Just over a week into the 2020-21 college basketball season and the Duquesne men's basketball team has finally found out where it will be playing its home games. Well, at least the first few.
Duquesne Athletics announced this afternoon that both the mens and woman's basketball teams will be using La Roche University's Kerr Fitness Center as a home venue for the months of December and January.
This decision comes as construction continues on the UPMC Cooper Field House. Renovations began on the facility in March of 2019. Pauses in work due to pandemic related shutdowns have caused the finishing date to be moved back.
There is still no word on when the Cooper Field House will be ready to host games. The Dukes used the Kerr Fitness Center to host four home contests last season.
The mens team will play four games at La Roche, which is 10 miles from Duquesne's campus:
• Tuesday, Jan. 5 vs. Davidson, TBA
• Saturday, Jan. 9 vs. Fordham, 2 p.m.
• Wednesday, Jan. 20 vs. Rhode Island, 6 p.m.
• Saturday, Jan 30. vs. Saint Joseph's, 8 p.m.
As far as fan attendance goes, Duquesne Athletics said the following in a press release issued Thursday afternoon:
"Due to health and safety concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic, games at La Roche will be played without spectators. The Department of Athletics, based on guidance from state, county and local health officials, will actively review fan attendance policies as the season progresses.
In the event that fans are permitted to attend games in February or March, there will be an extremely limited number of tickets to ensure adherence to established capacity limits and to allow for social distancing.
With the health, safety and well-being of student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans being a top priority, the Department of Athletics will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as information becomes available or evolves."
