Congrats to Brian, winner of the 2013 Bracket Challenge!

by Dave Morus

Brian has won the 4th annual bracket challenge in stunning, last minute, come-from-behind, gutsy fashion. Brian was in the bottom half of the pool until Louisville won, catapulting him to the top of the standings and cementing his victory. Be in awe of his new flair on the board!

I could talk about how close I was to winning, but that would just be poor sportsmanship.

Anyway, congrats to Brian! Looking forward to doing this again next year.

Final standings:

1. Brian
2. Face
3. Phil
4. Steve19981
5. DUQ Dogg
6. VBC
7. maHULKo
8. Rogabee
9. stuu
10. Mulder

The A10's Five-Bid Swan Song

by Dave Morus

Swan Song - n. - the last act or manifestation of someone or something; farewell appearance

We knew going into the season that the A10 was going to lose some teams. Temple had announced its intentions to move on to what is for only a short while longer the Big East (a move they must be questioning now) and Charlotte decided to return to CUSA to pursue their football dreams. The long-rumored football/basketball split in the Big East had been discussed, but it seemed to be something that would take time to materialize.

Of course, as we know, that time is now. Xavier and Butler are all but out, and there is the possibility of losing SLU and Dayton to the Mid-Major Big East in the near future. I could comment on many things. I could discuss, for example how the Dayton media market (the stunning 63rd largest) gives this league nothing, especially when you already have Xavier in western Ohio, but I would probably end up sounding grumpy and bitter. And we wouldn't want that.

So it seems that it is time to bid a wistful farewell to what we have known of the Atlantic 10 conference. It will absolutely live on in one form or another, but the fact remains that - although we have five bids - two of those five schools are leaving, and a third could soon be out as well.

4th Annual Yuku Dukes Bracket Challenge!

by Dave Morus

Every year, we sponsor a bracket challenge for March Madness. The challenge is free, and winners receive the amazing prize of - -

BRAGGING RIGHTS!

Yes, you too can refute arguments on the message board like this:

"Well, that's a good point, but I won the bracket challenge last year."

Or:

"How many bracket challenges have you won? That's what I thought."

Sign up NOW and beat the post-Selection Sunday rush! Quantities aren't limited! Winners receive a piece of flair that looks like a Duquesne Ring.

Also, I'm gauging interest for a Women's bracket challenge too, with the same winnings. Let me know what you think in that same thread.

Sunday Morning Post

by Dave Morus

First, don't forget that the Women play at RMU today. Second, don't forget our own little article about the men's game. Otherwise, a few items of news that are at least semi-relevant to Duquesne.

Paul Zeise breaks down the win in the PG. Lots of credit to the Dukes defense.

The perspective from the Bangor Daily News about Maine vs. DU.

The St. Louis Post Dispatch has a nice article about Rick Majeurs.

A redditor has an interesting thought about promotion and relegation in college basketball. Perhaps no more than a thought experiment, but you can't deny that it's interesting.

In realignment news, the College of Charleston is headed to the CAA.

Add anything else you noted to the message board!

B1G adds Maryland, Rutgers

By Dave Morus

It comes as no surprise after the rumors and speculation of the past several days, but the Big Ten has indeed enticed Maryland away from the ACC and threw Rutgers a lifeline and pulled them in from the sinking Big East. Reports of what these two bring to the conference at the moment (there are a lot of mixed reactions there) abound.

But this is a Duquesne blog. So... read on after the jump.


I wonder how this will ultimately affect the Atlantic 10. The ACC is left with an odd number of schools, which is seemingly counter to their recent expansion goals. The Big East is as well.

The ACC has shown a tendency to poach from the Big East in the past, and it looks like that will be the case once again. There's a lot of talk about Louisville and UConn. Boston College has long been opposed to UConn joining the conference, but they may be out of other viable options. This CBS Sports article also says that Cincinnati and South Florida are being considered as well. It may well be inevitable that the Big East is going to lose another team.

This potentially solves the other problem - an uneven Big East. Yet the changes could scare off some of the schools that are planned to join but haven't to this point, a la TCU a year or two ago. Then there are the rumors that Houston can leave the conference without penalty if TV revenues don't reach a certain amount. This is all scary for the A10 because the Big East has shown a tendency to poach from just about anywhere, regardless of how much or how little sense it makes.

Football has been driving the expansion, but the Big East continues to add schools that are not strong in that area. Memphis is woeful. Navy is a respectable institution, but does not have the football clout of old. UCF and Houston are reasonable but unspectacular. SMU is mediocre, with some disaster seasons in very recent memory. All of these are thought by the conference to be "acceptable" additions to the Big East.

So, for all the problems that are discussed with the UMass football program, it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility for the Big East to take them. It isn't like their expansion plans have been based upon the highest quality in the past. Or, you know, logic.

Of course, this is all speculation. One thing is certain, though. With it's odd mix of football and basketball schools, as long as the Big East is unstable, fans of the Atlantic 10 have good cause to be nervous.

Happy Easter All!

While I know the coaching search is on most minds here, I don't want everyone to forget another important date.  No, not signing date, but Easter. 

I hope everyone that reads this blog has a happy, blessed Easter.


Rogabee

Why I'm in favor of a 16 Team Atlantic 10

By Steve DiMiceli

Much has been discussed regarding how to replace Temple in the Atlantic 10. Quickly, Butler's interest to join the conference emerged. More recently, we've learned that VCU and George Mason are candidates potentially giving the conference a monopoly of the mid major appearances in the Final Four and three solid brands to add to an already solid list of schools. From the disappointment of losing Temple, the Atlantic 10 could emerge as an even stronger more stable league. However, the key to attaining both strength and stability is not settling for a one for one replacement of the Owls. Instead, the league needs to go to 16 teams to reinvent  itself in the short run, maintain competitiveness and to preserve itself well into the future.

IUP's band is a recruiting tool that DU lacks.

by Face

Discuss this on Yuku

I was at a band competition yesterday - Tournament of Bands Chapter 13 Championships. In attendence were roughly seventeen bands from the Greater Alleghenny Mountains region of PA - from DuBois down to Johnstown, over towards Tyrone. These aren't the biggest schools, but there is most definitely a lot of talent in these areas.

Not only did IUP perform at the end of the show, they were the host for the entire affair. Students had the chance to walk around what has become a very nice campus, guided by members of the IUP marching band who were able to answer many questions and otherwise provide a personal connection with the students.

The real treat came when the IUP band lined up in the endzone and began to play a warm up. This is what can happen when an athletic department and a music school can combine to create something. The sound was full and vibrant and the looks on the faces of high schoolers in attendance were ones of awe.

I could describe the aesthetic excellence of the IUP marching band until you are sick of it; I won't do that. All that I will say is that if you are a high school musician in this part of the world, there is a rather excellent chance that you are in a marching band. To see IUPs band performing at such a high level - and for the message to be "Come here and you can be a part of THIS!" - is a message that Duquesne can not currently provide with any of their groups. It is a message that I, as a music teacher of some of these students, have a hard time overcoming. How do you argue with such a thing? How do I tell them that DU is going to be more worthwhile for them when they have visions of this band dancing through their minds?

Oh, and don't think that IUP limits themselves to regional performances. Three years ago, while on staff with a band that was to perfrom in USSBA championships in Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, I had the opportunity to see that same IUP band. This was for a national-level championship competition that included enormous bands from a range of hundreds of miles away hosted in an NFL stadium. I wonder how much positive PR that created? Given the standing ovation they received, I'd say plenty.

Was Duquesne Band ready for that at the point when they were disbanded? Surely not. But could they have been within several more years? Most certainly.

The bottom line is that Duquesne needs to wake up and realize that if they aren't proactive with this, they will soon appear to be standing still. St. Francis (PA) is in the process of starting a brand new band program. Their athletic department has set aggressive goals for numbers and has given their director the time and budget to do it right through the recruiting of high schoolers and the like. SFU is already planning on hosting a similar show once they are established. They don't even have a music program.

There is no bigger organization for PR or for school spirit than a band program. Who were the ones cheering in the gym during the 3-24 year? I was there; I know it wasn't the fans. I know it wasn't the student section, for there was none. It was the band.

The athletic department and music school each need to get over themselves and recognize that even if this isn't wholly under the roof of either, while it isn't the most aesthetically charming musical ensemble, this is NECESSARY to get the talented students whom should want to get. Because I KNOW Duquesne's program. It is superlative, but no one is going to know that in a vacuum. They must do something.

Anything else is lazy.

The Infamous Jagorim Jarg

by Face

The new face of Philadelphia... JAGORIM JARG!

2010-2011 Athletic Department Lows

Discuss Here on Yuku

Since we covered the highlights...now for the lowlights...
Special emphasis was put on men's basketball as it is the feature sport at DU.

1.     The collapse of the men’s basketball team.  Losing three games near the end of the season to teams you beat by double digits earlier in the year – Dayton, St. Louis, and the tourney to St. Joe’s, was disheartening to say the least.

2.     Along with that, the collapse keeps the Dukes out of the NCAA tournament as well as the NIT.  Given the start and 11-0 run the Dukes had, most fans were expecting more.

 3.     The women's basketball team finishes on the "Last Four Out" list on both ESPN and collegerpi.com.  Unfortunately, the Dukes don't dance, and are left behind in the NIT.  Disappointing?  Yes.  Heck of a season?  Absolutely.

4.     The Dukes men's basketball team finishes 1-3 at the Consol Center, their home away from home.  Most disheartening was perhaps the physical nature in which Xavier dominated the Dukes to close out the game in front of a sold-out lower bowl.

5.      Duquesne lost an icon, Nellie King.  While Nellie King will be most remembered for his work with the 'Buccos, what he did at Duquesne will be remembered.

2010-11 Athletic Department Highs

Discuss this on Yuku

As high school graduations wind down and we near a new basketball season that will begin with Greentree soon, here at YukuDukes we're taking a minute to reflect back on the 2010-2011 athletic year, both the ups and downs.  Thus, without further ado...the top 20 highs, worst 10 lows of the athletic department season (selected by a forgetful selection committee...me...so let me know if I missed something):

Top 20 Highs of the 2010-2011 Athletic Department Season.

1.       Duquesne women’s basketball team wins at future Big 10 tourney champions  Ohio State 71-67.  The Dukes, down by 8 with about 5 minutes to go, cap off an incredible comeback vs. the Buckeyes on a Kelly Britcher trey with 9 seconds left.  The Dukes finish with a 24-9 season (tied for 3^rd in the A10).

2.       The Dukes men's hoops team runs of 11 straight wins before a heartbreaking loss in Olean on a three near the buzzer, including a rout of Temple.  It marked the Dukes best start ever in A10 play.

3.       Duquesne men’s basketball team gets their first out-of-conference postseason win in what seems like an eternity at Montana.

4.       The Dukes could sell out the lower bowl of the CEC.  Quite an accomplishment for a team whose home court capacity currently is below 5,000.

5.       That the Dukes would be the hottest ticket for an opposing team in the A10 this season (at St. Bona). 
6.       Dukes have their first winning conference season in the NEC in football, highlighted by a 35-31 home win over Dayton, which featured a Sean Patterson touchdown pass with 21 seconds left to cap a 66 yard drive that started with 1:18 left on the clock for the win.

7.       The Dukes took care of their City Game opponent quite often across the board.  Women's basketball, men's and women's cross-country, and women's tennis all beat the Panthers.  The only varsity program to lose to the Panthers (outside perhaps rowing, where results are tough to find) was men's basketball.

The Dukes of Duquesne

by Face

Discuss this on Yuku

If any of you knew me in real life, you'd quickly learn that I have a little bit of an affinity for things that are old and interesting. In fact, that's my favorite section in Half Price Books - "Old and Interesting." This has also been a part of my Duquesne fandom in a manner which, luckily for me, touches some of my other interests... most especially music.

Did you know, by the way, that the Victory Song has a verse? I didn't until I found a copy published by Volkweins from the early 30s. Heck, I didn't even know that there was more than just the Alma Mater and the Victory Song until a few years ago.

More on that in another entry.

Anyway, I managed to find some old and obscure Duquesne fight songs through eBay, ones that fell out of use a long time ago. My favorite find is the one that I'm going to talk about today - the drinking song entitled "The Dukes of Duquesne." I think it's my favorite because during the time that I was at Duquesne, a common phrase to govern behavoir was that we had to keep things "Duquesneable."

The meaning of that should be clear.

I can't imagine something less Duquesnable than an official school drinking song. The lyrics are also FANTASTIC, some of my favorite statements about Duquesne pride. Read on after the jump.

Making the world go 'round...

by Face

Discuss this post on Yuku

I was listening to 93.7 today and heard a rather interesting discussion about whether or not student athletes should be paid. Certainly the argument is logical from some points of view. There are players that bring in a large amount of money to the university because of the way that they play. I'm going to deal with football on this because, what with the bowl games and the fact that it has long surpassed baseball as the prime sport in this country, it has been the sport at the forefront of this situation.

Now the large amount of debt that I've incurred from my time in undergrad makes me want to shout "NO!" from the rooftops. For as much as an education costs, it's patently ridiculous to think that they should get more. Nonetheless, I took a breath, took a step back, and decided to play a little "what if?" game.

Here's the fundamental problem with paying student athletes - where do you draw the line? The kids who play on the field? Jersey number sales? All players on the team? Only the first string? If it's only the first string, what about the guy who comes in on the nickel package? Clearly he's good enough to hit the field. What about a two-headed running back system? Clearly both are talented, but only one is listed as the starter. And aren't the guys on the prep team working hard to keep the starters on their toes...?

Let's look at a few possibilities after the jump.

YukuDukes 2011 NCAA Bracket Competition

by Face

Discuss this on Yuku

After a tough game to watch today, it's time to think about some lighter matters and let that stress go. There's going to be lots of time to break down today's game and the season later on, and of course we will be doing so on the blog and the board alike.

It is time again for the most exciting event for any college basketball fan. March Madness is indeed upon us, which means it is also time for the ultimate in college basketball bragging rights - making your bracket better than everyone else's!

We did this last year and it was some fun, so I think we're all certainly happy to get this going again.

We have set up this league on Yahoo, so you'll need to be registered there. Click this link for the main Yahoo Fantasy page, which contains the links for the Tournament Pick 'em registration. Make sure that you click the option to join a private league. Our group name is YukuDukes 2011, the group ID is 55162 and the password is mossie. I'm not sure if Yahoo passwords are case-sensitive, so make sure you use that lowercase "m!" Hope to see your brackets soon!

The Season in Three Games

By Steven DiMiceli
Discuss on Yuku  Can't Post? Here's How

If the 2010-2011 Duquesne men's basketball season were a roller coaster at Kennywood, you'd have to wait 45 minutes to an hour to ride it on a Saturday afternoon.There have been exhilarating highs like the winning streak and a couple of unexpectedly lopsided road victories early in the season and devastating lows like the Penn St/WVU  losing streak and the Bona buzzer beater. The question on a lot of people's minds right now is will assent on the other side of the huge 11 game winning streak be deceptively small, a giant pitfall or just the beginning of a bumpy ride the rest of the way.

The Mid - Major Debate Settled

By Steve DiMiceli 
Discuss on Yuku  ||  Can't Post? Here's How

Like most fans of Atlantic 10 schools, the word mid major is like nails to the chalk board when it's used to describe your school. Nothing annoys us more then when that blanket term is used to describe our team. To some fans, it's an honor to be considered to a mid major or end up on a list of mid majors. To others, it's an insult.

I think lazy or big program centered journalists and fans throw the mid major  label around too liberally and use it to simply describe schools as "not BCS." Clearly there are more tiers than just BCS and mid major. While there are some conferences that disdain the term, there are some too small to deserve it as well. I would suggest that three labels, high major, top mid major and small conference, are missing from the college hoops lexicon. So where do you draw the lines? I have some thoughts after the jump.

January 15, 2011 - A BIG Day in the Burgh

By Michael Weber

January 15, 2011 is going to be one heck of a day as it relates to Pittsburgh Sports.  It all gets started at high noon with the Temple Owls visiting the Duquesne Dukes at the AJ Palumbo Center.  According to the Las Vegas Sports Consultants, Temple is going to open up at -2.5 for this one.  So, the experts think this one is likely going down to the wire.  It should make for an interesting game for all of those in attendance.  But that's not all that's good in the burgh. Join us after the jump to see what's happening this weekend.