Dukes to open season in Louisville bubble taken in Uptown  (Duquesne)

DUQUESNE ATHLETICS

Keith Dambrot.

Following reports from last week saying the program was still weighing all of its options, Duquesne men's basketball coach Keith Dambrot has confirmed to DK Pittsburgh sports that his team will open its season in Louisville, Ky. The Dukes, along with currently six other teams, including the host Cardinals, will compete in a 10-day, non-conference event starting on Nov. 25 and ending on Dec. 5. 

Louisville athletics told DK Pittsburgh sports that the event, which is still not finalized, will have a total of eight to 12 teams. Teams may play a varied number of games during the 10 days of competition. All games will be played at the KFC Yum! Center, in Louisville. Finally, teams might not have to remain in Louisville throughout the entirety of the event.  

"I thought it was the right choice because I thought it was the safest option for our guys," Dambrot said. "We don't have to get on a plane to do it and we will get to play some pretty good teams. It pretty much met all of our criteria."

The Dukes, who are coming off their best season in nearly 50 years, will open the 2020-2021 campaign with a few challenging opponents. As of now the field reportedly includes Louisville (24-7), Duquesne (21-9), Little Rock Arkansas (21-10), UNC Greensboro (23-9), Winthrop (24-10), Western Kentucky (20-10) and Southern Illinois (16-16). 

While bubbles for other sports leagues like the NBA and NHL required an early report time for an extended quarantine, Dambrot says the Louisville bubble will be different. All teams must report only a few days prior to the start of the games. 

"We couldn't go if we had to report multiple weeks before it started," Dambrot said. "The NCAA requires three tests a week once we start so that's probably what the criteria will be."

The Duquesne athletic department tells DK Pittsburgh sports that the men's basketball team has not had one positive COVID-19 test result since all players and students returned to campus last month.

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