Previewing URI vs. Duquesne
Previewing any game during URI's conference slate has not been necessary, considering how inferior the competition is. However, the surprise of the Atlantic 10 conference has been the Duquesne Dukes (yes, you read that correctly). The Dukes are sitting in a tie with VCU for third in the conference standings. Overall, the basketball team from Pittsburgh, PA has a 14-7 overall record and a 5-3 record in Atlantic 10 men's basketball games.
Outside of the four main scorers that the Dukes are bringing to the Ryan Center, there is not much scoring punch present within Keith Dambrot's team. Mike Lewis II averages 16 PPG, Eric Williams Jr. averages 15.4 PPG, Rene Castro-Caneddy averages 13 PPG, and Tarin Smith averages 12.4 PPG. The foursome of players combines for 56.8 of the 74 points that their whole team averages. The key to this basketball team is definitely Mike Lewis II. If he can play at a high level, the Dukes can hang around in the majority of their Atlantic 10 games.
On the road at the hostile Siegel Center, Duquesne came out hot and took an eight-point lead into halftime over VCU. However, in the second half, VCU dropped 50 points and with the help of their home crowd, pulled out an 11-point win. URI has been dominant at home this season, not dropping a single game in the Ryan Center. While Duquesne has lost two of their three road games in A-10 play (at VCU and at George Mason), it is safe to say that LeBron James' old high school coach will need #23 himself to escape the sold-out Ryan Center with an upset victory. Also, Ken Pomeroy gives a 94% probability that URI prevails over Duquesne tomorrow.
My prediction is that URI dominates the Dukes from start to finish and beats them 77-62.
