Duquesne’s 10th-year head coach Dan Burt made something very clear when previewing what to expect with his team: if you want to keep up with the Dukes on the scoreboard, it would be safe to start running.

Burt likened his team’s approach to the system Steve Nash’s Phoenix Suns successfully ran and what the Golden State Warriors currently utilize, but in the interest of clarity, he stated specifically that he desires for shots to come within the opening seven or eight seconds of the shot clock.

“It's a rebirth of our program and we’re really excited with the direction that we’re going,” Burt said. “We’re going to shoot the ball from the three-point line more often earlier in transition and play at a faster pace. Last year was pretty fast, but hopefully [we'll be] the fastest in the Atlantic 10.”

The excitement is palpable as it has trickled down into the locker room, including Tess Myers – an Atlantic 10 Preseason All-Conference Third Team selection – whose 90 three-point field goals served as the league's top mark a season ago.

“Our cohesiveness is amazing, I think the best that I’ve been a part of so far here at Duquesne,” Myers opined. “We’re really looking to push it in transition, we’re focusing on defense and what works for us and just really locking in and going 150 percent. Being placed [preseason] ninth, we’re not happy or satisfied but that’s not where we’ll be at the end of the season.”

What enables Burt to have a certain level of optimism stems from a team he feels is healthy and mixed with returners and new faces, all of which have the potential to cause opposing teams to make difficult choices on the defensive side of the ball.

Duquesne can go with a large lineup, which might include returners Aniya Walker, Amaya Hamilton (6.1 ppg), Precious Johnson (8.3 ppg) and newcomer Ayanna Townsend (9.1 ppg/5.5 rebs/47.3 pct. FG at Xavier), or go small with Myers, another transfer in Naelle Bernard (9 ppg at Salt Lake City Community College) plus others.

It also helps that Hamilton can both play and guard any position on the court depending on the demands of the game while Johnson also understands her role to where she can find consistent success.

“Kids enjoy playing fast and nobody wants to run a pattern for 20 seconds and then jack up a shot,” Burt continued. “Everyone would like to play fast. When you play fast there is the responsibility of making sure you box out and then defend because it’s going to be a high-possession game you’ve got to win the possession game.”

In regard to Atlantic 10 honors, Myers was also joined by Megan McConnell (8.8 ppg), who made the preseason All-Defensive Team.

Myers, who defined her role offensively last season beyond the arc, has expanded her game beyond three-point shooting as she now is able to create her own shot and do the same for others. Myers also has grown on the defensive end as well.

McConnell has put in the work in the gym, adding size and muscle, with Burt aspiring her end goal to become recognized as the top defensive player in the A-10.

The team is also excited to see how Townsend transitions to the conference after having to do a little bit of everything at Xavier.

Burt believes either poison an opponent chooses could set his Dukes up for success, provided good health remains in order.

As excited as the 10th-year head coach was for her offensive abilities, he seemed even more excited about the defensive piece, which could allow for Hamilton and Johnson to freelance more from the weak side and earn more blocks in the process.

The remainder of Duquesne’s roster features transfers Kaitlyn Ammons (DePaul), Selma Kulo (Western Kentucky), freshmen Dea Pushkolli and Reilly Sunday, redshirt freshman Olivia Westphal and sophomore Singo Lekeuneu. Additionally, Snezhana Serafimoska, a member of last year’s team who was unable to play after a combination of injuries and battling ovarian cancer sidelined her, has transformed her strengths into a student assistant coach role.

While Duquesne has had some missteps in recent years between injuries and having to play multiple seasons away from its home gym while the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse was built, Burt and Co. believe all of the pieces are beginning to fall in place for success.

With this clear focus in offensive direction and a desire to become more consistent on the defensive end, Duquesne is hopeful for a return to the form which saw it consistently achieve postseason play.