We feel we're 11 deep with a lot more experience."

Indeed, as the Dukes enter the 2005-06 season, they've got a number of players who should be stabilizers on the court. Senior guard Bryant McAllister, a second team All-Atlantic 10 honoree last season, returns to run the point for the first time since his freshman season. The Dukes are also looking for continuing development from the conference's Most Improved Player in 6-9, 260-pound center Kieron Achara. Senior guard Jack Higgins enters the starting line-up at the two-guard and sophomore transfer Ryan Lambert should contribute in the front court. Lambert started 20 games as a true freshman for Western Kentucky in 2003-04.

The Dukes will also get some help in the experience department from sophomores DeVario Hudson and Chauncey Duke. Hudson and Duke combined for 33 starts as true freshmen last season.

Still, the path is not going to be easy. The A-10 conference always has some national contenders, and the Dukes play four NCAA tournament teams in their first nine games.

For Duquesne, who hasn't had a winning record since 1995, the goal is simply stated by Nee:

"Our goal is to end the losing streak."