Duquesne Basketball has looked strong to start Atlantic 10 play, having home wins over Rhode Island and St. Joe’s. One thing they haven’t done yet is win on the road, having lost to both DePaul and Davidson. Their next opponent is George Washington, another league surprise who is also 2-1, beating Rhode Island on the road and upsetting Dayton.
In a critical matchup for both sides, here are some keys to the game for the Dukes to win.
1. Potential return of Jake DiMichele
One of the only bright spots for the Dukes early on was the sophomore guard, who averaged 10.9 ppg on 50% shooting in seven games, including 21 points versus Milwaukee. He’s been out for the past month with a foot injury, but they’ve been able to win without DiMichele. He’s reportedly been practicing ahead of Wednesday and could return for the GW matchup. Considering how the rotation has looked without him, it’ll be interesting to see what kind of impact he’ll have back on the floor, but the Dukes could use another offensive playmaker.
2. Limiting impact of Gerald Drumgoole Jr.
With Darren Buchanan having missed a couple of games (he will be available Wednesday), it’s been the 6’5 transfer Drumgoole who has stepped up in his place, averaging 19 ppg in the last three games while shooting 39% from deep on 11 attempts. GW leads the A-10 in 30 3-point attempts a game, while Duquesne has the fewest attempts on that end. While defending Buchanan Jr. remains a priority, Drumgoole has emerged as just as an important assignment.
3. Don’t underestimate Revolutionaries defense
In the past, GW has ranked toward the bottom in many defensive categories. They’ve been much more competitive on that end, with guards Jacoi Hutchinson and Christian Jones quality perimeter defenders. They’re very good at forcing turnovers, grabbing nearly 10 steals a game.
Duquesne’s ball control has been good, with reserve guard Kareem Rozier ranking in the top 10 nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.8-1). This could be a game where they need more of him, whether as a starter or 6th man, especially if Tre Dinkins doesn’t have it going from the field.