It was a big past season for Duquesne Basketball, winning 20 total games and being in the mix for a double-bye in the Atlantic 10 Basketball Tournament. The improvement from the previous 6-win campaign was shown early on in the non-conference, beating legit mid-major opponents such as UC Santa Barbara, Colgate, and Indiana State.
With the Dukes returning its top two scorers and bringing in a veteran class of frontcourt players, the intentions look to be competing for a postseason appearance in either the NCAA Tournament or the NIT. The team recently released a funny video, featuring the 13 confirmed non-conference opponents for the 2023-24 campaign.
For this piece, I’ll be ranking the 13 foes Duquesne Basketball will be facing. But there’s no question who comes last as it’s literally a brand new program. Cleary University is introducing new men’s and women’s basketball teams, with this year being their inaugural season.
Their first-ever head coach is Carl Thomas, who has been an assistant with the Dukes for the past six years under coach Keith Dambrot. So the familiarity alone is going to be a nice storyline in what otherwise will be a forgettable game.
The matchup is set for December 30th, the last game before the start of A-10 play on the road at UMass. For the rest of the schedule with more meaningful opponents, here’s how they rank in terms of talent.
12. Saint Peter’s Peacocks
2022-23 season record: 14-18 (7-13 MAAC)
The former Elite 8 Cinderella has completely turned over both its roster and coaching staff since then. The top three scorers from last season’s roster are gone, including Jaylen Murray after transferring over to Ole Miss. Roy Clarke transfers over from the now-defunct Saint Francis (NY) team. They’ll need sophomore forward Corey Washington to have a big year to have a chance in the MAAC.
11. Chicago State Cougars
2022-23 season record: 11-20 (Independent)
The Cougars winning 11 games last year was an impressive achievement, considering there were years they struggled to win more than three. They don’t have Elijah Weaver but they do return their top two scorers, Wesley Cardet and Jahsean Corbett. If former five-star prospects and forward brothers, Matt and Ryan Bewley are eligible to play, Chicago State could put a few teams on upset alert.
10. Rider Broncs
2022-23 season record: 16-14 (13-7 MAAC)
The Broncs do lost their best player from last season in Dwight Murray, who averaged 15.7 ppg and 3.0 apg. But they do return most of the supporting case, including double-digit scorers, Mervin James and Allen Powell. UMass transfer TJ Weeks will have pressure on him to replace Murray’s production and keep Rider in the top-tier of the MAAC.
9. Princeton Tigers
2022-23 season record: 23-9 (10-4 Ivy League)
After making it to the Sweet 16 as a 15 seed last season, the Tigers are without its top two scorers, including former Conference Player of the Year, Tosan Evbuomwan. Sharpshooter Matt Allocco is back and forward Caden Pierce will be a breakout sophomore candidate. But replacing the massive impact Evbuomwan had will be a collective task from everyone.
8. UC-Irvine Anteaters
2022-23 season record: 23-12 (15-5 Big West)
Irvine has been a mainstay at the top of the Big West for the past decade. But after losing its two best scorers (Dawson Baker and DJ Davis) to the transfer portal, they could be as vulnerable as ever. Starting point guard Pierre Cockrell is back to run the offense, along with the starting frontcourt duo of Bent Leuchten and Devin Tillis. They have the size to compete with the Dukes but need to find some perimeter scoring to have a chance.
7. Marshall Thundering Herd
2022-23 season record: 24-8 (13-5 Sun Belt)
Duquesne Basketball has lost two straight to the region foes, who not only lost a pair of 20 ppg scorers (Andrew Taylor and Taevion Kinsey but also freshman center an All-Sun Defensive big man, Micah Handlogten. It’s a team that could take a step back but they do return a pair of key starters in forward Obinna Anochili-Killen and guard Kamdyn Curfman, who averaged 11.4 ppg on 40% shooting from deep.
6. Stony Brook Seawolves
2022-23 season record: 11-22 (6-12 CAA)
After a rough first year in the CAA after moving from the America East, the Seawolves are hoping to rebound with an improved roster. Frankie Policelli transferred to another team on this list but the next three returning scorers are back, including Tyler Stephenson-Moore. Two key newcomers to watch include 6’6 forward Andre Snoddy (9.5 ppg and 8.4 rpg at Central Connecticut) and Aaron Clarke, who previously scored 16.0 ppg two years ago at Sacred Heart.
5. Bradley Braves
2022-23 season record: 25-10 (16-4 MVC)
Losing their best player (Rienk Mast) will sting but the Braves have plenty of returning talent to remain a contender in the Missouri Valley Conference. Forward Malevy Leons (11.1 ppg and 6.0 rpg) will be featured even more in the frontcourt, while starting guards Duke Deen and Connor Hickman are back as well. If Marquette transfer Emarion Ellis can have a big impact offensively, this team will be a handful for Duquesne to deal with.
4. Cleveland State Vikings
2022-23 season record: 21-14 (14-6 Horizon League)
Despite losing its head coach and essentially the entire roster from the year before, the Vikings were a nice surprise last season with all of the new pieces. They return the vast majority of the production, including star forwards Tristan Enaruna (15.6 ppg and 6.5 rpg) and Tae Williams. Cleveland State is one of the few teams in the country that can compare with Duquesne when it comes to experience and it’ll be a challenging matchup to open the season.
3. Santa Clara Broncos
2022-23 season record: 23-10 (11-5 WCC)
The top five scorers for the Broncos are gone, including WCC Player of the Year guard, Bradin Podziemski. But the coaching staff added a few good transfers from the portal, including guards Tyeree Bryan and Jalen Benjamin, along with forward Johnny O’Neil. The other newcomer to watch is Adama Bal, a former top-50 prospect and transfer from Arizona. Coach Herb Sandek has done great work with other transfers and he could be the next star in the WCC.
2. College of Charleston Cougars
2022-23 season record: 31-4 (16-2 CAA)
The CAA champs are without three double-digit scorers from last season but do bring back two in forward Ante Brzovic and guard Reyne Smith. Charleston was also able to add some good pieces, including Stony Brook transfer Frankie Policelli, and CJ Fulton, a sharshooting guard from Lafayette. This team may not win 30+ games again but this will be a tough neutral site matchup for the Dukes.
1. Nebraska Cornhuskers
2022-23 season record: 16-16 (9-11 Big Ten)
Nebraska has some potential point guard issues, due to both Derrick Walker and Sam Griesel gone. But they have some lethal perimeter scoring with Keisei Tominaga back, along with Charlotte transfer, Bryce Williams. Forward Rienk Mast comes over from Bradley to beef the frontcourt, while guard CJ Wilcher looks to have a larger role in the offense.
It’s a road game for Duquesne that’ll certainly be challenging but it’s likely going to be a Quad 1 opportunity for them to enhance their resume. Find a way to beat them and all of a sudden, the Dukes will get some national attention.