Louisville Basketball: Previewing 2020 Wade Houston Tipoff Classic

LOUISVILLE, KY - FEBRUARY 05: A general view of the opening tip off during a game between the Louisville Cardinals and Wake Forest Demon Deacons at KFC YUM! Center on February 5, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville defeated Wake Forest 86-76. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

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Duquesne

2019-20 record: 21-9 overall, 11-7 A-10
2019-20 KenPom rating: 95
2020-21 KenPom rating: 84
- Schedule:
  - Nov. 29 vs. UNC Greensboro
  - Dec. 1 vs. Winthrop
  - Dec. 3 vs. Little Rock

The Dukes are coming off one of the best seasons in program history, and are enjoying a resurgence under fourth-year head coach Keith Dambrot. An 11-win season in the Atlantic 10 – their most in program history in the conference – launched the Dukes into a tie for fifth in the A-10 this past season.

Their resume, both overall and in conference, was solid, with a few significant wins over some of the top competition in the A-10. A 10-0 start to the regular season was followed by sweeps over Saint Louis, overtime victories at St. Bonaventure and VCU, and competitive 4-and-10-point losses to Dayton.

Duquesne is similar to a few of the other premier teams in the A-10 this season in that they are experienced and return several of their best players – and, in the case of the Dukes, they bring back nearly everyone.

Four players averaged double figures for Duquesne last season – Marcus Weathers (14.3), Sincere Carry (12.2), Michael Hughes (10.3), and Tavian Dunn-Martin (10.2) – and all four are returning. For what it is worth, seven players averaged six or more points for the Dukes last season – and six of them are back.

This team, arguably, might be the most legitimate dark horse of the mid-majors in this field. They have not received any of the national – or NCAA tournament – a recognition that UNC Greensboro or Little Rock garnered in recent years. In fact, Duquesne has not qualified for an NCAA tournament since 1977. Our preseason mid-major rankings had them at 21st – and in a way, they are the new guys looking in, hoping to prove themselves as legitimate mid-major contenders.

Duquesne, unfortunately, will not have the opportunity to take on either Louisville or Seton Hall in the classic – but their games against UNC Greensboro, Little Rock, and Winthrop could be three of the best mid-major games all season.

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