PSR Showdown
Does Duquesne Basketball Still Matter?
By George Von Benko

Duquesne basketball has been the butt of some cruel jokes in recent years. The old refrain is "same old Duquesne."

Well I'm here to tell you that things aren't the same up on the Bluff – Duquesne DOES matter.

The Duquesne administration led by school president Charles J. Dougherty has made a financial and philosophical commitment to its basketball program.

Duquesne will break ground next year for a 35,000 square foot building adjacent to the Palumbo Center that will house the basketball offices and include weight rooms and also house academic support services. The new building will be connected to the Palumbo Center by a walkway. The price tag for the new complex is 8 million dollars.

In Danny Nee the Dukes have a coach who has breathed life into dormant programs in the past at Ohio U. and Nebraska.

The next step is learning how to win. The hard-luck Dukes return four starters, who lost a total of eight games by five or fewer points last season and saw 20 of their 30 games decided by single digits.

Duquesne has defeated West Virginia three out of the last four seasons. The Dukes have defeated cross-town rival Pitt twice in the last six seasons. Duquesne notched a win over perennial Atlantic Ten Power Temple last year. During the final month of last season the Dukes lost to eventual A-10 champion Dayton by a single point and to West Division winner Xavier by two points in overtime. Yes, we are talking about losses, but we are also seeing a team that is becoming competitive.

The notion that Duquesne should leave the Atlantic 10 for a lesser conference is not an idea that is embraced by the majority of Duquesne faithful. They would prefer playing traditional rivals like St. Joseph's, Temple, St. Bonaventure, Xavier and Dayton.

When Danny Nee took over at Duquesne he looked around and said "Why not us?" I agree it can be done. Why not Duquesne?