Don't Look Now
Competition Should Make Dukes Better
By Ray Mernagh

Competition is going to be a key for the 2007-08 Duquesne basketball team.

The Dukes of the recent past had little talent - hence the competition for playing time in practice was almost non-existent. When head coach Ron Everhart inherited a squad fostered by that non-competitive environment he made the logical decision to clean house by making something crystal clear to his new players: the effort they were used to giving was unacceptable and if that was the best they could do they'd be wise to look elsewhere to finish their careers. Only big man Kieron Achara and guard Aaron Jackson stayed.

Achara dedicated himself to losing weight and reshaping his body because Everhart insisted on it. The pleasant Scotsman is now 40 pounds lighter, while his 6-10 frame is unquestionably stronger than it was two years ago.

"The style we want to play just didn't fit the type of plodding banger that Kieron was when we got here," Everhart tells me. "He's completely transformed his body and actually gained strength, I give him a ton of credit."

Jackson was happy to have a coach bringing in an up-tempo system he could thrive in. Both - Achara, now in graduate school, and the junior Jackson - will play important roles in any success this year's Dukes enjoy. Looking at the schedule, I'd be shocked if this group doesn't add at least 7 or 8 wins to their total of 10 from last year. The reason?

The aforementioned competition.

"We have tons of guys who can play," says Achara, "so if you don't come to play every day you'll lose your spot."

You want examples? I'll give you a few from a recent workout I attended.

In a five on five full-court drill 6'7" freshman Damian Saunders gets stripped of the ball in the deep corner by Aaron Jackson, who immediately heads the opposite way. Jackson picks up speed as he crosses half court, slows down at the free throw line to get his takeoff right and floats off the floor for what will surely be a smooth finish (or so he thinks). Meanwhile, Saunders has been gliding down the sideline just out of Jackson's sight. Just as Jackson releases the ball, Saunders does his best Tayshaun Prince impression. It's only the expletives that ring out after the block - I plead guilty to uttering the universal phrase that inevitably follows the witnessing of an unbelievable play - that reinforce what happened. Saunders caught the ball at the top of the white square and sent it screaming back at Jackson!

Then there's the transfers.

Shawn James runs the floor, catches a pass just behind the three-point-line and rises up for an easy-looking 20-foot jumper. Did I mention that James goes 6'10" and led the nation in blocks two years ago while at Northeastern? Finally, Kojo Mensah hits Achara with a no-look pass off a left-handed dribble that's flat-out bananas. Mensah finds shooters off penetration numerous times during the workout. I don't see anyone staying in front of this kid.

Concerns? Outside shooting. Local product Jason Duty and freshman Bill Clark seem to be the purest shooters of the bunch. With Mensah's ability to drive and dish, knocking down open looks will make things easier.

The talent is better, as is the athleticism. They'll play up-tempo and pressure defensively. Coming into conference play with 10-plus wins is more than doable.

I'm calling 18 wins - holler at me in March!

Ray Mernagh is a contributing editor at PSR.