The core of that great year is beginning to emerge. Even though the Raiders lost 68-66 at Green Bay on Thursday, Duggins recorded his first 20-point game and made the 3-point shot that tied the score for the last time.
Tonight, more will be expected as the Raiders continue Horizon League play at Milwaukee, where they haven’t beaten the Panthers in 11 years.
Duggins was on the league’s all-newcomer team as a freshman and all-league as a sophomore, when he jumped his scoring average from 9.0 to 13.8.
He played in only four games last season due to injury, averaging 11.
Back this season, Brownell noted Duggins would have to knock off some rust before he returned to his best form.
“I don’t make any excuses,” Duggins said. “I thought the rust was off a long time ago. I think it took a lot mentally to get back in the form I used to be in.”
While he is still averaging just under 14 points, in three of his last four games, Duggins has scored 17 or more.
“Even in high school, my coach would tell me to take more shots than I did,” Duggins said. “Coach Brownell tells me to take more shots and be more aggressive and look to make more plays. I can see where he’s coming from. I’m going to start playing more more aggressive.”
So far, Duggins is averaging 9.6 shots. Most of the league’s top scorers average 10 or more. In three of his last four games, the stretch in which he has scored 17 or more points, Duggins has launched 43 shots, averaging just more than 14.
“I think my defense has come to a point where I can count on it any night,” Duggins said. “I‘m a little more worried about plays I can make offensively.”
Butler game moved
The WSU-Butler game on Saturday, Feb. 6, will be televised on ESPN2 and start at 8 p.m. instead of 2 p.m., the league announced Friday.
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