Newstand: St. Joe's game preview +

Duquesne takes on Saint Joseph's Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in the Palumbo Center. This report has the media preview stories. The Hawks will be missing their second leading scorer, Ahmad Nivins, due to injury. Bruce Hocker gets some good press. The NBA drafting DU's Chuck Cooper. A report from Akron on former signee Steve McNees ..... (Links with excerpts inside)

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DuquesneSports Newstand
February 6, 2008

Men's Basketball

Duquesne vs. Saint Joseph's
• PG: Old nemesis Saint Joseph's arrives at bad time for Dukes
  (Coach Ron) Everhart might be planning to defend the Hawks with a zone, using 6-10 Shawn James and 6-10 Kieron Achara at the same time and harass Calathes and Ferguson on the perimeter with smaller, but quicker players. If that's the case, the Dukes will be forced to scrap their "1040" substitution pattern and their scrambling, trapping full-court pressure defense.

  Unlike the veteran Hawks whose nucleus of players has been together for three and four years, the Dukes have just two players -- Aaron Jackson and Achara -- who were in the program two years ago.

• Trib: Matchup
  Ahmad Nivins, Saint Joseph's second-leading scorer (14.2 ppg.) and rebounder (6.5 rpg.), will not play tonight after suffering a sprained right ankle against Villanova.
• Philadephia Daily News: St. Joseph's Nivins out with sore ankle
  If the selections for the NCAA Tournament were today, St. Joe's (15-5, 6-1 Atlantic 10) would just about be a lock for one of the 34 at-large berths. The Hawks have won 11 of their last 12 games.
• Philadelphia Inquirer: Hawks' Nivins to miss game
  Earlier this week, sophomore Rockwell Moody, a reserve who filled in for Nivins, left the team to concentrate on personal issues. Senior Arvydas Lidzius is an option at center.

  Senior forward Rob Ferguson also turned an ankle in the second half against Villanova, but returned to the game.

• The Sports Network: Game preview
  Ferguson also sprained his ankle, but the severity doesn't appear to be as great, which means Saint Joseph's won't completely miss out on his 11.5 ppg and 5.4 rpg. In the case of Nivins, should he not see action it might be tough to replace his 14.2 ppg and 6.5 rpg.

  Gary Tucker came off the bench to register a team-best 13 points for the Dukes, followed by Aaron Jackson with 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Having a less-than-memorable game was starting forward Bill Clark who lasted just 19 minutes and failed to score because of foul trouble. (Comments based on traditional starters, reserves, as opposed to the 1040)

  Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Saint Joseph's 83, Duquesne 74

• SBRForum.com: Duquesne -1 vs. St. Joseph's
  Free Pick: Duquesne -1 (-105)
• AP: Injured Hawks F Nivins will sit out against Duquesne

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• Sporting News: Drake & Co. give hope to college hoops' worst
  (Coach Ron) Everhart uses a high-pressure, two-platoon system to create a fast tempo. Transfers Shawn James (from Northeastern, averaging 3.7 blocks) and Kojo Mensah (from Siena, averaging 13.3 points) are producing and helping teammates understand they can win.
  Wants to be like the Dukes: St. Bonaventure (7-14).
• Ball above all
  Steve McNees' attachment to his family and hometown convinced the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette All-WPIAL Class AA First Team selection to sign his original letter of intent with Duquesne University. When the Dukes underwent a coaching change, McNees asked for and was granted his release by new head coach Ron Everhart.
• WTAE-TV: Black History Month: Pittsburgh Home To Many Black History Breakthroughs
  Duquesne's Chuck Cooper was drafted into the NBA.

Football

• Around FCS: Shining Stars
  A pair of receivers, Appalachian State's Dexter Jackson and Duquesne's Bruce Hocker, made their mark at a pair of all-star games.

  Those around the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference have long known what others are just finding out, that the lanky and athletic Hocker is one of the top receivers in the country.

  Hocker showed well in the Hula Bowl, catching a three-yard touchdown pass for the East and finishing with three receptions for 32 yards. He also participated in the Texas vs. the Nation All-Star game in El Paso, TX last week and hauled in one pass for 13 yards.

  The Texas vs. the Nation game was quite a showcase for FCS talent, with 28 such players on the two rosters. And, the CSTV announcers did their best to play up some of the biggest FCS stars.

Other

• This Recruit Is Unreal
  It was quite a scene in the Fernley (Nev.) High gym on Friday. A 6-foot-5, 290-pound football player, seated at a table with his coach beside him, was making his college selection before a cheering crowd. On the table before him were a pair of baseball caps -- one from the University of California and one from the University of Oregon.

  The player reached for the blue Cal hat, bent the visor, and placed it on his head, signifying that he was accepting a scholarship to play at the school and would officially sign his letter-of-intent today, the first day senior high school football players can do so.

  Hours later, the feel-good story began to fall apart. Neither California, Oregon -- nor any of the handful of other college football programs mentioned by Kevin Hart -- had offered him a scholarship.