Duquesne's return to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 47 years is putting a spotlight on the team's storied past. The small Pittsburgh Catholic school was among the first collgiate programs to heavily recruit Black players like Basketball Hall of Famer Chuck Cooper.
FILE - Duquesne center Jim Tucker leaps for a rebound against Holy Cross players in the NIT finals at New York’s Madison Square Garden, March 13, 1954. Holy Cross players, from left: Togo Palazzi ; Joe Liebler ; Tom Heinsohn and Don Prohovich . Tucker was a part of a wave of Black players who helped the small Pittsburgh Catholic school become a national power in the 1940s and 1950s.
“Three African-Americans and two Jews in a Catholic institution,” Keith Dambrot said. “You know, my dad was always proud of that. And so I think that’s why I came, because I knew the history.” Yet he persevered, bolstered by an administration committed to restoring the Dukes to relevance and a roster dotted with players from eight countries spread across three continents. Fitting for a school that has long opened its doors to recruits from places others weren’t looking, even if the recruits were sometimes hiding in plain sight.
Negotiations went nowhere. Judge Sam Weiss, the chairman of the Duquesne University Athletic Council, stepped in.The Volunteers forfeited and headed back home to Knoxville. Weiss’ decision to ally with Cooper sent a message to Black players across the country that the program was committed to something far greater than the outcome of a game.
It wasn’t just Cooper’s presence that resonated, but the respect showed to him by Davies and successor Dudey Moore. Rather than limit Cooper to dirty work like rebounding and setting picks, they let him flourish on offense and made him a team captain. Green grew up in Brooklyn but hopped the train for Duquesne in search of a better opportunity in a city that at the time had a thriving Black culture in the Hill District just off the Duquesne campus.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
March Madness: Long before Duquesne spent 47 years in anonymity, a progressive approach led to gloryDuquesne's return to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 47 years is putting a spotlight on the team's storied past
Read more »
Duquesne vs BYU Predictions, Picks, and Odds: Cougars Face Tough Test in March Madness OpenerMarch Madness picks, odds, and predictions for Duquesne Dukes vs BYU Cougars. March Madness free picks and best bet analysis.
Read more »
College basketball predictions: Two long-shot Final Four bets ahead of March MadnessHere are two underdog teams that can make a run in the Big Dance, specifically to the Final Four.
Read more »
Despite being fired earlier this week, Long Beach State coach leads team into March Madness(CNN) — The Long Beach State Beach men’s basketball team is dancing into March Madness, and it is being led by a coach who was informed last week that the university had decided to let …
Read more »
Final Four, Sweet 16 long shots: March Madness odds, picks, predictionsThese East region teams could potentially make noise as long shots.
Read more »
Bettors counting on upsets as they put money on long shots this March MadnessBettors expect a lot of upsets in this year's NCAA Tournament
Read more »