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Let's be honest: it will be a dogfight going one of three ways:

(1) We hold Duquesne at arm's length by eight or 10 points most of the game and win by about two or three possessions.

(2) We'll be trailing most of the game, only to rip off a crazy rally that either (a) gives us a hard-fought victory; or (b) falls just short; or

I hope we can win this one by 6-8 points.

Duquesne won't be intimidated; that's for sure. But apparently they already had their Senior Day, so there won't be an artificial build-up of emotion. And the place there only holds about 5,500, so even if they pack it in, it won't be a feeling like Saint Louis or Dayton; more like Saint Bonnies or URI-NE.

Puffers_Porter wrote:I know I'm not the only one who wouldn't be the least bit surprised if we lost to Duquesne and then beat St. Louis.

That's actually what I think will happen.

I don't have any idea as to what's going to happen. I gave up making predictions with this team awhile back. They manage to surprise in both good and bad ways.

My hopes, aside from a win, are as follows:

Defense is committed and consistent. Limit the penetration and open looks and if that means less ball pressure and less gambling so be it.

Defensive rebounding improves. I would be happy with any size improvement.

Put reasserts himself offensively.

DG and Trey continue to play well.

Cady is active and engaged at both ends of the floor.

Chaz puts the Dayton game in his rearview mirror.

Maxie has one of his 11 point, 7 board, 2 block games off the bench.

Business trip.

Originally I thought we would win this game easily, but now I am concerned. Duquesne has won 2 of the last 4 (SLU and RI, both away games) and the losses were by 4 at SBU and by 3 to Dayton. Their confidence is high right now.

On the radio show, DK said they have been working on the press this week and he wants to start pressing and running more against both Duq. and SLU. Does this mean he plays more people? He didn't say. He is certainly aware of Mason and Soko, but this is the first time we will have seen them in person. Neither played for Duq. last year.

He did admit that defensive rebounding was an issue at Dayton and so were the missed layups and open jumpers.

MassMan06 wrote:

Puffers_Porter wrote:I know I'm not the only one who wouldn't be the least bit surprised if we lost to Duquesne and then beat St. Louis.

That's actually what I think will happen.

In that case, we'll need a lot of help to get the fourth bye.

Jackson96 wrote:My hopes, aside from a win, are as follows:

Defensive rebounding improves. I would be happy with any size improvement.

I think everything you're hoping for is possible, except for the defensive rebounding. They might be better at it for a game here or there, but it would only be a flash in the pan, a mirage. This team has shown over the course of 29 games, over and over, that they are a poor defensive rebounding team. I don't expect that to change and holding any hope that it will can only serve to frustrate us fans even more.

One thing I have been pleasantly surprised at over the last 3 games has been the turnovers. 14 vs VCU, 10 vs URI and 11 vs Dayton... all +turnover margin games for UMass. Continue to do that and play better defense and they should be alright.

I do think this UMass team is very good when everyone decides they want to be good and when everything is clicking it can be great. It's also a mediocre team when they don't put in the effort. I have to wonder if the team as a whole, or at least several of the players individually, get caught up in their own hype after a few wins and think they can cruise to wins. The team plays their best when everyone has something to prove, but after the 16-1 start there hasn't been a lot games that can truly motivate the whole team. After the Richmond loss, they came back and throttled Fordham. They may have taken SBU and SJU for granted, thinking they had already beaten them previously. They came back and throttled La Salle. They absolutely over-looked GMU, since they had already beaten them at GMU. They came back and beat GW and VCU. Having sewn up an NCAA bid according to pretty much every media outlet, they were handling a tough Dayton team in the 1st half, then just fell flat.

The question is, does everyone on the team feel they have something to prove against Duquesne? Us fans sure think so, I hope the players do as well.

UMass by 14. Take the early lead and it's never in doubt. Brotherhood

Jackson96 wrote:That's an insane percentage on a decent # of shots. I would think it would be near a record, if not certainly near the top of the charts. Cady is at 57% from the floor overall.

This is a bit weird, but I seem to recall earlier in the year when the team was having a bit of success on the road they seemed to talk a bit about road games being "business trips" but haven't heard them mention that for awhile now (unless I missed it). Hoping they regain some of that attitude. They may have never really lost it though, I don't know. I know it's weird. I sometimes think about weird things.

Put was all about the "business trips" tweets on the Dayton trip. They're still doing it.

Jackson96 wrote:I don't have any idea as to what's going to happen. I gave up making predictions with this team awhile back. They manage to surprise in both good and bad ways.

My hopes, aside from a win, are as follows:

Defense is committed and consistent. Limit the penetration and open looks and if that means less ball pressure and less gambling so be it.

Defensive rebounding improves. I would be happy with any size improvement.

Put reasserts himself offensively.

DG and Trey continue to play well.

Cady is active and engaged at both ends of the floor.

Chaz puts the Dayton game in his rearview mirror.

Maxie has one of his 11 point, 7 board, 2 block games off the bench.

Business trip.

If all of these things happen we will win this game by 20

If we're winning by 5 at the half, we'll win this game. Was the Dayton game the first game of the year we lost while leading at halftime?

When we have "BIG" games (i.e. New Mexico, other early season games, VCU) the team gets up for it, and although they might not build a huge lead, they play with energy and passion.

When we play the bottom half of the A-10 we seem to come out slow and disorderly. I don't know if its overconfidence or what, but we can't let that happen. Come out strong, get a 10 point lead, and I don't see us losing it.

SLU-soldout-at home-senior day...no way we come out flat. Duquesne on the road? History says we come out flat.

I said it after the Mason debacle, but I will say it again: this is a team that responds. They will respond to the Dayton loss like they have all season and go in and put a hurt on Duquesne. Book it.

ataboy cam. I'm with ya. Gonna be some PAIN

They seem to be living well in Pittsburgh. Via DG's instagram:

http://instagram.com/p/lJC3sZOomK/

^ It's certainly no dump, but it looks like a rather normal hotel room to me.

Yeah I'm not expecting everything on my wishlist to happen for sure, they were just some things that could really help us. The more that do, the bigger the win would be.