Lafayette Visits Palumbo In DU Home Opener Sat.
Nov. 19, 2004
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Saturday, Nov. 20, 2004 - 3:00 p.m. (EST) Pittsburgh, Pa. - A.J. Palumbo Center (6,200)
TELEVISION: None DUKES HOST LAFAYETTE IN HOME OPENER Duquesne (1-2), coming off a three-game appearance at the NABC Classic in Albuquerque, N.M. last weekend, returns to Pittsburgh to face Lafayette in the 2004-05 home opener at 3:00 p.m. (EST) on Saturday, Nov. 20 (KQV-AM 1410/www.redzonemedia.com). The Dukes, who opened with a loss to Santa Clara (65-74), a win over North Carolina A&T (82-69) and a loss to host New Mexico (74-82) on consecutive days, are Lafayette's first opponent of 2004-05. Duquesne is 82-6 all-time in its first home game of the season, including a 13-3 mark at the Palumbo Center. Lafayette returns one starter from last year's 18-10 team. The Leopards, who finished third in the Patriot League with an 9-5 record, are led by 10th year head coach Fran O'Hanlon. O'Hanlon, a two-time Patriot League Coach of Year, has guided the Leopards to two NCAA Tournament appearances (1999 & 2000) THREE IN THE BOOKS This is the fourth game of the young season for the Dukes. DU's opener vs. Santa Clara on Nov. 12 was the earliest first game in school history. In all, the Dukes played three games in three days at Albuquerque (Nov. 12-13-14). DUKES & LEOPARDS Duquesne and Lafayette have met three times, with the Dukes holding a 2-1 edge ... the first game between the two was on Jan. 6, 1915 (a 26-24 DU home win), with the last game coming on Feb. 5, 1948 when Duquesne defeated Lafayette 48-36 at Duquesne Gardens ... the other meeting was on Jan. 13, 1922 when the Leopards defeated the Dukes 37-30 at Montefiore Gym.
MORE ON LAFAYETTE Six-two junior guard Pat Betley (6.6, 2.1) is the lone returning starter for Lafayette. Betley, the point guard last season, is expected to move to shooting guard in 2004-05. Marcus Harley (7.5, 2.0), the team's sixth man as a freshman last year, is expected to take over the point. The Leopards don't lack for size with 6-8, 275- pound senior Sean Knitter (9.4, 4.0) and 6-6, 240-pound sophomore Jamaal Douglas in the frontcourt. Seven-foot, 280-pound senior Jamie Hughes is also expected to see playing time. In addition to Duquesne, Lafayette will also play non-conference road games at Louisville and Georgia Tech. 400 WINS Duquesne head coach Danny Nee, who is in his fourth season at Duquesne and 25th season overall, reached a career milestone when he posted his 400th win on Nov. 13 vs. North Carolina A&T (82-69) at Albuquerque. Nee, who ranks 28th on the active coach win list, posted 107 victories in six years at Ohio, a school-record 254 in 14 seasons at Nebraska, seven in one year at Robert Morris and 32 at Duquesne. Nee's 737 games ranks 20th among active coaches. The Brooklyn native signed a two-year contract extension early last March that keeps him with the Dukes through 2007-08. Of the 12 Atlantic 10 head coaches, only Temple Hall of Famer John Chaney has coached for more seasons and notched more career wins than Nee. WHO IS THAT MASKED MAN? Senior point guard Martin Osimani is currently playing with a clear plastic mask to protect a broken nose he suffered during a pre-season scrimmage vs. Bowling Green on Nov. 6. The Uruguay native missed part of two practices while being examined and fitted for the mask prior to the trip to Albuquerque. To top things off, he aggravated the injury when he collided with teammate Sean McKeon in practice the night before the opener vs. Santa Clara. The practice time missed combined with the injury caused Osimani to come off the bench vs. Santa Clara. Osimani started slow before scoring all nine of his points in the second half vs. the Broncos. The next night, he started and handed out 11 assists in an 82-69 win over North Carolina A&T. The assist total, which was one shy of the school record he shares with two other players, also tied him with Clayton Adams for the career 10-assist game record with four. In game three, Osimani once again started and responded with a career-high 16 points and six assists in a tough 82-74 loss to New Mexico. Osimani, mask and all, finished the NABC Classic with 20 assists and 10 turnovers. He shot 50 percent from the field (11-of-22) and 83 percent (5-of-6) from the foul line. This isn't the first time Osimani has played with a protective shield. Last year, he came off the bench wearing goggles to protect a scratched eye, and handed out a school record-tying 12 assists in 25 minutes vs. Ohio.
DUQUESNE LATELY
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