Duquesne Basketball: Projected starting lineup and depth chart for 2021-22 season
Center
Starter: Tre Williams (30 mpg)
Williams is another 6’7 forward on the roster that comes from Indiana State, where he started all 55 games in two seasons at 8.1 ppg and 5.0 rpg. He’s a solid post scorer on the interior but Willams is best known for his defensive ability. He was an All-Missouri Valley Conference defender last season and is as physical as it comes in the frontcourt.
Williams averaged 30.5 mpg last season and very well can get those same minutes with the Dukes, but the key will be his offensive production. He reached double figures in 12 of 25 games but also had six games of seven or fewer. With the offense being a big question on paper for Duquense, they’ll need Williams to be effective on both ends.
Bench: Rodney Gunn Jr. (10 mpg) or Austin Rotroff (10 mpg)
The minutes to back up Williams could very well be Gunn if they want a shooting option at the five-spot (Williams doesn’t spread the floor) but that again will depend on how well he transitions.
The other option is Rotroff, the only player on the roster taller than 6’8 (6’11) and has three years of experience with the program and 53 games played total. With the capable forwards on the roster and the A-10 not being problematic for 6’7 forwards so it’ll be hard to see him get minutes. But in situational spots and in need of size, Rotroff will be a valuable frontcourt player.
Next. Ranking all D-I head coaches for 2021-22. dark
What’s so interesting about Duquesne Basketball’s roster is that they don’t have a single returning player that played major minutes the year prior. The transfers could have a major impact or struggle at their new spot and there will be a ton of pressure on the freshmen guards to succeed. It’ll be a while before their first game of the season (November 9th vs Rider) but how these newcomers gel together will determine their spot in the A-10 hierarchy for 2021-22.