Duquesne earned a First Spherical bye within the Atlantic 10 Match this week, as they completed sixth within the convention within the 2022-23 season.

They awaited to search out out the winner between No. 11 La Salle and No. 14 Rhode Island within the First Spherical on Tuesday. La Salle throughly defeated Rhode Island, 73-56, progressing themselves into that Second Spherical matchup with Duquesne.

The Explorers (14-18) had two nice performances from guards in junior Jhamir Brickus and sophomore Daeshon Shepherd in opposition to the Rams. Brickus scored a staff excessive 18 factors on 7-for-10 capturing from the sector and 4-for-4 capturing from the foul line, whereas Shepherd scored 15 factors and in addition shot 7-for-10 from the sector within the win. Guards in sophomore Khalil Brantley and junior Anwar Gil additionally completed in double figures for scoring within the victory for the Explorers, with 11 and 10 factors, respectively.

The Dukes ended the 2022-23 common season with an general document of 20-11 and an 10-8 document in Atlantic 10 play. That is simply the third season within the final 42 years that the Dukes have gained 20 video games or extra, together with the 2008-09 and 2019-20 seasons. It’s also simply the eighth time the Dukes have had a profitable document within the Atlantic 10 since becoming a member of the convention previous to the 1976-77 season and simply the sixth time they’ve had double digit wins in convention play.

Duquesne defeated La Salle 91-74 on Feb. 22, simply two weeks in the past. The win served as the primary for Duquesne at Tom Gola Enviornment since 2011, ending a six sport shedding streak there. Duquesne outscored La Salle 50-36 within the second half and made 51.7% of their pictures in comparison with La Salle’s 35.7% capturing.

Senior ahead Joe Reece had an unbelievable sport for the Dukes, scoring 18 of his 26 career-high factors within the second half, whereas additionally capturing 11-for-13 from the ground.

Junior ahead Tre Williams additionally performed a big half within the Dukes’ victory over the Explorers. He scored 11 of his 14 factors within the second half, created six assists, made seven rebounds and two steals. His 14 factors scored had been essentially the most for him in opposition to an A-10 opponent, the second most factors in a sport this season and his six assists are a profession excessive. Williams additionally performed a season excessive 37 minutes within the victory as effectively.

Duquesne’s 22 assists and 55.6% capturing in opposition to La Salle are the second most and third greatest in a sport this season, respectively.

Of all of the gamers that La Salle had rating in double digits of their win over Rhode Island, none of them did so in opposition to Duquesne of their common season matchup.

The Explorers misplaced 5 video games in a row to finish the common season, with the loss to the Dukes because the second on that streak.

Duquesne has performed La Salle twice earlier than within the Atlantic 10 event, shedding twice within the First Spherical. They fell in an in depth loss, 82-79, on March 12, 2008 and in addition 88-73 on March 8, 2016.

No. 6 Duquesne will play No. 11 La Salle at 7:30 p.m. within the closing sport of the Second Spherical Wednesday night time. The USA Community will broadcast the sport on TV whereas Peacock will broadcast the sport on their on-line streaming service.

Following back-to-back losses and three-straight street defeats to shut the common season, Jamarius Burton took issues into his personal palms. 

The veteran graduate ahead/guard assembled his teammates to verify in on them, ensuring focus remained after dropping out on an ACC common season title for the primary time in program historical past. 

“JB is the one who referred to as it,” guard Blake Hinson mentioned. “I believe it was the fitting factor to do. As soon as he broke it off, everyone mentioned their very own factor. It was actually solely about ‘okay, we didn’t do what we had been imagined to do, what we felt like we would have liked to do. However, there are different issues we have to do forward of time.” 

“I simply felt prefer it’s straightforward for us to hold our heads after two powerful losses. We knew the stakes,” Burton mentioned. “We had a chance to have a share of the convention common season title. All of us needed that. It was in our fingertips. I didn’t need anyone to be dismayed by the result. We nonetheless have an incredible alternative within the event. We simply wish to have our greatest foot ahead shifting ahead.”

The dialog was precious for Burton and his teammates. The temper of the locker room continues to be uplifting and forward-thinking. 

“The temperature was nice,” Burton mentioned. “Everyone was nonetheless locked in on the job at hand and understood that we nonetheless have objectives in entrance of us. We have now the chance to proceed to write down our story.”

Burton’s management has been obvious all through the 2022-23 marketing campaign on a staff suffering from veterans and a beginning lineup that Georgia Tech head coach Josh Pastner identified is older than the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder beginning 5.

“He’s been the outright chief of this staff all 12 months,” Hinson mentioned. “That’s the voice we want. I don’t see anyone else sort of match to take action in addition to he does it. It’s a chilled voice, right down to earth for us.”

Burton credit his time at Wichita State (two seasons) and Texas Tech (one 12 months) for his management skills and the mentality of taking the season one recreation at a time.

“It comes from expertise,” Burton mentioned. “I’ve been in two totally different locker rooms. I’ve performed for various coaches. Completely different requirements had been set at totally different locations and I used to be capable of study and use these instruments right here… It’s by no means about condemning each other and being down on each other. It’s all about us shifting in the fitting course.” 

Hinson, Burton, and head coach Jeff Capel all famous the emotion related to the sport and airplane experience again to Pittsburgh whereas sustaining concentrate on the subsequent trophy up for grabs.

“I believe the staff assembly was completely essential to name,” Hinson mentioned. “That is my third program I’ve been concerned in. It’s essential to verify in with everyone, and the way they really feel about issues going ahead. Did it change any mindsets? I don’t suppose so however that’s what the conferences are for. To see if anyone’s mindset wants to vary… I believe it was a great check-in with everyone.”

“I believe they get discouraged however it’s our job as coaches to attempt to educate and get them to maneuver on,” Capel mentioned. “Our guys have performed a great job all 12 months of shifting on to the subsequent factor.” 

No. 5 Pitt faces No. 13 Georgia Tech within the second spherical of the ACC Match Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. from Greensboro, North Carolina. 

Pitt’s first opponent within the 2023 ACC Males’s Basketball Event can be Georgia Tech (15-17, 6-14), following their 61-60 final second win over Florida State (9-23, 7-13).

The Yellow Jackets trailed Florida State, 31-21 at halftime however went on to outscore them 40-29 within the second half to advance to tomorrow’s match-up towards Pitt.

With the rating tied at 60-60, Georgia Tech’s Ja’von Franklin was fouled with 0.02 left within the recreation and he made the primary three throw to safe the win.

By way of the stat line for Georgia Tech, Franklin completed the sport with 10 factors and 19 rebounds, Miles Kelly was GT’s main scorer with 21 factors and Deebo Coleman was in double figures with 10 factors.

Contemplating they’re enjoying back-to-back video games, one statistic to bear in mind is that Josh Pastner performed solely six gamers right this moment. The one participant he used off the bench was Jalon Moore, who performed solely seven minutes.

Georgia Tech has been enjoying effectively down the stretch, having now gained six of their final seven video games.

Tomorrow’s matchup would be the third time Pitt has performed Georgia Tech this season, with the Panthers successful every of the primary two video games.

Again on January 14, Pitt gained 71-60. In that recreation, Georgia Tech related on 12 three-pointers and had been led in scoring by Deivon Smith with 15 factors.

The Panthers had 4 gamers in double figures with Nike Sibande main the best way with 21 factors, adopted by Jamarius Burton with 19, Blake Hinson with 13 and Nelly Cumming with 11.

Within the second matchup, Pitt gained 76-68 as Cummings scored a game-high 22 factors, adopted by Hinson with 19, Federiko Federiko with 14 and Burton with 12.

Sport three between this two groups can be tomorrow afternoon with a tipoff scheduled for two:30 PM.