Two weeks ago during a zoom call with local reporters, Keith Dambrot peeled back the curtain on a situation that had publicly unfolded on his team. After nearly a year of continued frustration, things had finally reached a boiling point within the Dukes locker room.
At the time, Dambrot’s team had no home court, no quality practice facility and had recently gone through a four week stretch with no games. As a result, the team lost three starters, including preseason All-Atlantic 10 point guard Sincere Carry.
Dambrot had defined reasons for the departures of the other two. However, when it came to Carry, the problem was happiness. The fourth year head coach said Carry wasn’t the only one struggling in that department.
“How can you be happy,” Dambrot asked. “I’m not happy. I’m not happy at 3-and-3. So how can you be happy not shooting the numbers you usually shoot or your assist to turnover is not where it usually is? Of course you’re not happy. It’s how you choose to get through that situation.”
Unlike things such as a pandemic or a delayed construction project, happiness is something one can control. Or at least that was how Dambrot saw it as he spoke that afternoon.
“Ultimately, when you’re on the 50 yard line, you can go to work and be happy or you can go to work and be unhappy,” Dambrot said. “But we all control our own happiness to some extent, right? I know I’m on that crossroad a bunch. [Sincere] just wasn’t very happy for a long period of time. If you’re that unhappy then you have to make a change or you’ve got to fight through it.”
Over the next two plus weeks, there were many changes and the Dukes never stopped fighting.
Following a 3-5 start to the season, Duquesne has won three of its last four to get back to the .500 mark for both its overall and conference record. The Dukes had their two biggest win margins of the season in their past two contests, including a 67-50 victory over Saint Joseph’s on Saturday night at the Kerr Fitness Center.
“I’m proud of what our guys have done,” Dambrot said on Saturday after the win. “I don’t think there are many teams around the country that can take the hits that we took and still rally back and have enough toughness to be in every game that we’ve been in throughout the season.”
Duquesne has been able to rally back thanks to a multitude of reasons. First things first, the Dukes are actually playing games and getting regular practice time. After playing just two games in 300 days, it looks as though they can finally look at a scheduled contest and actually expect it to take place at that date, time and location.
The Dukes aren’t just playing, they’re playing better. Senior forwards Marcus Weathers and Michael Hughes have finally hit their stride after starting off their final collegiate season a bit shaky.
Weathers scored a season high 24 points on Saturday, while Hughes has scored in double figures in each of the Dukes’ last five games, finishing with double-doubles in three of them.
“We’re definitely starting to get in our bag,” Weathers said. “We’re definitely starting to build a lot of confidence off of so many games. We’ve had a lot of ups and downs this season but all of them are just learning experiences.”
Weathers and Hughes have had plenty of “learning experiences” throughout their collegiate careers. Their high level production was all but expected by this point in the season. Those who have truly come out stronger from all of Duquesne’s early season problems are the many contributors in the freshman class.
Chad Baker has emerged as a legitimate outside scoring threat that allows Weathers and Hughes to play a bit more free down low. Mike Bekelja and Tyson Acuff have assumed point guard duties, giving Tavian Dunn-Martin the opportunity to play off the ball and take more shots.
Toby Okani has served as a swiss army knife for the Dukes, showing the ability to score one night and provide solid defense the next. Finally, when Weathers and Hughes need a break, Andre Harris is good to come in and continue their high level of physical play under the basket.
“They just keep getting better,” Dambrot said. “They’re really making some strides. We play a lot of freshmen and we have a couple more that can play too. I feel like we have a lot of upside, we just have to get more disciplined.”
A young group filled with promise is something to be excited about. However, it isn’t the only thing that has those close to the men’s basketball program giddy.
While Saturday’s win on paper doesn’t seem significant, it had a special feel for those in the home team locker room at the Kerr Fitness Center. The win represented the turning of a page.
The next locker room celebration the Dukes have will take place in their own building.
“I’m ecstatic,” Weathers said. “We’re going into a new environment, a new Cooper Field House. I know a lot of guys are just excited to get in there. Excited is the biggest word.”
It’s an exciting time for the Dukes. The team has a whole new vibe, a whole new arena and could soon have a whole new outlook on the season. Next week Duquesne will host Dayton and VCU in a pair of key conference games that could reposition the entire Atlantic 10 standings.
If the Dukes can come out on top in both contests, there should be plenty of happiness to go around.