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Sunday, November 10, 2002

By Robert Dvorchak, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Danny Nee is as candid as a coach can be about his situation. Forget the word rebuilding. He says the Duquesne basketball program is "totally starting over" and has some stiff challenges ahead, starting with an opening game in 13 days against the University of Pittsburgh.

But Nee, in his second year, also believes the Dukes have shown drastic improvement. One reason is the influx of new talent, such as Ron Dokes, a junior-college transfer who gives the Dukes a dimension they've lacked for years -- a big man who can sweep the boards and throw around some muscle underneath. It also doesn't hurt that he has been polishing his scoring touch.

"He's a nice big body that's mobile," Nee said of the 6-foot-8, 240-pound newcomer who swings between forward and center. "He can rebound. He can make the right shots. We're really pleased with him. He's adjusting well. Both he and [Elijah] Palmer are having a positive impact on our team."

In last night's final tuneup before the Dukes open their season with five games in 10 days, Dokes had a team-high 13 rebounds and scored 16 points, including 12 in the first half, in a 99-86 win against Team Nike. Palmer, another newcomer, had 21 points and 12 rebounds, and Jimmy Tricco, a transfer from Gonzaga who sat out last year, shook off the effects of an aching back with four 3-pointers for 12 points. Kevin Forney, a senior guard, also had 16 points.

"It's a totally different animal from last year," Nee said. "We had to get the attitude corrected. We had to get the character adjusted. We had to get some discipline. I can honestly say we have a team.

"We have more talent. We have better players and more of them. They know how to play. They're going to get tested though. Real quick."

It would be an easy to draw the conclusion that Dokes, a native of South Bend, Ind., was influenced in his decision to play here because Nee once was an assistant to Digger Phelps at Notre Dame. But Dokes said he wasn't aware of the South Bend connection until he arrived at Duquense.

"Something said I needed to be here. It's a good fit for me," Dokes said. "I made my first visit here last October, and I fell in love with city of Pittsburgh and the atmosphere here. I had chances to play other places."

The message that Dokes has been hearing from Nee is to keep pounding the boards and play defense. Dokes threw in a couple of slam dunks on offense last night to get his team and a sparse crowd fired up.

"He adds some toughness to our team," Tricco said. "I love having a big man to kick it down to. You know he's going to do something with it."

The Dukes will need all the toughness they can muster against the Panthers, who open as one of the country's elite teams after a strong tournament run a year ago.

"It's going to be a battle," Dokes said. "But one thing about it is, nobody knows about the Duquesne Dukes. Nobody knows how hard we worked all summer. When we start to earn victories, we'll get respect."

Nee also expects a big test against the Panthers.

"I hope we can measure up and give them some competition. They're obviously on another level," Nee said.

NOTE -- Speculation is swirling that Daren Tielsch, who withdrew from Penn State this week after it was expected he would be a starting forward, will enroll at Duquense. But Nee said he knew nothing of Tielsch's situation. "We're not recruiting him," Nee said. A McKees Rocks native, Tielsch would have to sit out a season before he could play with any other school.