Atlantic 10 Basketballl: 3 takeaways from Duquesne’s win over VCU

3. Tre Clark Is An All-Conference Talent

Jimmy “Tre” Clark III (26 pts, 6 rebs, 5 stls) was the best two-way player on the court in this game, with Ace Baldwin struggling to shake the Duquesne defense and VCU’s wings unable to match Clark’s production. It was the type of superstar performance that starts to put a player on the awards radar but Clark’s resume has really been growing since an early season that was plagued by foul trouble.

Over the last nine games, Clark is averaging 15.6 ppg and 5.2 rpg, while also getting multiple steals in seven straight contests. He has also elevated himself on the defensive end, which was on full display when he took on the task of disturbing Baldwin early in the game when VCU’s offense completely cratered.

Clark was beginning to prove that he was Duquesne’s second most important player (the Dukes have two good point guards and a ton of frontcourt options but Clark and Dae Dae Grant are indispensable) but putting up monster numbers against one of the A-10’s premier defenses solidifies his place as one of the conference’s best wings.

And one of the most confident.

Bonus: Halil Barre, The Brick Wall

Duquesne’s center depth basically limits the freshman Barre to a single four-minute stretch of playing time each half, but he is making the most of it.  He absolutely flexed his muscles against a skinny VCU front court (starting center Jaden DeLoach was in foul trouble) and while he didn’t score, Barre did come away for 4 boards, a block and plenty of times where he pushed around a VCU big.

Barre blocks shots, rebounds and dunks, that’s it. But every coach should beware what happens if they put out a center who can’t match Barre’s brute strength, as it can be a rough four minutes.