PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – On the day the Atlantic 10 Conference schedule was released, Duquesne head coach basketball coach Keith Dambrot is still looking for opponents.
“I never thought on November the 11th that I would be saying about adding games and not one game but multiple games,” Dambrot said.
According to Dambrot, Duquesne currently has 23 games scheduled including a yet to be announced couple of games in Indianapolis where the Dukes will play Cincinnati and possibly Loyola-Chicago.
It looks like the NCAA will require teams to play in at least 23 games to make the tournament, so Duquesne is currently right at the number and there is a real possibility of one or multiple games getting cancelled due to coronavirus.
“It would be typical of Duquesne’s jinx that we would go 18-4 and not qualify for the NCAA tournament or something crazy like that,” Dambrot said. “We are trying to add games.”
Then there is the question of a home court, COVID-19 concerns delayed the construction of the Cooper Fieldhouse on the Duquesne campus and Dambrot said he’s heard it could be ready by early January or maybe not until February.
The Dukes first scheduled home game is January 5 at a yet to be determined venue and one of six games on national television. They will make their first appearance on main ESPN since 2012 when they host Dayton on February 2.
A team with all returning starters back is relying on that experience to get over some of the hurdles of this year. Duquesne basketball was shut down once for a positive case and another time for a false positive. Dambrot says they will get in only 20 of the possible 30 practices and that’s forced him to run it more like a pro camp with less break-down drills, which is not ideal.
His teams have excelled expectations every season since Dambrot was named head coach in March of 2017 and for the first time since 2010, Duquesne was picked in the top five in the preseason poll.
The Dukes are ranked fifth. Which didn’t necessarily sit well with this team.
“Having the chip on our shoulder, to be picked top 5, not really disrespect, but we have a lot more to prove,” said senior Marcus Weathers. “We are just looking to go out and keep improving.”
“I’m honored to be picked fifth but I’m also disappointed to be picked fifth,” Dambrot said.
“When my dad played at Duquesne they were playing for national championships. I wouldn’t be much of a coach if I was satisfied with finishing fifth.”
“I didn’t come here to finish fifth. I think it’s an accomplishment to finish fifth in this league, but I’m not going to be satisfied finishing fifth.”
Dambrot said the teams that are flexible and can adjust are the ones who will have success and he admits it’s been difficult being out of his routine.
“You’ve got to keep those dancing shoes on and stay light on your feet,” Dambrot said multiple times on Wednesday in referring to the changing times.
Dancing shoes are exactly what Duquesne is looking for, they haven’t danced (NCAA Tournament) since 1977.