Duquesne Basketball: Ranking the 10 confirmed D-I non-con opponents for 2024-25 season
8. Delaware Blue Hens - Dec 6 (H)
2023-24 season record: 19-14 (10-8 CAA)
The two scorers from last season (Gerald Drumgoole and Jyare Davis) went portaling but the Hens did bring back three guards (Niels Lane, Cavan Reilly, and Jalun Trent), who all averaged 8+ ppg. Wagner transfer Tahron Allen gives them depth, while former top-100 prospect John Camden could be a former high-major breakout player to watch in the CAA.
7. Lipscomb Bisons - Nov 4 (H)
2023-24 season record: 20-12 (11-5 ASUN)
The Bisons were a top-20 offense last season, led by a trio of double-digit scoring guards. Only one is back in 6’2 guard Will Pruitt, who averaged 15.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg, and 3.1 apg. Transfer Gyasi Powell (9.0 ppg at Jacksonville) is the newcomer to watch, while center Grant Asman must step up in the frontcourt after losing both starters from last year.
6. South Dakota State Jackrabbits - Nov 24 (N)
2023-24 season record: 22-13 (12-4 Summit League)
The Dukes’ opening-round opponent in the Cayman Islands Classic is the perennial favorite in the Summit League, who has made the Big Dance in seven of the last 12 years. It’ll be harder than ever to repeat, as they lost their top four scorers, including last season’s Conference POY, Zeke Mayo. Kalen Garry (7.3 ppg) is set to be the program's next star, while Washington State transfer Oscar Cluff could be one of the top bigs in the league next season.
5. Milwaukee Panthers - Nov 19 (H)
2023-24 season record: 20-15 (12-8 Horizon League)
Coach Bart Lundy has done a good job at building the Panthers into a threat in the Horizon but will be without star guard BJ Freeman (21.1 ppg and 4.1 apg), who transferred up to Arizona State. The good news is that the next top three scorers are back, including 12.5 ppg veteran Erik Pratt. They also found their replacement for Freeman in AJ McKee, who averaged 18.8 ppg last year at Queens and was a two-time All-ASUN performer. Can they get something out of former 4-star prospect and Louisville transfer forward Danilo Jovanovich?