Many bright spots for Duquesne as the Dukes gets set for the A10 Tournament.
Keith Dambrot and company know it will not be easy. Duquesne will enter the conference tournament with an 8-8 record in a season that has produced both highs and lows. One of those highs, maybe the most important, is Marcus Weathers. Throughout his 3 seasons with the Dukes we have seen flashes of what he could be. And in the past three weeks he has shown us what he truly is… a star.
Weathers Making Noise
Weathers has scored 19+ points in 5 of his last 6 games, and is averaging 21.0 ppg in that stretch. He topped all that off with a career game against Rhode Island in the season finale, where he put up a career high 28 points in addition to 14 rebounds, which ties his career high.
He officially ends the regular season scoring in double-figures in all but one game, and scoring 15+ in eight of the 16 games this season. Dambrot has gotten the full potential out of Weathers, as he has done with so many other players, and the results have been incredible. Marcus Weathers is now 4 points away from 1,000 in his 3 seasons with Duquese.
The Emergence of Chad Baker
And while Weathers got the headlines following the victory over Rhode Island, deservedly so, he was not the only Duquesne Duke with 20+ points in the game. The other, freshman Chad Baker, finished the game with 21 points, and looks like he could very well be the next star under Dambrot.
Baker has shown flashes of his shooting ability, having two games this season with 5+ made 3-pointers. And his season finale against the Rams showed exactly how versatile he can be. While his 21 points is what stands out, he also ended the game with 6 rebounds, 3 blocks and 3 steals. It will be fascinating to see the progression of Bake over the course of his career, and something Duquesne fans are certainly looking forward to.
Final Thought
So as the Dukes get set for the A10 Tournament they will look to Weathers and Baker to be the catalysts to get this offense going. Surrounded by the cast of Tavian Dunn-Martin and Michael Hughes among others, this team does have the potential to make a run for the championship. Regardless of the outcome, however, Duquesne fans should be pleased with this team. Dambrot has assembled a team that has talent and heart, a team that is exciting to watch and has shown flashes of greatness. A team that the city of Pittsburgh can be proud of.
