- Our Dukes begin the month of March with a solid chance to enter post-season play for the first time since 1994. With two of the final three contests at home, albeit against 20+ win Rhode Island team and an always tough St. Louis team, the N.I.T. remains a distinct possibilty. Winning two out of three (figuring March 7th @ Dayton will be a loss), and then grabbing a game in the A-10 tournmanent, would give the Dukes their first 20 win season since the Reagan administration. Regardless of what happens, the season must be considered a tremendous success as they are the youngest team in the country and have every reason to believe they will only get better in years to come. Two top recruits (Miko Williams-Kentucky transfer and A. Marhold- #22 power forward in the country) should help next year's....gasp.... tourney run! Similarly, I think we get at least another year of Teflon Ron Everhart. His rumored main suitor, Providence, just spanked your Pitt Panthers and are likely headed to the Big Dance. So thank you Pitt!.. for possibly choking your number one seed away late in the year and keeping Ron around for us!
- To honor that 1994 NIT team (which lost to Kerry Kittles and the Villanova Wildcats at the Palumbo in round 2), we will take a look back at life in 1994:
$- Duquesne was back in the A-10 after a brief stint in the ill-faded MCC (Evansville, Xavier, Butler, Etc). The Dukes still couldn't win close games and very easily could have made the NCAA tourney. They were officially listed as as "bubble team" on the selection show. Little did I know this would be a highlight of my young adult life.
$- Tom Pipkins was a heralded college frosh, snatched away from Michigan, who had not yet found out about the college special at Milano's or the weed available on the 7th floor of towers or at the "pink house." Back then it was known as Corleone's and he soon would find out about both.
$- Derrick Alston and Ricky Lopes headed a front-court of two 7 footers. Alston would go on the NBA and then to a successful career in Turkey. Ricky Lopes would go on to do 1-800-CAll ATT commercials with Marlon Wayans!
$- I was still successfully able to pleasure myself to the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue and the bra section of the JC Penny mid-year catalog. Hard core pornography or late night cable t.v. would not be needed for many years to come.
$- Kirstie Alley was still kind of hot---not really though
$- Michael Jackson was still kind of black---not really though
$-The Montreal Expos were considered contenders in the NL East. The "Jake" was set to open in Cleveland. Pending labor unrest would hamper both perennial losers bravado.
$- Basketball players shorts still were worn slightly above the knee.
$- Andre Agassi still had hair, as did most of us.
$- The Dukes hadn't stunk for almost thirty years. They had stunk for fifteen.
$- I still thought I would be the starting shortstop for the Boston Red Sox.
$- My parents still made me read four books a month and would not even consider the purchase of basic cable television. They kept the Sports Illustrated subscription rolling though!
$- Seinfeld started not to suck.
$- The Yankees weren't any good and hadn't been for years!
$-Steroids were cool!
$- Will Smith was still the Fresh Prince and MTV had not yet given its stamp of approval on homosexuality or casual interracial relationships. They also still played music videos...so I am told.
$-Party Rock, Zubaz Pants, Mullets, Ford Probes, MGD and Flourescent tank tops with spandex bottoms were all dying a slow death...not it Pittsburgh though baby!!!!
$- The Dukes still were considered the number one choice of Center-Power Forward Danny Forston. He had not yet been kicked out of the Palumbo by John Carrol.
$-Saturday Night Live was still funny.
GO DUKES!!!!!!
