Beating #10... Great Personal Moments in Duquesne History Part 1

The Dukes travel to #10 Xavier tonight in a very important game if the Dukes have any hopes of playing in the big dance. Their post-season chances still look strong considering there is a new tournament this year, the College Basketball Invitational (http://www.gazellegroup.com/cbi/index_splash.htm) . As Aaron Jacson indicated, the Dukes can play with anyone, they are just inconsistent. Let's hope the X are looking forward to their weekend matchup against Dayton and looking past the 16-8 Dukes.

No chance at beating #10 you say? The post-gazette happened to mention a win against Florida State in 1992. You guessed it, http://www.bluffdivers.com/ was there!!! A great moment in Duquesne history....Allow me to reminisce.

1992. This was a year of change in the life of this young Bluff Diver and Dukes ball boy. I was in the seventh grade, was permitted to go to my first boy-girl party, discovered pornography and more importantly what to do with it, and the Dukes made their controversial one-year move to the ill-fated MCC. Xavier, Evansville, Dayton, and Notre Dame were the cats meow of the league, but the upstart Dukes were poised to contend for a league title. This eventually became the Horizon League. The Dukes started off the year 3-1 with a heart-wrenching, last second loss to Kent State being their only blemish. Dukes fever was rampant!

Dateline: December 15th, 1992. Bobby Sura, Sam "the alien" Cassel, and the #10 Florida State Seminoles had suffered two early losses, both by 3 points, to #4 Indiana in OT and # 19 UCLA in the pre-season NIT. They had wins against #19 Iowa State and also beat the UMASS Minutemen, who were ranked #19 at that point also. They came into the Palumbo as heavy favorites, although a young Charlie Ward had not yet joined the 3-2 team. The Palumbo, then in its fourth season, was filled to capacity, the Pittsburgh air was frigid and replete with Christmas cheer, and the stage was set for an electric upset!

Getting to the game 2 hours prior to the start, as was required of the ball boys back then, I personally got to rebound for Sam Cassel (who was shooting jumpers by himself before anyone stepped on the court). After asking him what he thought of the evening's match-up, he quipped "it's going to be ugly." I'll never forget that. Not only because he was possibly the ugliest person I have ever seen in my entire life and looked like a 52 year old alien, but because of what was about to transpire.

The Dukes started the game a little sluggish down 46-36 at the half, although it was a competive period of play dwarfed by a late FSU run (sound familiar?) . A certain 'Noles guard named Bobby Sura, who was heavily recruited by the Dukes, would start out the second half "white" hot. After the Dukes and 'Nole traded buckets, Sura scored 10 unanswered points to give the FSU a 20 point lead 58-38 with 15 to play-deflating the once spirited capacity crowd.

Then the inexplicable happened. FSU Coah Pat Kennedy would sit Sura for five minutes. The only logical reason had to be that Sura was sluggish from being a Marky Mark Wannabe Dicknose. The Dukes would take complete advantage, going on an 11-1 run to cut the lead to 10. Dukes fans started to believe. They would then go on another miracle 13-0 run, marked by Effrem Whitehead's three 3 pointers. 70-67 with six minutes left. Game on! Whitehead would hit another three to tie the game 76-76. The Dukes would never look back!!! Derrick Alston, an eventual 76ers draft pick, dropped 20 and the Dukes would go on to win 91-84. Sura scored 34 in the loss.

The Dukes fans stormed the court, this young Dukes ball boy was hugged by a hot cheerleader (whom I copt a cheap feal off of) and embraced by a large black man (Alston), the team was 4-1, and the game was the lead-in on Sportscenter!!!! Pops took me to Primanti's to see my Bluff Diving brother for a sandwich and then let me have a sip of his beer.....it was a rare perfect night among many that have been very imperfect as a Dukes fan.

FYI, I watched Sportcenter at Primanti's that night for the very first time since our family didn't have cable. So yes, the very first night I watched Sportcenter in my lifetime, our Dukes were the lead-in! I believe this to be the only time in Sportcenter history they were the broadcast lead-in, as they were only segment lead-ins when they beat Georgetown in 94-95 and when the shooting occured in 2006.

Just in case you were wondering, the Dukes would dissappoint the rest of the way, going 13-15. They would lose nine of those games by 6 points or less. Five of those games by 3 or less. They did post a nice win against the Irish. The team, in my estimation and in accordance with the mantra of Duquesne hoops in the last 30 years, underachieved throughout the course of the year. The next season they would jump back to the A-10 and post their last winning season of the 20th century. The program would go in the proverbial pooper following the aforemention 93-94 NIT season.

So to all you Bluff Divers, it can be done! Go DUKES! One time at #10 Xavier! The game will be replayed Friday at noon on FSN (the reason it is not on CSTV.com as it will be broadcast live on FSN Ohio...that's bull shit)