Duquesne Basketball: 2021-22 season preview and outlook for Dukes

Mar 4, 2021; Richmond, Virginia, USA; Duquesne Dukes players celebrate after the final buzzer of their game against the Richmond Spiders in the second round of the 2021 Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament at Stuart C. Siegel Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

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Duquesne Basketball Toby Okani Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Duquesne Dukes non-conference schedule

Nov 9 (H) – Rider Broncs

Nov 13 (H) – Hofstra Pride

Nov 15 (H) – Weber State Wildcats

Nov 19-22 (N) – Paradise Jam

Could play Northeastern, Colorado, or Southern Illinois, or one of Brown, Bradley, Colorado State, or Creighton

Nov 28 (H) – American Eagles

Dec 1 (H) – Bowling Green Falcons

Dec 4 (A) – Marshall Thundering Herd

Dec 7 (A) – DePaul Blue Demons

Dec 11 (H) – New Hampshire Wildcats

Dec 19 (A) – UC Irvine Anteaters

Dec 22 (H) – Wofford Terriers

After a difficult last season, the Dukes have set things up very nicely to open the campaign on a winning note. The first three games are at home and all are very winnable, with the second matchup versus Hofstra being the toughest on paper. They also will be favorites against Northeastern in the Paradise Jam but with teams such as Colorado, Colorado State, and Creighton, the Dukes will be lucky to finish with a 2-1 record.

With DePaul being the only “power conference” program on the schedule, and a bad one at that, this is a schedule that Duquesne can win up to eight games out of 13. Outside of the Paradise Jam, there isn’t a team on the schedule that this program would be a decisive underdog against and the goal should be to get momentum heading into league play.

Atlantic 10 schedule for 2021-22 season

Dec 30 (A) – Davidson Wildcats

Jan 2 (H) – George Mason Patriots

Jan 5 (H) – George Washington Colonials

Jan 8 (A) – UMass Minutemen

Jan 12 (A) – Fordham Rams

Jan 15 (H) – Dayton Flyers

Jan 21 (H) – St. Bonaventure Bonnies

Jan 26 (A) – St. Joesph Hawks

Jan 29 (H) – Saint Louis Billikens

Feb 1 (H) – Richmond Spiders

Feb 5 (A) – VCU Rams

Feb 9 (A) – Dayton Flyers

Feb 12 (H) – Fordham Rams

Feb 19 (A) – St. Bonaventure Bonnies

Feb 23 (H) – Davidson Wildcats

Feb 26 (A) – Rhode Island Rams

Mar 2 (A) – George Washington Colonials

Mar 5 (H) – LA Salle Explorers

Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament (Mar 9-13)

Based on the projected conference standings in the preseason, Duquesne is set up to have an easy opening and closing set of games, with a brutal stretch in the middle that features contenders, St. Bonaventure, Saint Louis, VCU, and Richmond.

Among the first five opponents, the Dukes have a real good shot at starting out at least 3-2, even though three of them are on the road. By then, the team should have their rotation set and the preferred starting point guard option in January. If not, then it won’t matter the opponent as Duquense will be in trouble against even the very bottom.

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