Oct. 13, 2011

A-10 Media Day Notes

PITTSBURGH - Duquesne, which returns three starters from last year's 19-13 CBI team, was picked to finish ninth in a poll of Atlantic 10 coaches and media released today as part of the league's annual media day.

In addition, sophomore T.J. McConnell (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley), the 2011 A10 Rookie of the Year, was named preseason third team all-conference and to the preseason all-defense team.

Duquesne, whose tie for fourth place finish last season (10-6) was the school's best since 1994, is looking to replace a pair of 1,500-point scorers in departed senior starters Bill Clark and Damian Saunders.

Duquesne has exceeded its predicted Atlantic 10 finish in four of five years under head coach Ron Everhart.

McConnell, a 6-2 guard, set an Atlantic 10 freshman and Duquesne single-season record with 91 steals last season. His 2.8 steals per game average ranked 4th nationally. The Pittsburgh native averaged 10.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and a team-best 4.4 assists per game in earning ECAC Rookie of the Year honors in addition to the A10 mention.

A five-time A10 Rookie of the Week, McConnell was the only freshman in the country with over 300 points, 125 assists and 75 steals (344, 140 & 91) last season.

Duquesne, which was picked to finish 13th in 2007 and 11th in 2008, exceeded expectations by finishing tied for 10th and tied for 9th in the respective seasons. In 2009, the Dukes entered the season as one of the youngest teams in the nation before turning their No. 12 preseason pick into a tie for fifth finish. Last year the Dukes were picked to finish 8th.

Duquesne, which has gone 10-19, 17-13, 21-13, 16-16 and 19-13 in five seasons under Everhart, will be looking to post the school's fifth consecutive non-losing season - something that hasn't happened on the Bluff since Red Manning's Dukes finished above .500 five times between 1967-68 and 1972-73.

The Dukes, who return five of their top seven scorers from last season, will host exhibition games against Millersville (Nov. 1) and Shepherd (Nov. 4), before opening the 2011-12 regular season at Arizona on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 9:00 p.m. (EST). The UA game will be nationally televised by ESPN2 (please note change in originating network).

2011-12 ATLANTIC 10 PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
(as selected by conference coaches and media - first place votes in parentheses)

#    TEAM (1st place votes)      PTS          IN `111.   Xavier (18)                 304          1st2.   Temple (4)                  287          2nd3.   Saint Louis                 239          T10th4.   St. Bonaventure             217          7th5.   Richmond                    196          3rd6.   Dayton                      168          T8th7.   Saint Joseph's              165          12th8.   George Washington           163          T4th9.   DUQUESNE                    151          T4th10.  Rhode Island                117          6th11.  Charlotte                   115          13th12.  Massachusetts               107          T8th13.  La Salle                    52           T10th14.  Fordham                     29           14th