Sept. 11, 2003
Five televised contests decorate the Atlantic 10 portion of the Duquesne University men's basketball schedule which was released today while cross-town rival Pittsburgh's first visit to the A.J. Palumbo Center in over a decade highlights the non-conference slate. The Pitt game, set for December 3, is one of 12 games head coach Danny Nee's Dukes will play against nine teams that made post-season appearances last season.
Pittsburgh (28-5) along with Atlantic 10 opponents Dayton (24-5), Saint Joseph's (23-7) and Xavier (26-6) all reached the NCAA Tournament a year ago, while Minnesota, Rhode Island (A10), Richmond (A10), Siena and Temple (A10) all advanced to last year's NIT.
"I think we've put together a very solid, competitive schedule," said Nee who is beginning this third season at Duquesne. "Having Pitt back at the Palumbo Center should be fun for our fans. The campus atmosphere will really add to the game. We also have tough road games at West Virginia, Akron and Minnesota. Games like that should help prepare us for the Atlantic 10."
DU opens the season on Tuesday, November 25 at home against Prairie View A&M, before hosting Siena on November 29. The Duquesne/Pitt game follows on Wednesday, December 3. The game marks Pitt's first visit to the Palumbo Center since a 80-76 Duquesne win over the Panthers on Dec. 19, 1988.
Other non-conference opponents scheduled to visit the Palumbo Center include Loyola, Md., George Mason, Robert Morris, Cornell and Ohio.
The Dukes' first road game will be Saturday, December 13 at West Virginia. DU will also travel to Akron on December 17, and head to Minneapolis to face Big Ten's Minnesota Golden Gophers in a pre-Christmas game on December 22. DU's final non-conference game is January 7 vs. Ohio.
Duquesne will face a 16-game Atlantic 10 schedule that includes a total of nine games against the six schools which made post-season appearances last season.
DU's Atlantic 10 season begins at Richmond on January 3. The Dukes then return home for a four-game stretch beginning with Ohio, followed by back-to-back games against defending Atlantic 10 East champion Saint Joseph's (Jan. 10) and defending A10 West titleist Xavier (Jan. 14). DU finishes the homestand with an Atlantic 10 television game vs. Massachusetts on January 18. Seven of DU's last 12 conference games will be on the road.
Duquesne will make four more Atlantic 10 television appearances: at George Washington (Jan. 24), at St. Bonaventure (Feb. 1), at Dayton (Feb. 15) and at Xavier (Feb. 28).
Season tickets for Duquesne home games may be purchased by calling 412-232-DUKE (3853). Individual game tickets may be purchased through Ticketmaster at 412-323-1919.
NOTING THE 2003-04 DUQUESNE SCHEDULE
* - DU's 16 regular-season home games are its most since 1951.
* - The Dukes will play a total of 12 games against nine schools that made post-season appearances last season. NCAA (4): Dayton (24-5), Pittsburgh (28-5), Saint Joseph's (23-7) and Xavier (26-6). NIT (5): Minnesota (19-14), Rhode Island (18-12), Richmond (15-14), Siena (21-11), and Temple (18-16).
* - Duquesne's five Atlantic 10 TV Network games include: Jan. 18 vs. Massachusetts, Jan. 24 at George Washington, Feb. 1 at St. Bonaventure, Feb. 15 at Dayton and Feb. 28 at Xavier.
* - Pittsburgh makes just its second appearance at DU's Palumbo Center on Wed., Dec. 3. The Duquesne/Pitt series, which dates back to 1932, had been played at Pittsburgh's Civic/Mellon Arena for 12 consecutive seasons prior to moving on campus to Pitt's Petersen Events Center last year. In the only other meeting between the two at the Palumbo Center, Duquesne defeated the Panthers 80-76 on Dec. 19, 1988.
