Before Rutgers: Earl Duncan Throwback

[ColonelRutgers]

ESPN Classic airing Syracuse v. North Carolina from November 1987 Monday at 4:00 and repeating at 6:00 pm. Last season at Syracuse for Earl Duncan and Keith Hughes before transferring to RU in the Spring of 1988. Duncan got major minutes while Hughes rarely played. Monmouth Coach King Rice the UNC point guard.

 

[ElmiraExpress]

ESPN Classic airing Syracuse v. North Carolina from November 1987 Monday at 4:00 and repeating at 6:00 pm. Last season at Syracuse for Earl Duncan and Keith Hughes before transferring to RU in the Spring of 1988. Duncan got major minutes while Hughes rarely played. Monmouth Coach King Rice the UNC point guard.

I was and am a Syracuse fan, and although I don’t remember that specific game, I recall both Hughes and Duncan as Orangemen. Duncan was a huge recruit for Syracuse and expected to be a big star. He was a prop 48 and could not play his freshmen year. As a sophomore, he played every game, but did not live up to expectations and was behind both Stevie Thompson and Matt Roe as sophomore guards. SU fans were still very disappointed when he transferred. Hughes was still a skinny kid when he was at SU, and was not considered a major loss at all.

 

[Scarlet Shack]

I was and am a Syracuse fan, and although I don’t remember that specific game, I recall both Hughes and Duncan as Orangemen. Duncan was a huge recruit for Syracuse and expected to be a big star. He was a prop 48 and could not play his freshmen year. As a sophomore, he played every game, but did not live up to expectations and was behind both Stevie Thompson and Matt Roe as sophomore guards. SU fans were still very disappointed when he transferred. Hughes was still a skinny kid when he was at SU, and was not considered a major loss at all.

This is not quite correct

Sherman Douglass took over the point in 1986-1987 after Pearl Washington turned a pro a year early

That 1986-1987 was the first year for Earl Duncan...and he sat out as a prop 48

Earl was expected to be the "successor" to the pearl....but when he was a prop 48, Sherman Douglass, then a soph, got his shot...and blew away expectations for him. They got the NCAA final in 1986-1987 (with Coleman as a frosh)....

So by the time Duncan was eligible in 87-88, Douglass was well entrenched as the PG for the next two years

Duncan scored 6-7 ppg in 87-88....and got his share of minutes. But wasn't going to be the starter until his senior year.

Ironically, in 89-90..when the cuse had coleman, Owens, and LeRon Ellis, they were pre-season number one,,,but really lacked a true PG as Thompson had to play the point and he really did not fit the role. That was their Achilles heal that year on a team that certainly had the front court to win it all....

 

[drbruin]

I coached Earl Duncan on his 8th grade team. Does anyone know where he is? Here's a video of his Syracuse and Rutgers highlights: