Pitt-Duquesne Open Game Thread

Opponent: Duquesne Dukes

Conference: Atlantic 10

Current Record: 4-1 (0-0)

Last Game: Nov 25, W 83-71 vs UMass Lowell

2017 Season: 16-16 (7-11), 10th

Key Losses: G Tarin Smith (12.4 ppg, transfer), G Rene Castro (13.3 ppg, graduation)

Key Returnees: G Mike Lewis II (14.4 ppg), G Eric Williams Jr. (14.3 ppg, 8.8 rpg)

Keith Dambrot is in second year as coach of the Dukes after winning over 300 games at Akron. Outside of the two key returnees mentioned, the Dukes will bring in four D1 transfers and seven freshmen. G Tavian Dunn-Martin and C Michael Hughes come over from Akron, while G Franke Hughes joins from Missouri and F Marcus Weathers from Miami Ohio. Memphis transfer Leonard Randall II left the team at the end of October. For a full Duquesne preview check out three man weave’s A-10 Preview.

Last Meeting: Dec 1, 2017. Pitt 76 Duquesne 64

What we said in the recap: “If you look at what they did over the first four games compared to these last four, they’ve played considerably better. Don’t get me wrong - it will certainly still be a long season. But the Panthers seem like they are avoiding the worst-case scenario type of year that many feared where they might only win six or seven games.”

Welp.

Prediction: Duquesne appears to be on the rise much like Pitt. Even if Duquesne trends toward the top half of the A-10 in the next few years, Pitt should still handle them easily by virtue of being a P5 school. This could be Duquesne’s last best shot for a while. I’ll still roll with Pitt, 84-64.

Hail to Pitt.