Oct. 12, 2002

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Here's a quick look at Duquesne's 2002-03 men's basketball team which had their full practice Saturday. Under NCAA rules, October 12, 2002, is the first day Coach Danny Nee's Dukes could begin preparations for the season opener against cross-town rival Pittsburgh on November 23, 2002. The game, which opens the new Petersen Events Center, will be telecast by Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh. This is the first of six games that will be telecast this season.

The top returning player is Kevin Forney who scored 11.4 points per game. The Philly native finished last season with a flurry as he averaged 15.3 points over DU's final 10 games. Forney shot 57 percent from the field (57-of-100) over that span.

The Dukes entered last season with a roster that featured just three scholarship players over 210 pounds in centers Chris Clark (6-10, 230) & Simplice Njoya (6-10, 225) and departed senior forward Wayne Smith (6-7, 220). Throw in the fact that Clark wasn't eligible until mid-December (academics) and Njoya was sidelined by a 19-game NCAA-imposed suspension, the Dukes often found themselves severely undersized.

Danny Nee and his staff have addressed the lack of bulk by adding newcomers Derek Ahern (C, 6-11, 260), Ron Dokes (F/C, 6-9, 240) and Elijah Palmer (G/F, 6-7, 215).

When you include Gonzaga transfer Jimmy Tricco (G, 6-8, 200) and freshman point guard Bryant McAllister (G, 6-3, 185), the average size of DU's five scholarship newcomers comes out to 6'7.5" and 220 pounds.

Click on the link above for more on the Dukes roster and the complete schedule. This information was provided at last weekend's annual "Meet the Dukes," a homecoming tradition on the Bluff. For ticket information, please click here.